Magic Johnson is unexpectedly stepping down as president of the Los Angeles Lakers, but somehow brought the New York Knicks into the story.
How in the world did Magic Johnson manage to bring the New York Knicks into his current drama with the Los Angeles Lakers?
Knicks fans could take pleasure in the misery of Lakers fans. Johnson staged an impromptu press conference to announce he was stepping down. In fact, he didn’t even tell Lakers owner Jeanie Buss of his decision because he was too afraid to face her.
Magic Johnson is conducting an impromptu press conference and just stepped down as Lakers president. He said he loves Jeanie Buss like a sister.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 10, 2019
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
Lakers coaching staff fully expected to be fired in hours after the final game of the season. They had believed they were gone for months. Now? Magic quits in public, saying he's too scared to tell Jeanie Buss face-to-face. What an embarrassing episode for a historic franchise.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 10, 2019
Magic was a complete disaster as an executive. He focused on acquiring marquee superstars and landed LeBron James, but failed to surround him with shooters. In the meantime, he traded away D’Angelo Russell, let Julius Randle walk, and even traded Ivica Zubac for peanuts.
What an absolute dumpster fire in Los Angeles. This is the kind of thing that Knicks fans are all too familiar with. Fortunately, Knicks fans could take pleasure watching another fan base suffer. But of course, life isn’t that simple.
While Magic was stepping down from his position as team president of the Lakers, he mentioned that Steve Mills once reached out to him about leading the Knicks. Of course, Mills is the current team president and a Knicks lifer.
In talking about how he is a “Laker for life,” Magic Johnson explained how he turned down other jobs:
“I could have led the Knicks when Steve Mills called me”
— Knicks Film School (@KnickFilmSchool) April 10, 2019
Magic is framing this as if he was offered a job by Mills. That seems unlikely. If anything, Mills may have included Magic on an early list of people he was considering, but that’s likely the extent of it.
How should Knicks fans feel about this? Concerned and annoyed are two words that come to mind, but most of all, Knicks fans should be relieved. Magic Johnson is not running the Knicks anytime soon.
