Magic Johnson is widely regarded as one of the most successful athletes after retiring from the NBA. Having expanded his portfolio, Johnson recently appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” to discuss the possibility of a new venture, NBA ownership.
While speaking with Stephen A. Smith on the matter, Johnson said, “I might have to get back in the NBA,” in reference to his last role as president of basketball operations with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019. But, in this particular scenario, the Hall of Famer was hinting at team ownership.
To this, Smith immediately responded by asking, “If you’re going to get back in, there was really only one place. You ain’t interested in nobody but the Lakers, is that not correct?”
The Lakers legend responded to this with, “Well, I’m interested in the Lakers. But I may be interested in somebody else, too, depending on who the owner is.”
The host of “First Take” bluntly asked Johnson to assemble a group to “steal” it from the New York Knicks. Johnson, who couldn’t hold back his laughter, responded, “If Dolan ever puts the Knicks up for sale, I will be first in line.”
Smith very clearly indicated his interest in having the Hall of Famer take over the Knicks, adding that the team would have a better chance of winning with Johnson running the show.
The Lakers legend also mentioned how he had been approached about potential ownership opportunities in the past, but he rejected them due to his loyalty to the Purple and Gold. But with the spotlight on the Knicks, he said:
“Well, I said the Knicks are the Knicks. New York is New York. And I love the way the fans respond. This city was on fire.”
In light of the recent changes in New York, with head coach Tom Thibodeau’s firing, an effort supposedly led by James Dolan, the Knicks are in a state of disarray. As a loyal Knicks fan, Smith is simply looking out for his team, and with one of the most successful individuals in NBA history in front of him, he simply had to take the shot that was available to him.
Johnson has had immense success with team ownership outside of the NBA. Although his run as president of the Lakers’ basketball club was a bit of a disappointment, it was still positive, as he was directly responsible for bringing LeBron James on board.
The 12x All-Star has been synonymous with success in his basketball career and business. Having won the NCAA championship with Michigan State, Johnson went on to win five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during his playing days.
After retiring from the NBA, Johnson pursued a life of business and building his brand. This resulted in ownership in several sports franchises, including the NFL’s Washington Commanders, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the NWSL’s Los Angeles Spirit, as well as the MLS’s Los Angeles FC.
Johnson’s most successful venture from this set has certainly been his ownership of the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series Champions. With an approximate net worth of $1.5 billion, he is truly in a different league.
