Magic Johnson apparently won’t be rooting for his former team the rest of this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend said at a promotional event Tuesday in New York City that the team should tank in order to obtain a high lottery pick in a loaded 2015 NBA draft.
“I hope the Lakers lose every game,” Johnson told reporters, via ESPN.com. “Because if you’re going to lose, lose. And I’m serious.
“If you’re going to lose, you have to lose because you can’t be in the middle of the pack. You either have to be great or you have to be bad to get a good pick.”
Kobe Bryant, who scored 32 points in the Lakers’ 98-95 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, understands Johnson’s point-of-view.
“He’s used to being an owner,” Bryant told reporters. “He’s an owner of the Dodgers. He was an owner of the Lakers. That’s speaking from an owner’s perspective. I think the fans — or hopefully some of them — are probably smart enough to understand his perspective as an owner. I certainly am.
“Magic is one of the most competitive players of all time. He doesn’t want to lose. From an owner’s perspective, his opinion is to get top picks and to be able to use those as leverage to trade and get a competitive team and so on. From where I’m sitting, I just look at his point of view.”
Johnson’s wish gives him something in common with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who is also rooting against the Lakers. Cuban’s hoping for more than a one-season tank job, however; he said in November that he “just hope(s) they suck forever.”
The Lakers are doing a pretty good job of fulfilling both Johnson and Cuban’s wishes, as they currently sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 6-16 record.
Photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
