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.