Tatum recalls 'devastating' feeling of being passed over by Lakers in 2017

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum admits he felt hurt after learning that the Los Angeles Lakers had no intention of drafting him in 2017.

Tatum reflected on his draft experience on the latest episode of "Club 520 Podcast," explaining how he knew early on that the Lakers would likely be selecting Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 pick.

"I grew up a Kobe (Bryant) fan, like I always wanted to play for the Lakers," Tatum said. "So for them to have the No. 2 pick, and it was like, it wasn't even a thought that I was gonna get drafted (there). That was kind of devastating.

"So I never worked out for the Lakers, they never came to watch me work out."

The Celtics were among the teams that Tatum worked out for ahead of the draft, though it took some convincing from then-Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski to sell him on the idea of playing in Boston.

"I remember Coach K was like, 'Yo, Boston wants to have you for a second workout. You should go,'" Tatum recalled. "I'm like, 'Coach, they just came off the Eastern Conference Finals. They got a veteran team, I'm probably not gonna play. I don't wanna go.' And he was raving about Brad Stevens. He was like, 'Brad's one of the best coaches in the league, just go for another workout.'

"And I remember, I went up to Boston like three days before the draft. I had another workout. I didn't know where I was getting drafted until they called my name. But, you know, the rest is history, and it all worked out."

The Celtics selected Tatum third overall, with Ball going to the Lakers at No. 2 and Markelle Fultz to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 1.

Tatum signed an NBA-record five-year, $314-million supermax extension with the Celtics in July after helping to lead the franchise to its 18th NBA title last season.