Stephen A. Smith says Magic Johnson is why the Lakers missed out on De’Aaron Fox

Stephen A. says he urged Magic to choose Fox over Lonzo Ball

Speaking on the Joe and Jada podcast, Smith said he had a heated exchange with Magic on draft night as he tried to convince him to select Fox at No. 2. Instead, Johnson chose Lonzo Ball — a decision that has not aged well, especially with players like Jayson Tatum and Fox still on the board.

Smith said Magic got swept up in the storyline of drafting a hometown UCLA star who had risen to fame at Chino Hills. “You’re caught up in the local product,” Smith recalled telling him. “De’Aaron Fox will bust his a—. De’Aaron Fox is that dude.”

In the years since, Fox has blossomed into one of the league’s premier guards, now starring for the Spurs and lifting them to a 4–1 record even without Victor Wembanyama. Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball’s career has been repeatedly derailed by injuries.

Magic defended pick as a ‘business decision’

Smith said Magic pushed back at the time, arguing that choosing Ball made more financial sense because of his marketability and local ties. The analyst responded sharply: “Basketball winning is the best business.”

Magic ultimately stepped down as Lakers president in 2019, avoiding the backlash that might have grown as these draft decisions aged poorly. With hindsight showing how dramatically Fox has outperformed Ball, Smith’s story adds another layer to one of the Lakers’ biggest what-ifs of the modern era.