Earvin “Magic” Johnson has not retained his minority ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers for a few years now.
While he gave up his official part ownership in 2010, he was no longer carrying any official position with the team, but was still connected.
The team awarded him an honorary VP position and title despite not having any real business dealings on what the Lakers decide to do into the future.
He has voiced his opinion many times on social media. Johnson once tweeted his pleasure with coach Mike D’Antoni‘s departure after his short stint with the team.
Johnson also took the opportunity to lash out at Lakers management, and in particular Jim Buss, who has been the focus of the team’s failures since he resumed ownership in 2013.
Happy days are here again! Mike D'Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn't be happier!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 1, 2014
Johnson said Buss was trying to do things on his own, and not consulting anyone to help. He also criticized him for not placing general manager Mitch Kupchak in position to make bigger personnel decisions.
It was never a secret that Johnson was unhappy with how Buss ran the organization, and even made comments over the past couple of years about recruiting players from other teams who were under contract with their own.
That falls under the NBA's conflict of interest clause which heavily discourages teams from attempting to recruit players who are not free agents.
While Johnson maintained his honorary title, he tweeted about the Lakers pursuing Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan and LeBron James while they were under contract.
The NBA stepped in and fined the Lakers organization for an undisclosed amount, which caused the team to give in to Johnson’s request to have his honorary VP position removed from all things related to the Lakers.
Follow Us
Subscribe