Earlier in the season, the Los Angeles Lakers (23-33) endured a disheartening nine-game losing streak and many people felt like the sky was falling. One of those people calling for team president Magic Johnson to make changes was none other than outspoken Big Baller Brand founder LaVar Ball.

According to a piece published on Thursday by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Johnson finally opened up about LaVar's criticism of the team, most notably Lakers head coach Luke Walton's job security.

“Look, we had lost nine in a row and you didn't hear nothing from me, right? I was supporting Luke through all nine in a row,” Johnson said. “So now, LaVar comes out and says something, and everybody asks, ‘Why didn't you say nothing?'”

LaVar continued to talk, but Johnson was not going to take the bait. All of that was simply outside noise to him, as management already had coach Walton's back through thick and thin.

“I'm not gonna respond to people saying different things. [Walton] already had my vote of confidence. There's never been a question about his job security here. But everybody else was trying to make a big deal out of it. I was good with Luke, I was good with Jeanie. So I said we should do nothing because if we react to this, now anytime somebody says something about the Lakers, we gotta react.”

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The Lakers followed their nine-game skid with a 16-game stretch that the team went 12-4, which is something Johnson says shouldn't have come as a surprise.

”We know what we have, we know who we are,” Johnson said. “And the team responded, and we're better. So I'm happy we just didn't jump out there.”

However, the last two games have been a disaster on defense for the young Lakers, as the team has given up a whopping 130 points to the Dallas Mavericks and then last night's 139-117 Valentine's Day fiasco against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Los Angeles has a chance to head into the All-Star Break on a winning note tonight in a primetime contest on TNT. However, it won't be easy as they head to Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have compiled a 23-7 record at home.