Magic Johnson is no longer the president of the Los Angeles Lakers, news he announced at an impromptu press conference at Staples Center on Tuesday night to the shock of everyone.
Magic Johnson shocks – well, everyone – and announces he’s stepping down as president of the Lakers. Says he’s not yet spoken to Jeanie Buss to tell her. Says he’s sick of tampering rules, he’s tired of the “backstabbing” & says he didn’t want to disappoint Jeanie by firing Luke. pic.twitter.com/m50VKQmmDR
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 10, 2019
After two years at the helm of the Lakers — the peak of which was signing LeBron James — Magic announced his decision for a reason that is truly unbelievable, but at the same time, extremely relatable. Magic wants to have fun and be himself, and said he doesn’t believe he can be himself in this role, citing his inability to send a congratulatory note to someone like Russell Westbrook after a 20-20-20 game.
Magic Johnson says he likes to be free to congratulate players such as Russell Westbrook when he hit the 20–20-20 mark. Says he couldn’t be himself and he hasn’t informed Jeanie Buss yet.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 10, 2019
Magic Johnson says that his position doesn’t allow him to be a statesman of the game of basketball. He says he wants to go back to his wonderful life away from this position. “I was happier when I wasn’t the president (of the Lakers)”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 10, 2019
He also channeled Mark Wahlberg from The Other Guys, insisting he’s a peacock and needs to fly, in different words.
Magic: “I’m a free bird and I’ve been handcuffed. And I don’t like that.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
While stepping down so he can tweet and be a fan again is pretty tremendous, the absolute best quote was him talking about discussing the future with some people prior to the game and laughing internally about how he won’t be here.
Magic said "I'm out" 💀 pic.twitter.com/COV61wpci6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 10, 2019
He also hadn’t told Jeanie Buss he was quitting, saying he couldn’t bring himself to tell her face to face, while also not wanting to fire Luke Walton.
Stunning. Magic says he has not told Jeanie his decision.
“Somebody’s going to have to tell my boss because I knew I couldn’t be face-to-face and tell her. … I couldn’t stand to tell her.”
Says what she had in him was someone she could trust and be loyal.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
Magic Johnson says he couldn’t stand to face Jeanie Buss to tell her personally, so he’s doing it this way. Would like to consult the team. https://t.co/qKOoaU3CS6
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 10, 2019
“I think that with (Jeanie) and I, I want to always preserve our relationship with her. And I think I had more fun when I was able to the be big brother and ambassador.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
On Jeanie: “I think she’s going to be caught off guard. And I think she’ll be hurt by not having somebody she can trust…” Says once she sees his face she’ll understand this was the right decision for him.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
End of the day, Magic Johnson claims he has too much love for Jeanie Buss to hurt someone she loves in Luke Walton. A high-stakes basketball version of the Gift of the Magi. Stunning.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 10, 2019
Magic went on to say he was hurt by the Ben Simmons situation earlier in the year and how it was portrayed.
Magic says the Ben Simmons situation hurt him because it made him “look like the bad guy.” Wants to be able to mentor people around the league. “Hopefully I can go back to who I was before I took this job.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
Magic Johnson said he would like to work out with #Sixers Ben Simmons now that he's not the president of basketball operations for the Lakers#HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/rn9P8B55HH
— David Malandra Jr (@David_Malandra) April 10, 2019
At one point he also lobbied for a job on ESPN, which was tremendous.
Magic Johnson is joking around, asking if he can get a job on ESPN. "I need a job." This is amazing.
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) April 10, 2019
When asked about Rob Pelinka and whether he was the right GM for the job, he happily deferred that deferred that to Jeanie, while also noting he and Rob had never really met before being paired together to run the team.
Magic: “Do I think Rob is the right GM? That’s a decision Jeanie has to make.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/AnthonyIrwinLA/status/1115787703012847617
It was truly one of the most surreal 45 minutes anyone has ever seen in terms of a press conference from an NBA executive.
Magic Johnson doubled down by speaking with Rachel Nichols for an ESPN interview, saying he’s thrilled he now can tweet when he wants.
Magic just said the sentence on his ESPN interview: "And I get to TWEET when I WANT."
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) April 10, 2019
Nichols later offered him a job on The Jump with her and he promised to take her up on that, “This is a guarantee from the Magic Man, I’m gonna come on.”
