Magic Johnson Says First Move As Lakers Advisor Is Probably To Call Kobe Bryant For Help

The Los Angeles Lakers recently brought in Magic Johnson as an advisor to co-owner Jeanie Buss, and now the Hall of Famer wishes to enlist the help of another retired legend to restore the franchise to its former glory.

New Lakers Advisor Magic Johnson Wants Help From Kobe Bryant

Johnson, 57, has revealed Kobe Bryant would be the first person he would call if he was ‘in charge.’

“First call I’ll make if I’m in charge, Kobe Bryant,” Johnson said on ESPN’s First Take. “Because Kobe understands winning. He understands, also, these players, you know? And so I would call, ‘what row you want, bro?’ If you got a day, just give me that day, I’ll take that. Whatever time he has, I want him to come and be a part of it.”

Bryant, who retired last April after playing all 20 of his NBA seasons with the Lakers, stated during a January appearance on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show that he would be willing to lend a hand to the franchise should they need him.

“I’m always around behind the scenes for Jeanie, Jimmy, and the entire Buss family if they need assistance or if it be to reach out or call for advice and things of that nature,” the 38-year-old Bryant said.

Johnson told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times that his role as advisor was simply to “lend advice” to executive vice president Jim Buss.

Nevertheless, in a Feb. 10 interview with USA Today’s Josh Peter, Johnson confessed he hopes to eventually play a greater role as a member of the Lakers’ front office.

“Working to call the shots, because it only works that way,” Johnson said. “Right now I’m advising. I get that. But at the end of the day, then we all got to come together and somebody’s got to say, ‘I’m making the final call,’ all right? And who’s that going to be?”

Johnson already has some experience working in a front office as part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball and Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, although he’s never served as a general manager or president of basketball operations for an NBA team.

The former Lakers star and coach recently appeared on The Tonight Show, and joked with host Jimmy Fallon about how he once made a terrible investment in a racehorse, which Fallon incidentally had also poorly invested in several years ago.

The Lakers (19-38, 14th in Western Conference) have struggled thus far this season. They have lost six of their last nine games, their most recent loss a 97-96 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. The Lakers next visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.