“Kobe Bryant understands winning,” Magic Johnson wanted Black Mamba in the front office to fix the Lakers in 2017
Magic Johnson wanted to bring Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to the team's front office. The also wanted Kyrie Irving to join forces with LeBron James.
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Magic and Kobe with Gigi
Earlier at the beginning of 2017, Magic Johnson was hired as an adviser to Los Angeles Lakers president and co-owner Jeanie Buss. The co-owner was trying to reevaluate the direction of the franchise. After weeks of taking the office, Johnson came to ESPN’s First Take and said that he would want Kobe Bryant to join the office in LA. It is known now that until his last breath, Bryant remained away from taking any position with the Lakers.
Later Magic was asked if he wants someone to have in his office, and Magic immediately took Kobe’s name. He later explained why he wanted to bring the Black Mamba into decision-making bodies. “First call I make if I’m in charge? Kobe Bryant,” Johnson said on ESPN’s First Take. “Because Kobe understands winning. He understands, also, these players. I would call: ‘What role you want? … If you’ve got a day, just give me that day,‘” the former 5 x NBA champion said.
Before LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018, they were in a bad condition and had not made it to the playoffs for over half a decade. Perhaps, the former MVP wanted to change the picture in LA as soon as possible. “I’ll take that. Whatever time he has, I want him to come and be a part of it,” Johnson clarified. When Kobe retired, he dedicated his life to raising his children and being with his beautiful family along with his wife Venessa Bryant.
Magic Johnson wanted Kyrie Irving to join LeBron James in Los Angeles
When Irving was a free agent before landing himself with the Dallas Mavericks, Johnson had said that would want the 8 x All-Star to join Lebron James in Los Angeles. “Personally, I’d love to see Kyrie in the purple and gold,” Johnson wrote. There were speculations that Irving would eventually land himself with the Lakers because he wanted to reunite with his former teammate. After Kyrie joined the Mavs, even James dropped a cryptic message on Twitter. He wrote, “Maybe It’s Me”.
Just days after being voted a starter in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, Irving requested a trade from the Nets on Friday. Irving said that if he is not moved before the NBA’s trade deadline of Feb. 9 he would have become a free agent. Finally, Irving joined forces with Luka Doncic in Dallas with the Mavericks. Despite the weird trade for another dominant ball handler, NBA pundits are thinking that the trade might be successful, behind the game’s two most dominant scorers.
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Nandjee Ranjan
(488 Articles Published)