Look: Lakers Fans And Media Call For Kobe Bryant To Replace Magic Johnson

Did Magic Johnson step down as president of basketball operations just to make room for Kobe Bryant? Well, we have a few good reasons to write this, and each of them comes from a Lakers fan.

Both Bryant and Johnson have five championship rings, and there’s still an ongoing debate regarding the “best Laker ever” question. What’s the best way to solve it? Turn Bryant into a president of basketball operations, and see if he can do things better than Johnson.

Fans have started calling for Bryant to get his turn, and he sure fits in the team’s hiring style. The front office only hires members of the family, usually former players. That’s how Magic Johnson and Luke Walton got their roles. General Manager Rob Pelinka was Bryant’s agent at the time. Johnson didn’t have much experience in leading a front office. It sure feels good to imagine Kobe Bryant running the Lakers. Fans enjoyed imagining it.

“I don’t know what the hell the Lakers are going to do now and I’m sure the Lakers don’t know what the Lakers are going to do now. But let me be one of the first to wonder… Team president Kobe Bryant?” read one of the tweets.

This may be just a fan movement, but it sure got reporters asking questions.

The team has already released an official statement regarding Johnson’s resignation.

“There is no greater Los Angeles Laker than Earvin Johnson. We are deeply grateful to Magic for all that he has done for our franchise – as a player, an ambassador and an executive. We thank him for his work these past two years as our President of Basketball Operations and wish him, Cookie, Andre, EJ and Elisa all the best with their next steps. He will always be not only a Lakers icon, but our family. As we begin the process of moving forward, we will work in a measured and methodical fashion to make the right moves for the future of our organization.”

But, is there any chance for Bryant to run the team? That’s rather unlikely, because he is more interested in his post-basketball life in Hollywood. Bryant is developing short filsm and young adult novels, so going back to NBA may not be his thing at the moment.