Stephen A. Smith Wonders What The Lakers Would Be If They Drafted Jayson Tatum Over Lonzo Ball
The Lakers defeated the Celtics 114-112 this week in a matchup between the historic rivals that may well be a preview of the NBA Finals. Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 61 points on the evening, and even still it was barely enough to fend off the Jayson Tatum-led Celtics. Tatum dropped 41 on the Lakers, making it as close as he could despite the absence of Kemba Walker from the lineup and truly asserting himself in the game. With the result so close, and such a great performance in a loss turned in by Tatum, First Take host Stephen A. Smith allowed his mind to wander back to the draft where the Lakers passed up on Tatum to get eventual bust Lonzo Ball.
“I saw a twenty one year old in Jayson Tatum that dropped 41 on them. I saw an elite, probably the elite, defensive player in the game in Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum scored six of eight shots on him for fourteen points. I saw a Lakers team that needed the heroics of LeBron James,” Smith said. “I also saw a guy in Jayson Tatum, I’m sorry to be a spoiler for Lakers fans out here, but this is the guy you passed up on to draft Lonzo Ball. How does that feel?”
A little salt rubbed in the wound there by Stephen A., but the Lakers organization deserves to catch some flack for that decision. Tatum has clearly been the cream of the crop from that class, and Ball is already washed.
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Stephen A. Smith Wonders What The Lakers Would Be If They Drafted Jayson Tatum Over Lonzo Ball