Magic hinirang ng Lakers bilang basketball operations chief

LOS ANGELES -- Ang nagpasikat sa ‘Showtime’ ang iniupo ng Lakers bilang bagong president of basketball operations.

Hinirang si dating NBA superstar Magic Johnson ng Los Angeles Lakers sa naturang posisyon pagsisi­mula ng pagbabago sa isa sa pinakamaalamat na prangkisa sa NBA.

“I took these actions today to achieve one goal: Everyone associated with the Lakers will now be pul­ling in the same direction, the direction established by Earvin and myself,” sabi ni Jeanie Buss. “We are de­termined to get back to competing to win NBA championships again.”

Bukod sa pagluluklok kay Johnson, isang Hall of Famer na nagbigay ng li­mang NBA titles sa Los An­geles noong 1980s, ay sinibak din ni Lakers Go­vernor Jeanie Buss si longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak at kapatid nitong si Jim bilang vice pre­sident of basketball ope­rations.

Ang 57-anyos na si Johnson, tinapos ang kanyang 12-year career sa La­kers noong 1991 matapos magkaroon ng HIV, ay dating minority owner ng ko­ponan matapos magre­tiro at nagtayo ng mga ne­gosyo kagaya ng movie thea­ters, health clubs at iba pang properties.

“Since 1979, I’ve been a part of the Laker Nation and I’m passionate about this organization,” sabi ni Johnson. “I will do everything I can to build a winning culture on and off the court.”

Nabigo ang Lakers na umabante sa Playoffs.