Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson are tasked with rebuilding the Los Angeles Lakers, and Pelinka has an interesting view of his core. 

Heading into this season, the Lakers will have three rookies looking to make an impact: second overall pick Lonzo Ball, No. 27 pick Kyle Kuzma and No. 30 pick Josh Hart. Pelinka is oozing with excitement from what he saw in the summer league, and the Lakers general manager made quite the comparison on “The Dan Patrick Show.”

“It’s kind of like if you go on YouTube and you think about Taylor Swift when she was 16 years old (playing) her first song. It’s her guitar, it’s her in a little studio, and you watch it and you listen to it and you say, ‘Wow, this is going to be a special thing to follow and a really cool narrative to unfold.'”

Get you somebody who’s as eager to watch your growth as Rob Pelinka is with his rookies. It’s amazing. He expects big things, and maybe LaVar Ball’s bravado is rubbing off on him. Still, it’s a lofty standard to reach. Even though she’s not an athlete, Taylor Swift is one of the biggest musicians in the world.

The 27-year-old released her first studio album in 2006, and it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 200. Her four subsequent albums have spent time at the top of the chart, and, according to the RIAA, all of her releases have gone platinum at least four times, totaling somewhere around 40 million albums sold. She’s got the individual accolades to match as well, highlighted by her 10 Grammys.

Feb 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Taylor Swift poses in the photo room during the 58th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY NETWORK
Feb 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Taylor Swift poses in the photo room during the 58th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY NETWORK

So, how does this translate to the NBA? It’s simple — All-Star appearances, MVPs and championships. Having a multi-platinum record and winning multiple Grammys are two of the biggest achievements artists can get. In the NBA, the three awards mentioned above are the equivalent.

Only one person can win Album of the Year, only one person can win MVP and only one team can win the championship. Several artists can surpass one million record sales, much like 24 players can be named All-Stars.

Also Read: KCP Is Looking For a Rebirth In Los Angeles

I’m not a Taylor Swift fan. However, much like Pelinka, I’m excited to watch all of the Lakers’ young guys compete and potentially develop into a contender.

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