"Owner Jeanie Buss, you deserve better" - Magic Johnson launches scathing attack on LA Lakers players after blowout loss to Denver Nuggets
Everyone is familiar with Magic Johnson's connection to the LA Lakers. The 12-time All-Star played all his 13 seasons for the Lakers, winning five titles with the franchise in the 1980s.
So when Magic Johnson has something to say about the Lakers, the world sits up and takes notice.
The Denver Nuggets recently defeated the Lakers 133-96 in front of their home fans. The 37-point margin of victory was the Nuggets' biggest against the Lakers in franchise history.
This is the third straight game the Lakers have lost, which incidentally is the third time they have done so in the season.
THAT'S A W
#MileHighBasketball https://t.co/KTMHcRGR5j
Unsurprisingly, Magic Johnson came down heavily on the Lakers for their lackadaisical performance against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. Lashing out at the Lakers' poor effort, Johnson took to his Twitter handle where he wrote:
"After being blown out by the Nuggets 133-96, we as Lakers fans can accept being outplayed but we deserve more than a lack of effort and no sense of urgency. Owner Jeanie Buss, you deserve better."
After being blown out by the Nuggets 133-96, we as @Lakers fans can accept being outplayed but we deserve more than a lack of effort and no sense of urgency. Owner @JeanieBuss, you deserve better.
LA Lakers' poor defensive performance was likely what invited criticism from Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson's tweet came on the back of a a very uninspiring defensive effort by the LA Lakers against the Denver Nuggets.
The Lakers conceded 22 three-pointers to the Nuggets, a new season-high from beyond the arc for Denver. The 133 points scored by the Nuggets tied their second-best scoring effort of the season.
The Lakers also lost the battle for second-chance points (7-to-15) and fastbreak points (9-to-23). Overall, the Nuggets shot 51.6% percent from the field and 57.5% (23-of-40) from downtown versus the LA Lakers.
Final numbers from tonight's W https://t.co/LWfyEPFpmQ
Speaking about the Lakers' abject showing on the defensive end, starting center Dwight Howard told the media after the game:
"It shouldn't keep coming up. ... It's how bad do we want to win every night."
Dwight Howard on the shortcoming on defensive end and overall effort: "It shouldn't keep coming up. ... It's how bad do we want to win every night."
In addition to his association as a player with the Lakers, Magic Johnson also served as head coach of the franchise for 16 games at the end of the 1993-94 season. He later took over as president of basketball operations for the Lakers in February 2017.
One of his biggest achievements during that stint was bringing LeBron James to the Lakers in the 2018 offseason. But when the Lakers failed to make the 2019 postseason, Johnson parted ways with the Lakers through an impromptu press conference in April 2019.
Magic Johnson has an active presence on Twitter, where he provides regular updates on action from around the NBA.