Los Angeles Lakers: Analyzing the fallout from First Take on ESPN

Magic Johnson was not having fun when Paul Westhead was fired back in 1981

Remember that Brent Musburger interview talking about Magic Johnson’s smile that lights up a TV screen in his rookie year? Then the Lakers went on to win the NBA title defeating the 76ers with Magic Johnson messing around and nearly getting a triple-double scoring 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists.

Soon after Magic Johnson garnered his infamous relationship with the late Dr. Jerry Buss and corralled a 25-year $25 million dollar contract, Magic just wasn’t having fun. 

Then coach, Paul Westhead had changed the offense to run through Kareem Abdul-Jabbar instead of the uptempo offense that would eventually turn into “Showtime”. Westhead had a discussion with Johnson about his “lack of concentration”. Right after that meeting, Magic Johnson went straight to the press and voiced his displeasure about playing in Westhead’s system and demanded to be traded.

Soon after, Paul Westhead was a memory after Dr. Buss called a press conference to hire two head coaches. The coaches were to be Jerry West and Pat Riley. One was supposed to take care of the offense while the other deals with the defense. Thank God, Jerry West said no and took up the GM duties. Seems familiar to the coaching situation in 2019. I guess Jerry West is not around to clean up this scenario.

Jeanie Buss knows this story, she was old enough to witness the drama back then. Talk about history repeating itself.

According to Ramona Shelburne, Jeanie Buss inquired Magic on any issues that he nay have had with anyone in the organization. Johnson according to Shelburne never gave out any information. It does make you wonder if after this interview where Magic Johnson, criticized many in the organization if there will be another dinner between the two.

I’ll bet Magic would have some fun if he owned the Los Angeles Lakers. That was a topic of conversation during that hour.

Good luck with that one. Even though Lake Show Life came up with the notion that the NBA should step in and take a long look at how the franchise is run from day-to-day, there is no way Jeanie Buss will put the team up for sale. To all the Lakers fans screaming for her to sell, move on and let it go.

Let’s discuss the man who was the topic of discussion on First Take…