Magic Johnson can’t hide true feelings on why Jeanie Buss sold the Lakers to Mark Walter for $10B in ecstatic message

An image of Magic Johnson and Jeanie Buss side by side
Magic Johnson expresses support for Jeanie Buss as the Lakers francise is set to be sold at $10 billion. Credit: Johnson/x, Buss/IG

Magic Johnson shared his response to the LA Lakers' impending $10 billion sale with a social media post on Wednesday. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Buss family has agreed to sell majority ownership to businessman Mark Walter — a move that Johnson is delighted with.

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On his official X account, Johnson — who led the Lakers to five championships during their "Showtime" era in the 1980s — praised both Walter and Lakers President Jeanie Buss for agreeing to the deal.

"Job well done to my sister Jeanie Buss for striking an incredible deal and picking the right person to carry on the @Lakers legacy and tradition of winning - Mark Walter, my business partner and friend! Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand," Johnson tweeted.
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The three-time NBA MVP added:

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"The proof is in the pudding on what he’s been able to accomplish with the LA Dodgers. Mark has been nothing short of a winner notching 2 World Series and 11 NL West divisional titles in the last 12 years!"
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In a separate tweet, Johnson said Lakers fans should be "ecstatic" at the brand of leadership Walter is set to provide in Tinseltown.

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Buss, it should be recalled, named Johnson the Lakers' president of basketball operations in 2017 after she ousted general manager Mitch Kupchak and her brother, Jim, who was then serving as vice president of basketball operations.

During his two-year stint in this executive position, Johnson helped secure the arrival of LeBron James, who led the Lakers to an NBA title in 2020.

Magic Johnson pokes fun at longtime rivals amid news of Lakers' blockbuster sale

Though Magic Johnson's playing days in the NBA are in the distant past, he couldn't resist poking fun at a franchise that he had epic wars with.

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After news broke of the Lakers' blockbuster sale, Johnson compared his old team's $10 billion valuation to that of the Boston Celtics, a franchise that was sold earlier this year.

"Just like I thought, when the Celtics sold for $6B, I knew the Lakers were worth $10B!" Johnson tweeted.

Aside from breaking the Celtics' record for the largest sports franchise sale in North America, the Lakers' $10 billion deal is also the biggest sale of a sports franchise worldwide.

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Edited by Simoun Victor Redoblado
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