Sep 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (2) and President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson shake hands during Lakers Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, CA. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Was Lakers Legend Magic Johnson Wrong About Lonzo Ball?

Originally posted on Fastbreak on SI | By Ben Stinar | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 12:14 PM ET

Lonzo Ball was once among the best prospects in recent basketball history.

The former UCLA star had been as a point guard with comparisons to Jason Kidd coming out of college.

Via ESPN Stats & Info (on March 5, 2017): "Lonzo Ball: 12 points, 14 assists - most assists by a UCLA player since Darren Collison had 15 in February 2007"

Lonzo Ball: 12 points, 14 assists - most assists by a UCLA player since Darren Collison had 15 in February 2007 pic.twitter.com/omG8fLMz5f
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2017

Following his freshman season with the Bruins (where they made the Sweet 16), Ball was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

From Showtime to Zo time.

UCLA's Lonzo Ball gets his wish, heading to the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/wJKLPl1nH1
— ESPN (@espn) June 22, 2017

At the time, Magic Johnson (who ran the Lakers) was able to draft the player who could be the future face of their franchise (and who was also from Los Angeles).

That said, the Lakers passed on Jayson Tatum (who was the third pick by the Boston Celtics).

In addition, the Sacramento Kings were able to select De'Aaron Fox with the fifth pick.

[Jayson Tatum’s] agent didn’t want him to work out for [the Lakers]…because we already had too many forwards

Magic Johnson, Lakers Pres. of Basketball Operations (Feb. 2017–Apr. 2019), tells @JumpShot8 and @TermineRadio why LA didn’t draft Jayson Tatum with the 2nd overall pick pic.twitter.com/SYQjOF3854
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) December 17, 2024

At the time, Ball was celebrated as being the savior for the Lakers.

However, it's very clear that Tatum and Fox became a lot better in the NBA.

.@MagicJohnson not afraid to stand by picking Lonzo Ball to go to the Lakers pic.twitter.com/bmWgobR462
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 20, 2019

It's easy to look back and say that Johnson should have made a better choice, but the franchise also went in a drastically different direction when they signed LeBron James (and later traded for Anthony Davis).

Therefore, it's also possible (maybe likely) that Tatum or Fox would have been traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in the deal to land Davis in the summer of 2019.