Magic steps down...to have ‘fun’
Believing in Magic left the Lakers drowning in a water tank.
Magic Johnson, perhaps the greatest point guard of all time, stunningly quit as Lakers’ president of basketball operations Tuesday night, citing the work as stifling to his happiness and unfulfilling. The 59-yearold alternated between laughing and crying during the surreal impromptu press conference, acknowledging he hadn’t even told owner Jeanie Buss about the decision because he didn’t have the stomach to disappoint “my sister.”
Johnson also said that quitting cleared him from the duty of firing coach Luke Walton today, which would’ve put him at odds with Buss.
“I would have to affect somebody’s livelihood and life. I thought, ‘That’s not fun for me, that’s not who I am,’’ Johnson said. “And then I don’t want to put her in the middle of us. Even though she told me do what you want to do. I know she has great love for (Walton) and great (love) for me. I want to go back to having fun.” What a disaster. The emotional announcement solidified Johnson’s two-season tenure as a failure despite helping lure LeBron James to L.A. Among Johnson’s most egregious errors: Trading D’Angelo Russell to clear the path for Lonzo Ball Repeatedly fined for tampering Failing to trade for Paul George or Kawhi Leonard Failing to trade for Anthony Davis Failing to build a competent team around James, signing ball-dominant players like Michael Beasley, Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson, instead of shooters that better complement LeBron’s style.
In the process, Johnson went from beloved to a lightning rod for criticism. He said he desired a life where he could tweet out congratulations for specific achievements – citing Dwyane Wade’s retirement or Russell Westbrook’s 20-point, 20-assist game – without being accused of tampering.
“I was thinking about all these times guys want me to mentor them and be a part of their lives and I can’t even do that. I had more fun on the other side than on this side,” Johnson said, adding, “I got a great life. I got a great life outside of this, so what am I doing?” Johnson said. “I have a beautiful life and I’m going to go back to that beautiful life.”