After just over two years as the Los Angeles Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations, Magic Johnson announced he is stepping down from his post. Johnson held an impromptu press conference prior to the Lakers’ regular season finale against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night where he announced the news.
BREAKING: Magic Johnson has stepped down as Lakers' President of Basketball Operations. pic.twitter.com/yrHkguOO02
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 10, 2019
Johnson told the press that he did this without telling Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, but made it a point to praise her and say that he believes he is best able to help her as a “big brother and ambassador.”
Magic Johnson: “(Jeanie) doesn’t know I’m standing here.”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 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
Magic says he hasn’t told Jeanie yet. “I couldn’t do it.”
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) April 10, 2019
“My concern is over my relationship with my sister, Jeanie Buss.”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 10, 2019
Additionally, Johnson cited a lack of fun as a major reason for his decision to step down.
“I want to go back to having fun” – Magic Johnson https://t.co/VZGIr36CTO
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) 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
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
The news of Johnson’s decision comes on the same day that a story by Bill Oram of The Athletic labeled him as having a reputation for being an “absentee executive,” something that was elaborated by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN following the news of his departure from his post.
Since taking over as president of the Lakers, Magic Johnson never fully committed to the job. Often he was traveling and away from the team. His office hours were limited. He didn't do a lot of scouting. Running an NBA team takes a tremendous commitment of time and energy.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019
As for the timing of this, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN brings word that this truly did come out of left field.
Nobody and I mean nobody had a sense Magic was gonna do this today.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 10, 2019
It goes without saying, but following the team missing the playoffs during LeBron James’ first year in Los Angeles, this upcoming offseason was going to be gigantic for the future of the Lakers. Johnson, who was hired in Feb. 2017, had promised that he was going to go out and try and get a star to pair with James, but now, that responsibility will fall onto someone else.
