LeBron James broke his silence on Magic Johnson’s surprising departure as president of the Lakers with strong words for his former boss, writes Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. James’ comments came on the latest episode of “The Shop,” his HBO show, which aired tonight.
“It was just weird for [Johnson] to just be like . . . ‘Nah, I’m out of here,’” James said. “And not even have [a heads-up] like: ‘Hey, Bron . . . kiss my a–. I’m out of here.’ I would have been okay with that. Like: ‘Hey, Bron, it’s Magic. Kiss my a–; I’m gone.’ It wasn’t even that.”
Johnson made the announcement in a session with reporters as the Lakers were preparing for their final game of the season. He didn’t talk to team owner Jeanie Buss or any of the players about his intentions before informing the media.
“We were like, ‘Damn, right now?’ It was literally 70 minutes on the clock before [tip-off],” James said. “[The team] is getting ready for a game. And you decide to do that right here, right now? I feel like there’s a time and place for things, and I believe that you knew you were going to make that decision. So why would you do it here? And why would you do it now?”
Also on “The Shop,” James recalled Johnson’s recruiting message last summer in which he hoped to build a new version of “Showtime,” the Lakers’ team that dominated the 1980s.
“I came here to be a part of the Lakers organization [after] having a conversation with Magic,” James said. “[He was] really kind of breaking it down and saying how we were going to make this ‘Showtime’ again. I wanted to be a part of that process.”
You have your whole team annoyed by you. You have fans annoyed that you couldn’t even get a .500 record with a team that looked like an up and coming team on the cusp of the playoffs and then bash a laker great? What’s next? Blurt our that Kobe wouldn’t have any tings without Shaq and Pau Gasol? Dude is oblivious to the world lol
Wait so you can pin them missing the playoffs on him, even though looking at his stats he put up his usual susperstar numbers. This is how ridiculous you people sound
LeBron will get another ting at some point
Yeah, when he joins the warriors for the league min.
The team looked up and coming!? Lakers have been TRASH for years. Last year, they were trash. Ingram sucks, cannot shoot and needs the ball in his hands. Lonzo decent prospect. Josh Hart sucks. Lakers were no where near the cusp, and the fact even LeBron couldn’t get them into the playoffs, says all you need to know about what a horrible squad the Lakers have.
Well, that is true. Kobe without Shaq & Pau would be at 0 rings, that is a fact, so why would it be wrong to say it?
A) This year was supposed to be about meshing with the young guys. I really don’t think it was LBJ demanding or asking anyone to go after Davis this year. It wasn’t like there were high expectations with this roster the first year. I put that blame on Magic. He did a horrible job of it. Especially, the part where he expected rookies and 2nd year guys to not listen to the trade rumors.
B) I’m sure that if LBJ could play thru his injuries he would’ve.
In THIS situation, I think ppl are putting too much on LBJ and not enough on the front office and ownership. Clearly there wasn’t a well thought out plan for this season..
James is upset about what?
That Magic didn’t kiss his rings on his way out the door?
Magic had just found out he got a bad performance review from his boss from emails he wasn’t supposed to get. I doubt Magic had Lebron and his massive ego on his mind. Lebron just showed what a selfish, self centered cretin he is. Lebron should be ashamed of himself.
Not a good look Lebron!
Bad take
You’ve GOT to be kidding. His “boss” is Jeannie Buss who he has a personal relationship with. Furthermore, how crazy is it that you woo LBJ to come to LA and ensure him that there’s a plan, a design, a commitment to returning the team to it’s former glory and then you bail before the end of the season and you don’t even give a heads up to the guy you swore to? That’s wack.
The Lebron derangement syndrome is already coming out strong.
lmfao he said he didnt get a personal heads up about it lol… magic didnt even tell his boss, who is lebron lmaooo
Uhh, it’s LeBron, only the greatest basketball player and one of the greatest athletes to ever live. And magic recruited him to LA with some assurances I’m sure. But yeah, go ahead and lmaooooooo
Lol Bron is not the best basketball player ever.
He’s not even the best right now.
He’s 34
Still top 3 at the least. In actuality, his line of 27/8/8 was above his career average. The only line which was below career norms were his FT%. His 3pt shooting was down from recent years too but still above his career average. Health and perhaps a lack of effort on defense are the only things you can rightfully complain about.
That shows how incredibly great you are when you can damn near average a triple double for the season and ppl accuse you of falling off.
I think it’s compeltely right to not tell either his boss nor the ONE GUY he personally recruited. He looked at Magic as a mentor. The one guy in the organization he had a relationship with. The VERY least he should’ve done was tell LBJ directly, that he was jumping ship. Leaving Cleveland I’m sure he was going to what he thought was going to be a more stable franchise. Ironic.
What an embarrassment the Lakers are. They should trade LeBron to a seriously-managed team.
This is like a museum in Dubuque somehow getting the Mona Lisa — and hanging it in a bathroom.
Magic is probably 99% the reason LeBron came to LA in the first place. He absolutely deserved a personal heads up when the guy who recruited him to build a championship team leaves in year one out of FOUR. He has the biggest right to be pissed off about that and used his platform to really explain how he felt about it, instead of lashing out to the media or doing an exit interview while he was still riled up and bring even more drama to a team who had their President step down out of nowhere… But people will see “LeBron Angry” and won’t let that go. Oh well, he’s living rent free in your head.
LeBron came to LA for his tv and movie business. Basketball is just publicity for him. Pretty obvious.
No offense, maybe you didn’t know this but they have tv cameras in other cities too. LBJ is NOT sitting in on movie and film discussions mid-season. This idea that he went to LA for reasons other than his son’s budding high school future and to win a chip for the most vaunted NBA franchise is a joke. Randy, Maverick and Rich have been handling all of his off-court business dealings for the last 10 years. LBJ doesn’t have to be physically IN Hollywood to get things done. Shoot, he was involved with TV and film while in Miami and Cleveland.
Everyone on these comments are always so salty about LeBron. Probably fans of teams that he regularly destroyed on his way to 8 finals appearances.
“Probably fans of teams that HE regularly destroyed on his way to 8 finals appearances.”
So he beat these teams all by himself then? Well, there was me thinking he had help from the likes of Bosh, Wade and Irving, to name but three.
Oh and I’m a Dallas fan, remember 2011?
Wow….did he say LBJ single handedly did it by himself? I’m not a LBJ fanboy but I really can’t get the hate for him other than for what he does vs your team.
He is 3 for 9….1 for 9 without Kyrie and Ray Allen winning one for him. Millennial stat..how many finals he made…
Still 9 lol
Seriously, another stupid post. Did Larry win his 3 by himself or did he have 3 other HOF (McHale, DJ and McHale) with him? Did Magic do it by himself or did he have SEVERAL HOF too? Think Kareem, Worthy, Wilkes, etc. Jordan had Pippen, Rodman and some good NBA players in Kukoc and Grant. Shoot, Steve Kerr hit some big shots the same way Allen did. Kobe had Shaq, Gasol, etc.
I am not a LBJ fan but I hate when ppl act as if he’s the only guy that had help to win chips. The fact that he’s played a bigger role in orchestrating the players he played with the last 8 years doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s a testament towards the case that he’s probably the most powerful sports athlete ever. Even Jordan didn’t have the power to do some of the things LBJ has been able to due within an organization. It’s well documented on how he had problems with the Bulls ownership and front office.
LeBron is the GOAT. Everyone is so salty because they can’t hate on him during the playoffs. Yet they worship this moron Magic Johnson and this pathetic organization
Not the GOAT, but he is getting a bad wrap on this one. Agreed Magic gets way too much of a free pass by fans but this is a very unprofessional move regardless of how great you were or not.
Like a bad turkey wrap ? Or tuna wrap ?
The GOAT is 6 for 6 in NBA finals..and his name isn’t LeFraud or LeSteroid.
LBJ is the last person I would accuse of steroids. You have no proof so the hate in you is gushing out.
Magic was a better player than LeBron could ever be.
Also Magic was better than Curry, Klay & KD put together… so what’s your point?
Also he was better than Jordan
Worse than Boban
jordan, kobe, durant.. hopefully magic returns in 2 yrs
I find some times in business that when the heat’s on, individuals will too often take the path of least resistance, especially when that path coincides with what’s perceived to be in their personal interest. Magic sneaking out the back door is not atypical behavior in business, and after all that’s what Magic does, is business, so I’m not at all surprised. Here’s hoping that in the long business career that lays ahead for LeBron, that he does better.
The Lakers are a dumpster fire and LBJ is the fuel.
Why would an executive to a team explain a player that he is leaving? Magic did what he felt he had to, period.
Umm because he personally recruited the player and sold him on the idea that he would be there on the journey towards a chip? Let’s not act like this is Magic signing Rajun Rondo. Give me a break. It’s his choice to make but he absolutely took the cowards way out. It’s about respect.
If lakers hire Lue as their coach just face the facts that LeBron runs the Lakers. There is a reason other all star players do not want to come to the lakers. LeBron is not a team player but wants everyone to be his lap dogs.
Question: Hey LBJ. We fired Luke and we’re looking for a new coach. Out of the field of guys, who do you like?
LBJ: I had a good relationship with Lue.
Headlines: LBJ is now running the Lakers.
You really think in this day and age ANY nba superstar isn’t asked for input in huge deals? Who do you think got Pelinka his job? Kobe. Why do you think they traded away Shaq in his prime? Kobe.
But because they want to put LBJ in the best position to win he’s suddenly “running” the Lakers? You really think Jeannie Buss who took her own brother to court to take control of the franchise would let LBJ “run” the team? Much more likely, she’s allowing him to have input and I bet you they asked him rather than him forcing any issue.
Why did Lebron even deserve a heads up? Or why should Magic have waited until after a game? At that point in the season for a crap team, they are just going through the motions. Magic owed them nothing.
Magic should have been classless and had a ESPN special revealing that he is leaving and Lebron to kiss his ass. But he decided to leave that to James. By Magic not telling you he was leaving is probably telling you to kiss his ass.
I’ve never seen so many people so salty over a guy being honest. It’s obvious Magic played a huge part in LeBron joining the Lakers. So for him to just up and leave without discussing it with anyone on the team is shocking. Just like we were all shocked, so was he.
Magic quit because LeBron has no heart. Magic realized LeBron won’t play hard if he doesn’t get more All-Stars around him and a coach who’ll defer to him. That’s a non-starter for Magic.
You mean it’s a quitter for Magic.
You know there’s an actual story. Nevermind ChiSoxCity does not know, just aims for troll value.
Well Paul George, Damian Lillard, and Anthony Davis are coming to LA right? Lol
When this happened I said this was Magic flipping the bird to LeBron and was chastised. Apparently LeBron feels this way, so hate to say I told you so…this is not going to end well, unless they convince some star free agents to get on board. James will be part of a blockbuster deadline trade (funny if it was with New Orleans).
When Johnson says so, then you can say you told us so. It doesn’t matter what James thinks, it wasn’t his call. You’re just someone else with the delusion that the league revolves around Lebron– and then hates him for it.