Stephen A's Take: Gatorade signs projected 1st pick in NBA Draft. D Wade Statue fiasco. JJ Redick has Lakers rolling in LA.

Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown. Cooper Flagg is a 17-year-old freshman phenom who will play for Duke this season… and he’s expected to be the first pick in the NBA Draft next June. He also became the first men’s college basketball player to sign as a Gatorade pitchman. He joins Paige Bueckers and Juju Watkins as the other college basketball stars attached to the brand.

In Los Angeles, JJ Reddick has gotten the Lakers off to a 3 and 1 start, with Anthony Davis averaging nearly 33 points a game. As for the Warriors, they’re also 3-1 and found a way to beat the Pelicans last night without Steph Curry.

Miami unveiled the statue earlier this week, about eight months after team president Pat Riley announced plans for the tribute. The statue eventually went viral on social media as fans questioned its likeness to Dwyane Wade himself.

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