"We can't (recruit) off of the banners and past championships anymore" - Antawn Jamison on his stint as a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers

After retiring from the NBA, Antawn Jamison was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers as a scout. The job gave him a different perspective on how the NBA operates. As a player, Jamison admitted that he considered the state and the market before joining a team. But as a scout, Jamison learned that players only cared about winning.

The age of social media has empowered NBA players to create their brands and sell themselves from anywhere. This has changed how the recruitment game is played, and Jamison was surprised by this shift as he came to the league at a different time.

Jamison as a scout for the Lakers

Before, the Lakers would boast of their winning culture, and players would come. But now, scouts and the front office must revise their recruitment pitch.

"We can't [recruit] off of the banners and past championships anymore," Jamison said, per Hoops Hype . "And instead of talking about putting more banners up there, we need to do everything possible to actually put more up there."

Antawn was with the Lakers when the team successfully recruited LeBron James . From his observation, his job as a scout became easier, given James' stature as a legend and excellent track record. However, after winning a ring in 2020, the Purple and Gold has been in constant trouble with attracting top talent.

Finding gems

With that problem in mind, if the Lakers want to succeed in the long term, they have to keep their eye on gems they have yet to find. And so far, they have done a good job doing that. Their biggest steal so far is Austin Reaves , who entered the league as an undrafted prospect.

According to Reaves, the night before the 2021 NBA Draft, the Lakers called him about an offer. If nobody picked him, the Lakers would offer him a two-way contract. The Detroit Pistons thought of selecting Reaves, but the Arkansas native declined .

"I think Detroit called at like 41 or 42, whichever pick they had, and were like, 'we'll take him on a two-way,' and it was really just more a situation where I wanted to be where we saw the best fit," Reaves said.

In the 2024 NBA Draft, the Lakers picked Dalton Dalton Knecht, which many claim was a steal. The 6'6" guard is a three-level scorer who knows how to play the game at a high level. He would make key contributions in his first year in LA.

Of course, Bronny James's spot in the Lakers roster continues to amuse fans and critics. Was he picked simply because he could play with his dad? Or did Bronny really impress the Lakers scouts?

Related: Lonzo Ball recalls being traded by the Lakers: "To be fair, I would've traded myself for Anthony Davis"