When Magic Johnson talks about the Lakers, people listen. That’s the reality when you’re a five-time champion, a franchise icon, and someone who once ran the team’s basketball operations. When Johnson appeared on Jimmy Kimmel recently, he used the interview to clear up some assumptions about how involved he actually is with the team today and his relationship with general manager Rob Pelinka.
Magic’s Current Role
Johnson explained that he is not directly involved in basketball decisions. Instead, his role is closer to that of an adviser with an ownership stake.
That relationship stems from Johnson’s long-standing partnership with Mark Walter, the businessman who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and now controls the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson said he works with Walter broadly across his sports portfolio rather than focusing specifically on the Lakers.
“But Lakers fans are happy with the trade, and no, I’m not going to advise him unless he asks me my opinion on something… Rob will answer straight to Mark… If he asks me a question, I’ll answer that question.”
In other words, Johnson isn’t sitting in on roster meetings or shaping the Lakers’ strategy. If Pelinka wants his perspective, he’s available. Otherwise, the basketball operations chain of command remains simple: Pelinka reports directly to ownership.
That clarification matters because Johnson’s name still carries enormous weight around the franchise. When fans hear that Magic is “around” the Lakers again through ownership ties, it’s easy to assume he has a hand in decisions. But by Johnson’s own description, that’s not the case.
Mending Fences With Rob Pelinka
The other notable moment from the interview was Johnson addressing his relationship with Pelinka. When asked about their past tensions, Johnson kept it simple.
“We mended the fences.”
That’s a notable shift from where things once stood.
Johnson’s time as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations from 2017 to 2019 ended abruptly when he resigned before the final game of the season. His departure was messy, and in the aftermath, Johnson publicly criticized the front office environment, mentioning Pelinka by name.
In hindsight, Johnson’s front-office tenure simply didn’t produce the results expected from someone of his stature. The roster construction process was uneven, the organization’s structure was unclear, and the sudden resignation raised more questions than it answered.
That history is exactly why the current arrangement might actually be the healthiest for the franchise.
A Lakers Icon in a Support Role
Magic Johnson will always be tied to the Lakers. That connection goes beyond job titles. He helped define the Showtime era, remains one of the most recognizable figures in franchise history, and continues to be a public ambassador for the organization.
But the Lakers don’t necessarily need him running the front office again. In many ways, Johnson’s current position fits both sides better. The basketball decisions remain with Pelinka and the front office, while Johnson stays connected to the team he helped make famous.
Given his history with the franchise and his relationship with Mark Walter, Magic isn’t going anywhere. He’s just standing a little further from the decision-making table this time — and for the Lakers, that might be exactly where he belongs.
