Magic Johnson on Lakers “Betrayal”

Former Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson has spoken out about his decision to leave the franchise.

Magic Johnson resigned as the Lakers president of basketball operations before the final game of the season.

It was a decision that shocked the basketball world at the time. On Monday, Magic Johnson told ESPN that he was stabbed in the back by general manager Rob Pelinka.

Johnson also alleges that Pelinka spread malicious rumors about him not being in the office enough and not working hard. This tallies with Johnson’s talk of “whispering” when he resigned in early April.

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The two were hired by the Lakers around the same time in 2017. According to Johnson, they got off to a good start together. The pair initially worked on reducing the salary cap and acquiring other assets.  

“Things got going in the right direction. And then I start hearing, ‘Magic, you’re not working hard enough. Magic’s not in the office.’ So people around the Lakers office was telling me Rob was saying things. And I didn’t like those things being said behind my back,” Johnson said.

“That I wasn’t in the office enough and on and on. So I started getting calls from my friends outside of basketball and those things were said to them outside of basketball.  Now it’s in the media and so on.

“If you’re going to talk betrayal, it’s only with Rob,” Johnson said.

Rob Pelinka, meanwhile, has totally refuted Johnson’s comments.

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“These things are surprising to hear and disheartening. … They’re just simply not true,” Pelinka said.

“I stand beside him. I stand with him as a colleague and a partner. I’ve always supported everything he’s done and will continue to.”