Amazes LA, Magic Johnson reveals the reason behind his success in sports ownership

Magic Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest Lakers players of all time and often as the best Point Guard ever. He became the first biggest signing of Jerry Buss in what started the Lakers' showtime era.

Johnson became one of the biggest winners in the NBA world with the Lakers with five championship titles. At this point, his accomplishments off the court have somehow exceeded what he did in the NBA and his latest big move was officially becoming part owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Johnson is part of the group led by Josh Harris that purchased the franchise from previous owner Daniel Snyder and the Lakers legend now has a stake in four different sports teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers of MLB, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, LAFC of Major League Soccer and now the Commanders. But the first franchise he ever had ownership stake in was the Lakers and he has the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss to thank for that.

"No. No. No. Probably could not have dreamed of just one, let alone four. My dreams were to play in the NBA and to become a businessman. I didn’t even think about being an owner of a team. It just blew my mind. But I would have to say if it wasn’t for [Lakers owner] Dr. Jerry Buss allowing me to own the Lakers first, none of this would have happened. The Dodgers wouldn’t have happened and all the other three wouldn’t have happened. But for him to allow me to be an owner — write a check — and to be part owner of the Lakers really allowed me to do what I’m doing today. Also, it was what Dr. Buss taught me, terms of business, and what he allowed me to do in terms of owning the Lakers. Then that opened up the whole world to me once I was one of the owners of the Lakers.”

Jerry Buss was a great influence on Magic Johnson

It has often been spoken about that Dr. Buss was something of a father figure to a young Magic Johnson and helped start the process of his thriving in the business world. Following Magic’s early retirement things could have gone downhill, but instead Magic has thrived far greater than anyone could’ve predicted.