Magic Johnson sends heartfelt message to LeBron James after Lakers departure

Magic Johnson sends heartfelt message to LeBron James after Lakers departure originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson sent a heartfelt farewell message to LeBron James after it was announced he would not return to the team this offseason.

>Johnson took to X to thank James for an unforgettable and eventful eight-year run with the Lakers.

>" I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us. He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the milestones he surpassed in a Lakers jersey. I’ll always love and be grateful for him and wish him all the best in the next phase of his life, on and off the court!"

I want to thank LeBron James and his super agent Rich Paul for taking a meeting with me back in 2018 when I was President of the Lakers and deciding to sign with us. He created a whole new era for the Lakers, including leading us to an NBA Championship in 2020 and all the…

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 30, 2026The five-time NBA champion played a crucial role in bringing James to the Lakers.

>In the summer of 2018, Johnson was the team's president of basketball operations, and he did his best to clear cap space and deliver a highly effective recruiting pitch directly to James.

>Johnson and James were only officially part of the organization for less than a season. The 66-year-old resigned a few days before the end of the 2018-19 season, citing a lack of promised decision-making power and organizational politics that he was not happy about.

>As for James, he spent eight seasons with the Lakers and helped bring the team its 17th title in franchise history in 2020.

>His tenure in Los Angeles was filled with ups and downs, from a ton of passive-aggressive comments to the media and on social media.

>From the Lakers perspectve, it was clear that they did not prioritize James as their top player after trading for Luka Doncic. They were operating under two timelines, and to a certain extent, they felt like it was time to operate solely on the Doncic timeline.

What is next for LeBron James? James will look for a new team for the first time since the 2018 offseason. The frontrunners for the future Hall of Famer are the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it's too early to tell what his next decision will be.

>One clear thing: James is looking to find happiness, and his next destination will certainly reflect that.

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