"He's a weapon we're going to miss" - James Worthy on what the Lakers needed to do after Magic’s retirement announcement

The Los Angeles Lakers were hit by devastating news before the 1991-92 after learning Earvin "Magic" Johnson tested positive for HIV. The five-time NBA champion attempted to make a basketball return in the 1992 offseason, but these plans were shelved when fears of him possibly infecting other players cropped up.

Worthy hoped the Lakers would recover

With Johnson no longer around, it would be up to the Lakers to make up for his absence. Considering his massive impact on the Purple and Gold, those were big shoes to fill. James Worthy was a player who was expected to step up at the time. While the 1988 NBA Finals MVP admitted they would miss Magic, the Lakers needed to move forward and keep a positive attitude.

"He's a weapon we're going to miss," Lakers forward James Worthy said at a gathering via UPI. "We're going to miss him but it challenges the rest of us to keep a positive attitude."

With Johnson out, it would take much for the Lakers to maintain their competitive form. Worthy would retire in 1994, adding more woes to the franchise's cause.

Magic tried to make a comeback

Despite stressing that he did not have the desire to coach, Magic tried calling the shots after he was persuaded by Dr. Jerry Buss. After winning his first game, it seemed Johnson was the right fit for the job . That was until the Lakers lost their last 10 games of the season and missed the playoffs. That proved too much for Johnson to digest, leading to his resignation.

"I hurt, and I take it home with me. I don't want my stomach turning every night. I'd rather go home and enjoy it as I did before this job," Johnson said via the New York Times.

In his last-ditch attempt to play competitive ball, the three-time NBA MVP would come out of retirement again in the 1995-96 season. He played in 32 regular season games and 4 postseason matches. Dismayed at the Lakers run at the time, the 12-time All-Star would end up retiring for good after the season.

After that, Johnson would still be around the Lakers, becoming a part-owner of the team of the team and taking on the role of team president in 2010. The Lakers ended up rebuilding in the following years. With the "Showtime" era over, the Purple and Gold transitioned to the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant era.

With their new dynamic duo, the Lakers became champions again in 2000. They would stay at the top of the NBA until 2003, delivering the team's only three-peat championship in franchise history.

Related: "If I had to pick a team, he's my first pick" - James Worthy on why Magic Johnson is all he needed in his team