0:00 Look back on Magic's time as president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. 2:00 Stephen A. Smith asks Magic about what led to his resignation. 5:25 Magic Johnson explains that he wanted to fire Luke Walton but Los Angeles Lakers executive Tim Harris wanted to retain him. 8:42 Magic explains why he resigned without telling LeBron James. 17:40 Magic Johnson identifies Lakers GM Rob Pelinka as the “backstabber.”
The Magic man, will he ever be replicated in modern day leadership in sports. In my sixties, I cannot recall a man with the physical talent, the ability to step back and make amends within his personal life, the ability to connect with teammates, the public, ownership, family. A man with integrity, demonstrating honesty, a desire to make everyone better, selfless. What an articulate, caring, intelligent forward thinking individual, just a pleasure experiencing his journey. Stay safe❤️🙏🏻
I agree 100%. A good move on his part. You have to look out for oneself. That's just life as we know it. Magic, for me only, is a candidate for the greatest of all time. What a wonderful guy, from what I've seen. And I've not seen more than any more than the general public. I base it on what I think it takes to be a good man. HE is that. 👍🏿💯
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. You will not hear two more passionate players of the sport called basketball. The amount of class between these two men cannot be measured by any instrument on earth. I'm glad to have been alive to witness both of their careers, passion and skill set. Long live those G.O.A.T's 👍
Was it the music that got you or the tears? 😆 lol Ngl though given the current state of America, and the history of the Lakers treatment of their players I believe him as well bro.
My name is lipper. I just love sports. My husband conard used to play for Jose Rangers the farm team. I have experience. Plus we have season tickets to the hockey 🏒 games
I love Magic Johnson through and through one of the greatest players all time. Hearing talk about Love presentence being 2019 gave me a chill head to toe.
Lakers don’t get LeBron without Magic. Rob is a snake in the grass and always has been. Magic is a class act taking the high road shows the kinda person he is. Rob used his Privilege to push magic out.
Magic slammed management and then he comes in and mad some head shaking moves and tried to throw Rob under the bus and have you noticed since he’s left there’s been no issues in the Lakers camp. Magic wasn’t cut out for the job and it’s ok, he wasn’t cut out to coach and that’s ok, but I won’t forget him trying to bring down Rob. Yes he is charming and all but that doesn’t make me see past the bs that went down.
If you guys really want to know, and I know that most of you are not going to agree. But, I'm going to say it anyway. It was Kobe that was wielding the axe, so to speak. It was Kobe that was behind the whole thing. Magic is just not going to say it, especially with the fact of Kobe's passing, and the sentiments involved. I always "knew that it was Kobe. Rob is the face, and the fall guy, in this scenario. Just as everyone on the panel knows, Rob did not have that kind of power. Rob was simply being "propped up" by Kobe. Kobe knew the power that Magic had as a former Laker, inside and outside of the Laker organization. Not only is Magic loved by the Laker organization, Magic is loved by Southern Californians, by California politicians, and by business people alike. And, that's to say the least. Kobe wanted to break the Laker bond that Magic had with Jeanie Buss, and had with Jerry Buss. A simple scheme of "divide and conquer." I saw it from the beginning, and I know that others saw it and others within the organization know, including LeBron. But with the death of Kobe, it would almost be like a "career suicide" to speak on it, or against it. If anyone has an inkling of a brain, it's all right there in plain view. I was very much a Kobe fan, and I still am, to an extent, but I was and still am, a big fan of Magic Johnson, and that is as a former player, a businessman, and just a great overall human being. Kobe was one f the best to ever lace em up, he had become one helluva businessman, but he couldn't outdo Magic as a "Southern California" icon, and humanitarian. Kobe and Ron's plan was to become the "heir apparents" to the Lakers organization, and the only way that it could possibly be pulled off, was to get Magic out of the way. They did that "BUT" always remember that, "GOD" is "Always" the "Best" planner! S**t happens, and the raw truth, is sometimes, very hard to swallow.
@Curly Que , nope. Rob was nothing. He was only Kobe's agent. He had absolutely no experience as a NBA executive. So how did Rob go from a agent to becoming a high-level executive, with one the richest and storied teams in NBA history? How does that happen? It all happened because of Kobe Bryant. Kobe put Rob in place. Kobe put Rob in that position. This is simple math. It's not calculus or triganometry. I'm not into conspiracy theories, but I can read the writing on the wall. Anyone with a 1/4 of a brain can figure this out, if they really want to. I'll just say that common sense just isn't that common.
You made truthful points with which I respectfully agree, but on one issue I have to respectfully disagree. Kobe matched Magic's contributions to SoCal, L.A., and Laker Nation as well as any Laker past or present. Kobe will probably never match Magic's charisma.... that innate social ability to be attractive...but, that was never his personality. Kobe was a fighter, Magic is a lover. Two totally different approaches to the game and life, yet Kobe's Laker pedigree matches Magic's in loyalty, wealth, community action, popularity, and career accomplishments. And if he had anything to do with Pelinka's rise, it means that he also wielded more internal power over the franchise than Magic. Even though Magic and Daddy Buss were like two crossed fingers, it was because of Kobe that Phil Jackson returned for the franchise's last back-to-back chips.
Interesting theory but this interview was in May 2019, which was a year before Kobe's death, and Magic himself mentioned he wanted Kobe more involved. Imo, Kobe was just an advisor to Rob and Jeannie at this time, he was probably too focused on his own storytelling business to have or want to have much input with the Lakers.
I love Magic Johnson and if the opportunity for him comes to own an NBA Team or be a part of the ownership group I hope he does consider it cause he makes sound basketball decisions
The white supremacist who run the whole league who you guys say don’t exists but Donald sterling was exposed for being a white supremacist are the most immoral people on the planet but always telling people to he moral
They should have listen to Magic! We won the Championship in 2020 because of the adrenaline of Kobe & Gigi’s passing and how it fueled a already good team but Rob Palinki should have been working with Magic instead of against him so now 2021 the Lakers should have had a Repeat and they are watching the Finals from home!
look at what he did to Sac Town, before Luke arrived Sac was a fringed playoff team and Luke's first idea was to bench their leading scorer Buddy Hield.
Hopefully now that they see rob isn’t as goo as he thinks he is, we can move on to a better gm. Rob’s the one that broke up our championship team that Magic built.
Magic didn't build anything during his tenure as POBO for the Lakers.... The guy made so many bone-headed decisions that made the franchise a laughingstock.
I always tend to come back to this…..Magic didn’t last one season with Bron……everyone is talking about Rob….nah if you remember when bron came to LA and they were losing he said that he knew what he was getting into….as soon as the deadline came the LAKERS traded everyone (Ball,Hart,Ingram) to win NOW….that was Rob? Nah I don’t buy it….it’s Rob and Bron I don’t believe the Buss family would disrespect Magic like that….MAGIC FUCKING JOHNSON???? Nah the backstabbing was Rob and Bron on the low….they went from restructuring to trying to win now…..they pushed him out….all of them Stars are stars and they always get a say……Magic isn’t trying to throw anyone under the bus no pun intended 😂 sad sad stuff…there are reasons why top coaches never clamor to coach Bron never not ever lol there are reasons for that…there are reason Bron gets called LEGM 😂😂 truly sad
He's the definition of class act. The man sat there, told the unapologetic truth WITHOUT bashing or taking personal shots at anyone he mentioned. What a great example for taking the high road amidst all the negativity surrounding him. Awesome guy!!
Personal decisions are always the best decision period because its vital for mental and physical wellness. It's not a high road but the best alternative decision. Much respect for and to Mr. Magic, it takes a lot of courage to walk away rather than stay in a bad situation.
@@evettescott5317 I'm not sure if I agree with personal decisions always being the best. What if I have a personal choice between between two negatives but a business decision between three positives? I do, however, see your point. I believe he made the decision as part of his natural logic of who he is as a person. The "high road" statement was my opinion interjecting. I'm curious. Do you have a degree in philosophy? If not, someone needs to give you a diploma! God bless
Then consult God first and what he whispers in your ear is for you. So what you see must have been revealed or guided by the voice of the only person left to speak with. Two lesser evils is still evil but the first bad choice could be the worse from the start. What's left is what's first, God of course, God of the universe and you. Free Rkelly
6:35 when it’s not fun for me anymore. I felt that. When something you love turns to to much drama, it’s not fun anymore, and when you lose the fun part you enjoy, you lose that passion.
May God Always 🙏 Bless You !!!!! Very honest man among humble ness ...Your Abilities are Unique !!!! One of a kind !!! Besides sharp dressing ...Your Intelligence is Out Standing !!!!! So when you say and decide to do something is How You Decide Things !!!!! You Give Me 🙏🤗 Personally Strength to keep moving forward !!!!! And Even in My life !!!! Walking with only God ...He finds someone Special Funny to Use as God's Instrument ...To make me Stronger to over come my darkest alone Moments.. Dealing with my situation !!!! You are My #1 Mentor !!! May God Bless 🙏 You !!!!! With 💯 More Years !!!! Because you give me knowledge Support and so that I can right to live more years ..🙏🙏🙏Thank Giving Joy In My Jurney.
God bless you as a child of God you are a real man and hat God gave you a gift of true love as a child of God linda j peace yes don't let them out you in a corner ☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️💯💯💯💯
What does class have to do with what happen ! I will give him that he’s is a very wealthy and successful businessman in his own right but as the Lakers president he Fail ! 🙄
Magic is a man of the highest character, in business, as a teammate in sports, as a leader in both. I trust in Magic. He will ALWAYS be my favorite player of all time and will ALWAYS be the greatest Laker of all time, i dont care what anyone says
Because he just reiterated what we ALL. thought, that the Lakers are ran terribly since the passing of Dr Buss Sometimes the kids are not equipped to take over the family business
@spidersense589 as we watch Bron and AD be awesome on Team USA, I am definitely thinking this. I know it takes a strong 5 to win a chip, but we shouldn't be in the play in every year.
@@charnz1 exactly, I'm a Lakers fan too, and I DEFINITELY think we could have no doubt have more than one championship with Bron and AD, but somehow the front office is incapable of surrounding them with a legitimate supporting cast
I like the way Magic Johnson doesn't want to put people he worked with in the Lakers organization in a bad light, even by saying Luke Walton had some good points as well, class act, and a positive personality, a good role model and all around nice guy
I always hated Luke was our coach. He did nothing to prove he was a good coach. He only got it bc he was under Kerr back when GS was balling. And it never flourished with LA
Just saw this, Magics realisticstic view on business and basketball together had to make a difference. Props to Magic and the Lakers for getting it right, long time suns fans since the early 90's when I was 6.
@@kathyborthwick6738LakotaEmoji for sure - I just think integrity can’t be determined by the way we shake hands, it’s showed over a period of time when challenged with varying situations.
Will always say this was a bad look for the Lakers. Pretty easy to look like a master GM the likes of Masai Ujiri or Sam Presti when you got player like AD forcing their teams hand to trade him for a cent on the dollar. In 3 yrs time when LBJ retires they’ll be right back in the post-Kobe world of Lottery-ville.
Magic Johnson: CHAMPION as an NBA player & MLB owner .... Magic had already given the Lakers "his best" ... THEN he took his magic elsewhere to achieve the rest (which is a good thing)
@Eilliw Nodrog OF COURSE he did didnt you notice Magic raising the championship banner on opening day, that was ceremony day when they all got their rings
Magic an all-time great player. That's obvious. Sometimes though great players don't make great GM's. It's a far more complex job then he realized. Roster building was difficult enough in the old days. Now the contracts are more complicated, there salary cap ramifications, sign and trades, luxury tax thresholds, more advanced scouting, one and done college players, far more knowledgeable agents, plus player's attitudes and dedication are different in the modern. He discovered all these things and said.... "let me go to the LAX, pick-up Lebron, get him signed and then tell Jeannie this is too much for me". He's an ambassador of the game, not a GM, at least by today's standards....
Magic is Mr. Laker It’s no question that he’d do anything to make the Laker a winning team, with what he has, and what resources are available. I’ll ALWAYS believe in Magic. Magic also has too much class to stir up drama and make a big scene, but I understand he has to clear the air instead of letting rumors float around that’s hurting his reputation, and even does that with class and transparency.
Well if your listen he was the only one talking behind is back so to instead earning his way to get his spot. Plus he already had told her if he got the job he wants to make the final decision but he has other business he got is that going to be a problem she said. So he hearing Rob talking about him behind his back and other people before he got start told him to watch out so magic doesn't blame her he blame Rob for getting into her head and getting things out of control
In my opinion Magic Johnson is the 2nd best basketball player of all time behind the GOAT aka Michael Jordan but I know alot wont agree with me but Magic played in a tough era just like Jordan in my opinion if LeBron went up against the BAD BOY PISTONS they would probably put LBJ in the hospital I mean LeBron would cry if Jokim Noah would even look at him but this is just my opinion I'm sure the LeBron lovers will talk about how tough he is
He convinced LeBron James to go to Los Angeles. Last year the Lakers win 💍. Magic Johnson all time great player. Legend I will always love magic. You want me to hate magic I won't. I believe he called LeBron and he talk to him. I feel he the reason LeBron James join the Lakers.
![[Part 1] Magic Johnson explains why he suddenly resigned as Lakers president | First Take](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
