Magic Johnson discloses how he persuaded LeBron James to join Lakers: “You can be responsible for the greatest franchise in the world”
When LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in June 2018, many wondered what the future would hold. As fate would have it, James then signed with the LA Lakers less than two weeks later. The move was one of the biggest in the NBA's recent history as it ushered in the LeBron era in Los Angeles.
The news was broken by James' longtime friend, Rich Paul, who is the CEO of Klutch Spots Group. At the time, the move was revealed to be something James wanted. The question that lingered on in the minds of fans was why? The Lakers are without a doubt one of the league's most storied franchises. Was it the bright lights of Hollywood James was after, or something else entirely?
According to Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, his pitch to James was that he could be the player to return the Lakers to their former glory. The team was going on nearly 10 years without a championship, and Johnson knew something had to change.
"I pitched him this way: You can be responsible for the greatest franchise in the world, turning it around and leading us back to a championship. And they're going to say you did that," Johnson said on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast. "And I said, 'Give me two years.' I said, 'We gon' win the championship that third year.' And everything I told him happened."
Johnson and host Shannon Sharpe talked about everything from Johnson's earth-shattering HIV diagnosis to his rivalry with Isiah Thomas.
Changes that Lakers and LeBron James made through the course of winning a championship
As Johnson pointed out, when LeBron James joined the Lakers, the team had a lot of young pieces. Of course, in pursuit of a championship, James and the Lakers' front office traded away many of them. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart were all traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a package for Anthony Davis.
The move worked, of course, and in James' second season with the Lakers, he and Davis won an NBA championship. The ring came in the midst of the bubble season that followed the league shutting down while it figured out how to navigate COVID-19.
After winning the 2020 NBA Finals, the rest of the Lakers' young core was dismantled. Kyle Kuzma was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of a package for Russell Westbrook. Alex Caruso also signed a deal with the Bulls after the Lakers seemed unwilling to re-sign him, even at a discounted rate.
With this season underway, the Lakers (0-4) find themselves in a difficult spot. Things clearly aren't working, and without any young assets to trade, many are wondering what the future will hold for LeBron James.