NBA
Magic Johnson Works His “Magic” Again
“We’ll see what happens at 9:01 on Saturday”, Magic Johnson said during an interview with CBS reporters. For those just catching up on NBA news. On June 30, 2018, the NBA free agent market officially opened at 9:01 pm, and Los Angeles became the winners of the LeBron James sweepstakes.
By signing James to a four-year, $154 million contract, the Lakers instantly became 7/2 favorites to come out of the West and made the Celtics the favorites to come out of the East. Talk about a power shift. Stephen A. Smith reported that LeBron flew out to LA at 12 am for a three hour meeting with Magic and the rest is history.
With confidence, Magic muttered, “If I can’t deliver, she (Jeanie Buss) won’t have to fire me, I’ll step down,” but with nabbing The King, it looks like the head of basketball operations is here to stay.
Instant Success
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is someone who knows a lot about instant success, and that aura has no choice but to trickle down his team. After 1972, the rebuilding “Showtime” Lakers went on a seven-year championship drought before drafting Johnson first overall in 1979. Fresh off winning a national championship with Michigan state, Johnson proved to be the answer the Lakers needed.
In his rookie season, Magic averaged 18ppg, 7.7rpg, 7.3 apg and at the age of 20, he led the Lakers to their first NBA championship in seven years. From 1980 to 1988, Magic and the “Showtime” Lakers went on to win five NBA titles in nine NBA Finals appearances.
The Future Of Laker Nation
“We have this summer and next summer,” says Johnson, speaking on his strategy to secure a successful future for the purple and gold. Magic has always expressed his adoration for the Laker’s organization and how he would have loved nothing more than to lead them back to glory. Although he can’t do it on the hardwood, being hired as president of basketball operations gave him a way to do it in a suit.
