LeBron James offered key advice to pre-draft lottery prospect

The first round of the NBA draft wrapped up Thursday, and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a steal. They took forward Dalton Knecht out of Tennessee, giving them a player no one thought would be available at No. 17.

Many other talented players were drafted in the first round, including one that the city of Los Angeles knows well.

Lakers star LeBron James gave point guard Isaiah Collier some advice ahead of the draft. Collier shined at USC last season, and James got to know him because his son was also on the basketball team.

Collier was ultimately selected 29th overall by the Utah Jazz, giving him a chance to grow with a young team. He has all the talent to become an impact player in the NBA, but he just needs a chance to prove himself.

James knows what it takes to succeed in the league and so he’s done his best to give his advice and wisdom to players over the years. He knows how special a player Collier is, so he wanted to give back to him.

The Lakers will definitely see Collier when they face the Jazz next season, and James will likely see them plotting against him. That’s assuming, of course, that James returns to the Lakers next season.

He could become a free agent this summer, but all reports point to a possible return to the team. James is particularly interested in this year’s draft because of the possibility of his son being selected at some point.

More Lakers: Los Angeles praised for stealing ‘JJ Redick clone’ Dalton Knecht in draft