Monday, however, news surfaced that Johnson sold his share of the Lakers franchise to longtime season-ticket holder, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. The news comes as some-what of a shock to Lakers fans who never saw a transaction like this coming. Now, the possibility of using his earnings to acquire majority ownership in another NBA team is rumored and looms over the minds of Lakers fans seeing their legend slowly slipping away.
“I am truly humbled to have been a Lakers player for 13 years and an owner for over 10 years,” Johnson said in a statement. “This was a bittersweet business decision made on behalf of my family and myself, and I want to assure all the wonderful and loyal Lakers fans that my decision will in no way affect my dedication and support for the Los Angeles Lakers. I am and will always be a Laker for life.”
Reassuring words for Lakers fans, but is it only a matter of time before Johnson, a native of Michigan, is whisked away by the Detroit Pistons or another ready-available NBA team?
Three months ago, Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com reported that Johnson had been part of a group targeting the sale of the Golden State Warriors. More recently, the media was made aware of Johnson’s interest in possibly joining a group, led by Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, attempting to acquire the Detroit Pistons.
“Somebody back there has to be the majority owner. Be the owner,” Johnson told NBA.com last August. “That wouldn’t be me. But if Ilitch or somebody said, ‘Hey, can you come and think about helping Joe Dumars?’ then I would think about it.”
Breaking his ties with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss seemed like a long-shot at the time, Johnson indicated that a position outside the Lakers organization either as an owner or in management wasn’t out of the question pending it was the “right situation.” The move was difficult to imagine, yet here we are two months later reporting on Johnson making a deal for an undisclosed amount, which according to his agent was too good to pass up.