Magic Johnson: Knicks are the only team I would consider

Magic Johnson’s love for the Los Angeles Lakers prevents him from considering owning any other NBA franchise. But he could see himself making an exception for the New York Knicks.

NEW YORK – Magic Johnson’s love for the Los Angeles Lakers prevents him from considering owning any other NBA team.

The New York Knicks will be the only team that can make him think better.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” Johnson said Tuesday. “The only team I could possibly think of is the New York Knicks.”

Johnson came to New York from Washington to speak at the YMCA, where members of the Commanders’ new ownership group watched his NFL team lose to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Back in Los Angeles, he will prepare his Dodgers for the start of baseball’s postseason. But the Basketball Hall of Famer has repeatedly passed up ownership opportunities in the sport he knows best.

Johnson named the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks as teams he turned down in favor of competing with the Lakers. However, the Knicks offer something different.

“I think because fans love basketball, you probably have to think about that because I love coming to New York and going to the Garden and watching the Knicks play,” Johnson told The Associated Press in an interview. “I love being around fans that are passionate about their team, and the same goes for Knicks fans, who are iconoclasts. They’re knowledgeable basketball fans, and I have to take that into account. I think beyond that Otherwise, I would probably never consider being a part of another franchise.”

Johnson said he hasn’t spoken to Madison Square Garden CEO James Dolan about the idea or is exploring the opportunity, and he’s content to watch the Lakers as a fan after two years as the team’s president of basketball operations the match of. 2019.

But if a conversation occurs, Johnson will listen.

“As a minority owner of the team, that’s what you really have to think about,” he said. “But other than that, I’m going to stay with the Lakers, even in my current role, just as a fan, and I’m excited to do that with the Lakers because I have purple and gold in my blood again.”

Johnson, who was in charge of the Lakers’ front office when they signed LeBron James, believes the Lakers are aiming for a second NBA championship in five years.

“I think they’re going to be the best team in the West this year,” Johnson said.

This report used information from The Associated Press.