Magic Johnson: “I Was Happier When I Wasn’t Lakers’ President”

The Los Angeles Lakers are surviving one of the toughest moments in their entire existence. The second most successful franchise in the league’s history is hitting bottom at the moment.

Last night Magic Johnson, alpha and omega of the Lakers (sorry Kobe, he is) stepped down from the position of the president of the basketball operations.

It was too much for him to handle. Even for Magic, who dedicated his whole life to the Lakers, and asked nothing in return.

“I am about to cry now. It’s hard when you love an organization the way I love this organization,” Magic told the reporters while announcing his departure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJxinjM9S84

And he really did cry. It is awful when you have to leave somebody you love that much. But sometimes that is simply the only way you can both be happier.

“I was happier when I wasn’t president,” Johnson said.

Many things happened which disappointed Magic while he led the Lakers. All the stories about his bad management, (which could be questioned), the problems with tampering, the gossips, resistance inside and outside the club. He simply didn’t want to be a part of that anymore.

And why should he, after all Magic is one of the best ever, he doesn’t need this to ruin his authority.

“The backstabbing, the whispering. I don’t like that. I don’t like a lot of things that went on that didn’t have to go on.”

And this season has been all about that for the Lakers. First about the trades and the speculations with Anthony Davis’ move to LA.

The purple and gold did want to get the Eyebrow, and were willing to offer the appropriate package for him. In the end, the whole thing ruined the chemistry of the team, because the media continually issued different information about that, and the players involved felt hurt.

There is also another thing. It appears that the arrival of LeBron James changed everything. King James is known as a person who likes to run the show and be in the middle of everything. In his past, we’ve seen on several occasions that he made trades and staff changes. There are voices who are claiming that LBJ is in fact, one the reasons why Magic left.

It is believed that LeBron tampered on his own in Davis’ case.

Magic didn’t have a single bad word for Jeanie Buss, who he called “sister” during his address to the media. According to Johnson’s words, Buss gave him the power to decide on his own, and to act in the best interest of the franchise without involving in his business.

He didn’t have the strength to tell her about his resignation face to face, which is why he did it publicly.

“I couldn’t face her to tell her, so I had to do it this way because we love each other so much.”

Whether is that true, we can hardly know. There were some other people who allegedly to some sources, didn’t have much in common with Magic, like Rob Pelinka, and the way he spoke about him during the interview gave a lot of reason to believe in those allegations. Magic didn’t tell anything bad about Lakers’ GM, but it was noticeable that the didn’t praise him either.

During his sting with the LAL, which started in 2017, Magic made a reconstruction of the team, and managed to form a young core of players who were supposed to make this franchise great again. Ingram and Lonzo Ball were picked up from the draft, Kuzma arrived from Brooklyn after being drafted. He later signed LeBron James, and made multiple trades to form a team, which eventually failed to reach the playoffs.

Partially because of the lack of quality, but mostly because of the bad chemistry, bad coaching, and many injuries.

It all fell on Magic’s back, and he didn’t want to take it anymore. And he won’t be sorry about it.

“I got a beautiful life. I’m going back to that beautiful life. I’m looking forward to it,” five-time champion with the purple and gold stated.