The 2017 NBA Draft featured no shortage of talent. Some of the better players fell in the draft, such as Bam Adebayo and Jarrett Allen. Others have yet to live up to their potential, such as 2017 No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz. The Los Angeles Lakers had the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and they had a difficult decision to make.
Los Angeles ended up deciding to draft Lonzo Ball. The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, had the No. 3 overall pick. Boston selected someone who would end up becoming the best overall player from the 2017 NBA Draft class. His name?
Jayson Tatum.
Why did the Lakers pass on drafting Tatum? In their defense, Ball featured potential and his career has been impacted by injury trouble. Tatum, however, is an NBA superstar. Magic Johnson, who was the team’s president of basketball operations at the time, recently revealed that Tatum’s agent did not want the Duke basketball product to even work out for the Lakers.