Magic Johnson Makes Bombshell Revelation About Rob Pelinka

Magic Johnson announced his resignation during an impromptu press conference at the Staples Center. He planned to fire coach Luke Walton, but Lakers fans didn’t even think that he would resign. So, what made Johnson leave his job in the front office? Was it Rob Pelinka?

Johnson went on the First Take, and talked about the “backstabbing” and “whispering” he had to deal with.

“I start hearing, ‘Magic, you not working hard enough. Magic’s not in the office,’” he said. “So, people around the Lakers office was telling me Rob was saying things and I didn’t like those things being said behind my back that I wasn’t in the office enough and so on and on. So, I started getting calls from my friends outside of basketball saying those things now were said to them outside of basketball. Now, not just in the Lakers office anymore, now it’s in the media and so on.”

Stephen A. Smith asked him about the other names in the front office, but Pelinka was his only problem.

“No, just Rob. Other people didn’t bother me… I wasn’t having fun coming to work anymore. Especially when I got to work beside you, knowing that you want my position.”

The Lakers didn’t hire someone to replace Johnson. Ramona Shelburne was among the first to report that Pelinka will “continue in his role.”

“The Lakers have decided they will not hire a President of Basketball Operations to replace Magic Johnson, a team source told ESPN. General manager Rob Pelinka will continue in his role, reporting directly to ownership. Pelinka had previously reported to Johnson.”

Sam Amick and Bill Oram of The Athletic reported that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss will let Pelinka run the front office.

“Yet while rumblings remain that Buss might replace Johnson with an elite front office executive at some point, and with so much pressure from local and national media to conduct a comprehensive search for a new president of basketball operations who isn’t required to have deep Lakers ties, a source with knowledge of Jeanie’s plan insists that this front office is Pelinka’s to run. At least for now.”