Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea reacted to Magic Johnson’s stunning departure as the Los Angeles Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations on Tuesday.
Flea tweeted, “Magic following his heart. A Neil young style move.”
Johnson said at a news conference, “I want to go back to having fun.”
Johnson said he had not told his Lakers executives of his decision. Jeanie Buss, the team’s controlling owner and president, or general manager Rob Pelinka, were not told of his major depature.
“I knew I couldn’t be face-to-face and tell her,” he said of Buss, saying he loves her like a sister. “I couldn’t stand to tell her.”
“I was happier when I wasn’t president [of the Lakers].”
He said he will return to community work and reaching out to players around the league to help in their development.
“I’m a free bird, and I can’t be handcuffed. This is a good day.”
ESPN reported, “Johnson and Pelinka visited with Lakers star LeBron James and his agent, Rich Paul, on Saturday, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Johnson offered no indication that he was on the brink of leaving the team, sources said.
Johnson took the Lakers job in February 2017, after the team fired Mitch Kupchak as general manager and removed Jim Buss as executive vice president of basketball operations.”
Magic following his heart. A Neil young style move.
— Flea (@flea333) April 10, 2019
