Riley on post-Magic mess: ‘Nobody asked’ about Lakers

MIAMI — A month ago, when asked about the Los Angeles Lakers in the wake of Magic Johnson’s resignation as team president, Miami Heat president Pat Riley said at AmericanAirlines Arena, “I’m not going to comment on another team’s misfortune while they’re going through some adversity right now.”

Monday, in an interview with ESPN, Riley addressed comments made by his former Showtime Lakers championship point guard, while also discussing previous speculation about a return to LA.

“I have thought [about returning to the Lakers] only from a sentimental standpoint,” said Riley, who coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990, guiding them to four NBA titles. “But I was never pursued by them. Nobody officially contacted me. I have about 20 friends wishing I would come back, but nobody asked.”

Last month, Riley said at his seasonending media session, “There’s no doubt that I have a history with that team. I was there for 20 years and I have a lot of friends still in the organization. I had a

good conversation with Magic after he stepped down and I’m sure they’ll work it out. I’m not going to be part of that. That’s not what I want to do.”

And yet Monday, in his interview with ESPN, Riley injected himself into the conversation when commenting on Johnson’s falling out with the Lakers and eventual resignation from his executive position.

During an interview on ESPN’s First Take, Johnson called out Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka for “backstabbing.”

“I started hearing, ‘Magic, you’re not working hard enough. Magic’s not in the office,’ ” Johnson said. “People around the Lakers office were telling me Rob was saying things, and I didn’t like hearing those things being said behind my back.”

That led to Riley being asked for comment during a previously scheduled interview on another topic.

“I’ll tell you about Earvin — and it’s what I love about him, but also what I have cautioned him about — he’s going to speak his mind. If that’s how he felt, that’s how he felt,” Riley said.

“He’s not going to leave a hanging curveball out there about backstabbing and whispering. He manned up today. That’s who ‘Buck’ is. He would never tolerate that. He never has tolerated that.”

The Lakers, in the wake of Johnson’s April resignation, have turned over personnel leadership to Pelinka, a former agent.

Most of those close to Riley in the Heat’s front office have been with the teams for years, which has been a factor in minimizing public airings of differences.

“When you are in the position that Earvin was in, when you turn over the organization to somebody like him, there’s only one person who can say no to you. That’s your owner,” Riley told ESPN. “It’s the same for me here in Miami. If Micky Arison says no, that’s it. Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t have power. But when others find a way to gain influence to do this or say that, it gets a little dicey.”