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Magic Johnson, the erstwhile President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, had an extremely entertaining and informative appearance on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman.
Johnson was questioned about his infamous press conference in which he stepped down as a member of the Lakers’ front office as well as his reasoning behind the decision.
Notably, Johnson accused Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka of “backstabbing” him, insulting and defaming Johnson behind closed doors. However, Johnson was still in fine spirits on First Take and even said he wouldn't hesitate on buying the team it it is ever put up on sale.
“If the Lakers were up for sale tomorrow, yes, I'd be running up to Jeanie and say — let me buy them. Listen, it's a gold mine. The Lakers are a gold mine,” Johnson told Max Kellerman, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Certainly, a beloved former player owning a team might make sense in the abstract, but it became clear rather quickly that Johnson and Pelinka were the opposite of a match made in heaven — as their odd free agency decisions seemingly sunk the team after it had landed one of the best free agents in team history in LeBron James.
Only time will tell if Johnson somehow returns to the Lakers in some form or fashion — even if it as an owner!