Magic Johnson is looking to call the shots now he’s back in the Los Angeles Lakers organization.
The Lakers legend was named an adviser to co-owner and president Jeanie Buss last week. Reports suggested Johnson’s role saw him advise the club in both business and financial matters. With the huge role, Johnson told USA Today Sports, he hopes to one day have final say in basketball decisions.
“Working to call the shots, because it only works that way,’’ Johnson said. “Right now I’m advising. I get that. But at the end of the day, then we all got to come together and somebody’s got to say, ‘I’m making the final call,’ all right? And who’s that going to be?
Johnson is unlikely to be calling the shots in L.A. anytime soon. General manager Mitch Kupchak and owner Jim Buss are in charge of basketball decisions. Johnson is unlikely to climb the ladder above them this soon into his most recent tenure with the Lakers.
Johnson told USA Today Sports he’s unsure how long his time with the Lakers will be. But, given his candid talk about his future role with Los Angeles, he’s clearly willing to take on a huge load of responsibility. Will the Lakers give him more to do than simply advise? That remains to be seen.