Magic Johnson Reveals Shocking Truth About Jayson Tatum Snub - It's Not What You Think

Magic Johnson, the NBA legend and former president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, recently shared an interesting insight on why the team missed out on drafting Jayson Tatum. The 24-year-old forward has been playing a crucial role in uplifting the Boston Celtics to their former glory, leading to widespread speculation about what could have been if he had joined the Lakers instead.

During a recent interview, Johnson addressed the persistent rumors surrounding the Lakers' failure to select Tatum in the first round of the 2017 draft. "We never had a chance to draft Jayson Tatum," Johnson claimed, dampening the hopes of those who were expecting a thrilling behind-the-scenes tale of how the team came close to landing the highly coveted prospect.

According to Johnson, the Lakers were never really in contention to draft Tatum. They had actually picked Lonzo Ball as their second overall selection, leaving them with no apparent means of securing Tatum, who was eventually chosen by the Boston Celtics as the third pick. Johnson essentially discounted any lingering notions that the Lakers came close to altering their draft strategy in favor of selecting the now elite forward.

Jayson Tatum has undoubtedly proven to be one of the key pillars in shaping the modern Boston Celtics. With his ever-improving skills and dominant displays on the court, Tatum has progressively risen through the ranks to cement his position as one of the league's top talents. His incredible versatility on the court has played a significant role in strengthening the Celtics, bolstering the team's chances of securing more championships in the coming years.

On the other hand, Magic Johnson's claim may provide reassurance to Lakers fans that the organization made an informed decision during the time of the 2017 draft. Choosing between Lonzo Ball and Jayson Tatum was a tough call, with both prospects having their unique skill sets and abilities that ultimately guided the team's choices. Despite Johnson's assertion that they never had the opportunity to select Tatum, fans are left to imagine what could have been if fate had decided differently.