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When asked if it was important to represent “Black and brown” in his basketball ownership, Rodriguez told Andscape: “Yes. That is what I do. I represent both. And the reason why I am here is because I saw Magic [Johnson] wearing a suit and tie. I said, ‘That was a guy I can relate with. He looks like me. He came from the bottom like me.’ “I can’t put myself in his shoes. But when Magic [became a Los Angeles Lakers minority owner], it kind of ignited my vision. ‘Why not me? Why not you? Why not us?’ I’d like to affect one person to say, ‘This is a guy who is a former athlete who has been through some ups and downs, course-corrected and is someone who can lead others to their dreams.”
Matt Barnes thinks Magic Johnson is going back to the Lakers (along with Bob Myers)
Matt Barnes: But with new ownership—who’s obviously tied to Magic Johnson—and Magic is tied to Rob in the Commanders deal... do we smell what The Rock is cooking? Or am I crazy to think that Magic could be on his way back to the Lakers at some point? Maybe with Bob Myers—a fellow Bruin, the great mind behind the Golden State Warriors—who’s just sitting at home collecting checks, looking good on ESPN, owning NFL teams. As a Laker fan, what would you think?
Magic Johnson: Candace Parker has left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles Sparks, not only as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court, but as a true ambassador of our franchise and women’s basketball as a whole. Beginning with her arrival to the City of Angels in 2008, she not only lived up to the expectations placed on her as a two-time Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year and NCAA National Champion, she far exceeded them. Her unparalleled skill, relentless drive, and leadership elevated the Sparks to new heights and set a new standard of greatness. Candace is the best all-around player that has ever played in the WNBA. Her legacy is immeasurable — she redefined excellence, was a champion on the court and for the Los Angeles community and inspired countless fans and future generations of athletes. Very few champions get to see their jersey hanging from the rafters in this city. Retiring Candace’s No. 3 jersey is not just a celebration of her extraordinary career, but a tribute to the enduring mark she's left on this organization, the WNBA, and the city of Los Angeles. She will forever be a part of the Sparks family.
Magic Johnson: “One thing that Jeanie [Buss] was going to do is put [the franchise] in the right hands. If she was going to sell, it had to be the right person, and Mark Walter is the right person to take over and lead us for the next 30, 40 years. So, this is the best news that could have happened for all Laker fans across the world. Mark has had his eye on the Lakers for a long time. That’s why he bought [Philip] Anschutz’s [minority ownership] piece first and then he was sitting there, and Jeanie knew this.
Magic Johnson: “You saw Mark let Jeanie stay on the Board of Governors. That was smart. One thing that is smart about Jeanie is she was never going to say, ‘Oh, the Lakers are up for sale! Anybody can own them.’ That’s not who she is. She wasn’t going to put it in anybody’s hands. “And I think because of the success of the Dodgers and how he has run the organization, now it’s easy for the fans. We already know him. We’ve seen his work already. We’ve seen what he’s been able to do, led us to a couple of World Series [wins] and going to the World Series four times. That’s success right there. That’s what Laker fans are looking for. “He’s got a track record. This is what Laker fans would want, somebody that they can trust, just like they trusted Dr. Buss. They trusted Jeanie because of her father saying, ‘This is who I want in charge.’ So, this is beautiful for all Laker fans.”
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“The 1984 series was the first finals confrontation between (Larry) Bird and Magic (Johnson) and that fabled personal rivalry, and when I called those kind of games, I never projected the ultimate meaning of them,” Stockton said. “I never got ahead of myself because then you are assuming something and it becomes dangerous. I called that Game 7 as I called the others: the ebb and flow of the contest, the concentration to be accurate, making sure my partner would get to be the expert. My job was to do the ‘who and what,’ his was to do the ‘why and how.’ The roles would be mixed at times, but all I aimed to do was deliver the happenings and let it play out. It carried more significance than the others, but those watching knew it. They didn’t need me to overdo the scenario.”
Magic Johnson: Job well done to my sister Jeanie Buss for striking an incredible deal and picking the right person to carry on the @Lakers legacy and tradition of winning - Mark Walter, my business partner and friend! Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker
Magic Johnson: I know that my sister Jeanie would have only considered selling the Lakers organization to someone she knows and trusts would carry on the Buss legacy, started by her father Dr. Buss. Now she can comfortably pass the baton to Mark Walter, with whom she has a real friendship and can trust. She’s witnessed him build a winning team with the Dodgers and knows that Mark will do right by the Lakers team, organization, and fans! Both are extremely intelligent, visionaries, great leaders, and have positively impacted the greater Los Angeles community! I love both my sister @JeanieBuss and my business partner Mark Walter.
Earvin Magic Johnson: Laker fans should be estatic. A few things I can tell you about Mark - he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way. AND he will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike - they are competitive people, l have big hearts, love to give back, and both prefer to be behind the scenes. This makes all the sense in the world. I am so so SO happy and excited for @Lakers fans all over the world!!
Zach Kram: Youngest 40-point scorers in a Finals game: 1. Magic Johnson, 1980 2. Rick Barry, 1967 (3x) 3. Russell Westbrook, 2012 4. Jerry West, 1962 5. Jalen Williams, tonight
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In 2000, Bryant did the same to ignite a new generation of Lakers dominance. He wasn’t smiling, though. He didn’t use words. He laced jumpers like daggers into the hearts of the Pacers. Then Bryant gestured to his teammates, to the fans, to everyone who had yet to fully comprehend the level of No. 8. Everybody, calm down. Kobe is here. A superstar was born. “You only get a few of those players,” Ron Harper, Bryant’s Lakers teammate, said to The Athletic this week. “You can count on a few of them: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas. They get to those special moments when the game slows down in their eyes, when it speeds up for everybody else. “He went and got the game. He allowed the game to come to him, but he went and got the game.”
Magic Johnson on Luka Doncic: 'We shouldn't have to tell you to be in shape'
Magic Johnson is the latest person to call out Doncic’s conditioning and warned that the upcoming year is important for the franchise during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday morning: “Luka gotta understand this is not Dallas. To your point, Kobe, superstar who led us, Shaq led us to a championship, LeBron led us. And that’s what’s missing here. We shouldn’t have to tell you to be in shape, you should have been about that, right? Especially when you’re a superstar. So this is gonna be an important year for the Lakers, important offseason for the Lakers.”
Magic Johnson: Tyrese Haliburton has to score more in this series
Magic Johnson joined ESPN's "Get Up" on Thursday morning to talk about the Pacers and was asked specifically what Tyrese Haliburton had to do to get Indiana across the finish line. "OKC has more talent than Indiana at the end of the day. But the way they’re going to win is they have to play fast, (Haliburton) has to score more in this series," Johnson said. "He has to get 20-25 points every single game in order for the Pacers to win because they follow his lead, right?"
Magic Johnson: "So he has to set the tempo, not just with his pace and also his assists, but also his scoring. I had to do that against the Celtics. I could cruise in the other series, but not against the Celtics. I must score against the Celtics, while I still had to get 15-20 assists, and this is important for him: He has to do the same thing, set the table for the guys and score points against OKC."
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