Earvin "Magic" Johnson was forced into retirement in 1991 after learning he had the HIV disease. It was unfortunate for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard, who was just 31 years old at the time.
The immediate thing that Magic needed to attend to was getting well from the illness. However, that didn't mean he would completely turn his back on basketball. He could serve in some kind of capacity like a head coach. Word of that cropped up in 1993, although his agent, Lon Rosen, denied the allegations.
"He's trying to buy an NBA team, not coach an NBA team," Johnson's agent said via the New York Times in April 1993.
No desire to coach
The clarification of Rosen was hardly surprising. For one, Johnson had reiterated at the time that he had no desire to be a coach. Regardless, this did not prevent several teams from trying. Lon shared that several teams made inquiries about Johnson possibly coaching. Magic thumbed them all down.
"In the last couple of months, three different teams have approached Magic about coaching, and he's declined. And it wasn't the Lakers," Rosen shared.
When news of Johnson's probable coaching of LA came out, the Purple and Gold were a struggling team. Randy Pfund was the head coach at the time, but his leadership hardly directed the Lakers to success. He would be relieved later in the 1993-94 season.
Bill Bertka would replace him on an interim basis before Johnson surprisingly got named the team's head coach. The five-time NBA champion claims he agreed to take the job at the urging of team owner Jerry Buss.
Related: “I know the rhythm of his shot, it’s not there” - When Celtics coach grew concerned after Larry Bird secured his 2nd MVP award
Short-lived stint
Magic coached his first game for the Lakers on March 27, 1994, leading LA to a 110-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. His success carried on , and he won five of the Lakers' six games that season.
Just as it appeared Johnson was proving to be the right man for the job, the Lakers lost their final ten games of the season. This prevented Los Angeles from making the playoffs, and the team finished with a 33-49 win-loss record in the Pacific Division.
The Michigan State product would step down and relinquish his position after admitting that he didn't take losses as well as he did as a player. It was here that he stated that he never wanted to be a coach and that he accepted the position at the request of Dr. Jerry Buss.
Johnson's basketball drama would not stop there. He attempted to return to the NBA during the 1995-96 season. On January 30, 1996, he returned to play after a lengthy absence.
The three-time NBA MVP appeared in 32 games that season, averaging 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 29.9 minutes of play. After considering returning for the 1996-97 season, Johnson changed his mind and retired permanently. Johnson had nothing else to prove then, and he insisted on leaving the game in his preferred manner.
Related: "You can always be friends after the series is over" - Magic Johnson put his friendship with Isiah Thomas to the side in the 1988 Finals
Local Los Angeles, CA
Most Popular
Comments / 0