Without question the Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum, drafted 3rd in 2017, has had the most successful NBA career thus far of those selected in the 2017 NBA Draft aka the Lonzo Ball draft- (Keith Allison - photo)

Laurie Markkenan of the Utah Jazz was selected as this seasons Most Improved NBA Player - (NBA photo)

LeBron James has experienced his worst team losing record in his history with the Los Angeles Lakers. Is Lakers Land the Bad Lands 4 LeBron James? - ( Erik Drost - photo) Is Lakers Land the Bad Lands 4 LeBron James?

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant - (NBA - photo)

Kawhi Leonard has been snake bit with injuries since he won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

SPORTS NOTES - THINK ABOUT the NBA PLAYERS ON THE MOVE UP

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

THE NEED 2-B UP 2 SPEED - The 2017 NBA draft produced some interesting results. That draft was when Lonzo Ball was deemed the next coming of Magic Johnson. The result was he has been traded twice and often injured. We point out who produced the best results since then in the league. - Memphis Grizzlies are talented BUT… NEED TO MATURE. - Are the LA Clippers SNAKE BIT? - Is LeBron James worth a million dollars a game? - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Saturday April 29, 2023

2017 NBA DRAFT PRODUCERS

When you access the 2017 draft aka the fight for Lonzo Ball draft, as to who was the best of the crop from the career stat results it appears that our following ratings to be the case.

One aspect that really matters is who shows up for work. Not being injuring prone matters.

Of our current TOP 10 selections only five were in the TOP 10 selections in that 2017 draft. Only four of our current TOP 10 selections remain with the team that drafted them, including Jayson Tatum by the Boston Celtics, DeAron Foxx, Sacramento Kings; Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat and John Collins, Atlanta Hawks.

Tatum, selected third in that draft has been the best producer thus far. Donovan Mitchell drafted 13th has been outstanding but was traded. DeAron Foxx, drafted 5th and Bam Adebayo 14th have had tremendous seasons.

Foxx has been more of a leader and Adebayo a go to guy when times are tough. He has had All Star seasons being a force to be reckoned with on the boards. Adebayo plays like a player from back in the day. He's physical and doesn't pout and cry for attention as many of the current NBA player do.

Laurie Markkenan, of the Utah Jazz, was selected as this seasons Most Improved Player. He raised his scoring average by 10.87 points to a career best 25.6 ppg.

Since he was the # 1 overall choice in that draft we've included Fultz on our list to indicate the progression of those on the list. Being #1 is no guarantee for production. Being selected in a draft in the TOP- 10 is no guaranteed that the selection is a fit for the team both talent and personality wise.

Tatum and Adebayo are the only two players on our list that are with teams that remain in the playoffs. This is our list… what is yours?

1. Jayson Tatum - # 3

2. Donovan Mitchell - # 13 - TRADED

3. DeAron Foxx - # 5

4. Bam Adebayo - # 14

5. Jarrett Allen - # 22 -- TRADED

6. Kyle Kuzma - # 27 - TRADED

7. Laurie Markkenan - # 7 - TRADED - 2

8. John Collins - # 19

9. Lonzo Ball - # 2 - TRADED 2

10. Markelle Fultz - # 1 - TRADED

THINK... ABOUT IT

LeBron James played only 55 games during a regular 82 game season. His salary is $44,474,988 per season. When you do the math he earns $808,636 per game. His sitting out 17 games helped boost his per game value. To be worth $1 million a game he must sit out 38 games.

A passing though is James has a tendency to exaggerate his injuries. During his layoff/rest he claimed that his injury would require a surgery. By the way he's running up and down the court during the Memphis Grizzlies series that seems doubtful. Should there be an investigation into this matter? We bet you the Grizzlies might be interested.

The Grizzlies are a super talented club. Their problem is a lack of maturity. When one factors in Ja Morant being silly enough to wave a gun in public in front of security cameras illustrates that thought.

With Dillon Brooks 27, making statements about LeBron James' age 38, as being old was unnecessary. Brooks needs to learn let sleeping dogs lie or you may get bit. Brooks got bit. The result was he was embarrassed since he couldn't live up to what he apparently perceived as being bravado and James beat his @$$ on the court.

The result is the Lakers will play on to the second round of the playoffs and Brooks can go home and mope.

The Grizzlies are talented BUT… NEED TO MATURE

This is the best squad the Lakers have had during the disastrous Jeannie Buss era. They are perfectly balanced with youth, strength, role players. They also have go to guys for point production when needed.

This team could be a title winning team. Their strength is Anthony Davis. He is the cornerstone of the squad. His length, strength and scoring ability are the perfect compliments to LeBron James' skills. Davis has Hall of Fame skills. The question is how long will James remain in the league?

CLIPPERS SNAKE BIT?

More on the LeBron James worth per game scheme the LA Clippers can't get break, GOOD ONES THAT IS. They get plenty of breaks when it comes to injuries to their players. That applies to their cornerstone and franchise foundation players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Both receive equal pay at $42,492,492 per season. The injury prone Leonard played only 52 games this season. Like James he rested before the payoffs but was injured during the first game against the Phoenix Suns. He played the second game with the injury.

When it was discovered that it was serious he sat out the series. His injury is similar to the one that cost him to miss an entire season but this injury is deemed not to be as serious. For playing 52 games his worth per game equates to $817,163.

George failed to play any playoff games. He played only 56 regular season games. His per game worth is $758,794.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

April 29, 1969 The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 89-88 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. A combined total of 21 assists were recorded in the game, an all-time NBA low.

April 29, 1970 Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West hit a 60-foot desperation shot at the buzzer to tie Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. In overtime, however, the Lakers scored just six points and lost 111-108.

April 29, 1990 The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 104-100 for Coach Pat Riley’s 100th career playoff victory, breaking Red Auerbach’s record of 99. Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon had 10 blocked shots, tying the NBA Playoff record set by Mark Eaton of Utah on April 26, 1985 against the Rockets.

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