Magic Johnson abruptly steps down as Lakers president of basketball operations

Magic Johnson.
(Image credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

In a surprise move, Magic Johnson announced on Tuesday he is stepping down as president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA great held an impromptu news conference before the start of Tuesday's game, and revealed that he was "happier when I wasn't the president." Johnson said he hadn't yet told owner Jeanie Buss that he was leaving, because he "couldn't face her to tell her," adding, "It's hard when you love an organization like I love this organization. It's hard when you love a person like I love Jeanie."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.