Magic Johnson bleeds purple and gold for his entire life, and he lived up to that identity despite a promising offer from the Golden State Warriors.
Upon his appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe, Johnson revealed that Warriors governor Joe Lacob and executive chairman Peter Guber offered him an ownership stake in the franchise.
The all-time great politely declined the proposal as he asserts being a full-blooded Los Angeles Laker.
“I do, just the right situation,” Johnson said when asked if he has interest of being an owner in the association, courtesy of Jonathan Sherman of the Lakers Daily. “But I’m such a Laker fan, I don’t know if I can do it. … I’ve had four opportunities, and I turned them all down.
“Joe Lacob and Peter Guber sat down with lunch with me in Santa Monica. ‘We want you to be our partners with the Golden State Warriors.’ I love both men. I just couldn’t do it. I’m a Laker. I love the Lakers.”
Johnson, who was chosen by the Lakers for the first overall pick of the 1979 Draft out of Michigan State, became an adopted son of Los Angeles and team pioneer Jerry Buss.
Using his thrilling type of play and generational ability to influence the game as a unique six-foot-nine floor general, he powered the ‘Showtime’ Lakers to supremacy in the 80s, appearing in nine NBA Finals while winning the five of them. He also earned tons of individual honors as the franchise’s superstar with Kareem-Abdul Jabbar and James Worthy backing him up.
He played his entire magnificent career for the Lakeshow, and still committed himself to the other professional sports leagues of the city following retirement – currently being a part owner of the NFL’s Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.
As such, Johnson had his time serving as an executive for the historic club also, serving as its president of basketball operations for a season.
It might be too hard to turn down the offer given the Dubs’ current worth in the market, but Johnson’s loyalty will remain indelibly marked due to the everlasting impacts and experiences he got within the Lakers.
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