Early riser Magic Johnson, the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations, was so moved watching a replay of the March 25 Elite Eight game between Kansas and Duke that he made a 5 a.m. phone call to his general manager, Rob Pelinka.
Hall of Famer Johnson, who studies a lot of film of potential draft picks, cited the success 6-foot-8 Svi Mykhailiuk had in guarding 6-10 Marvin Bagley.
KU's Mykhailiuk — selected No. 47 overall by the Lakers in Thursday’s NBA Draft — scored 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished five assists, while Bagley, selected second overall by the Sacramento Kings, scored 16 points (5-of-9 shooting) with 10 boards in the Jayhawks' 85-81 overtime victory over the Blue Devils.