ESPN – Using the word “betrayal,” Magic Johnson made it clear that general manager Rob Pelinka was the one “backstabbing” him, telling people that he wasn’t working hard and wanting to take his job with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In an appearance on First Take on Monday morning, Johnson did not hold back, identifying Pelinka as the person he was alluding to when he mentioned that he was tired of the “backstabbing” and “the whispering” that was going on behind his back when he suddenly stepped down as Lakers president of basketball operations on April 9.

Magic to the entire #Lakers organization: https://t.co/1PEviwdHqP pic.twitter.com/knPlh5aRtK

— The 300s (@The300sBoston) May 20, 2019

You know what they say about dirty laundry? Something about not airing it out in public? Yea, Magic doesn’t have time for your anecdotes about dirty clothes because he is here to firebomb the entire Lakers organization and all who have wronged him. And I am here for it.

“I start hearing, ‘Magic, you are not working hard enough. Magic’s not in the office,'” Johnson told First Take. “People around the Lakers office were telling me Rob was saying things, Rob Pelinka, and I didn’t like those things being said behind my back, that I wasn’t in the office enough.”

Johnson later added when asked who betrayed him in the Lakers organization: “If you are going to talk betrayal, it’s only with Rob.”

Is Rob Pelinka probably a snake behind the scenes? It would certainly seem so. Regardless of the situation it says more about you than it does anyone else if you’re going around the organization trying to play office politics and get your own boss fired like your Littlefinger. I guarantee you that Magic did not take his role as President of the Lakers seriously either though so its more of a pot meet kettle situation here. However, for Magic to just go out and dust everyone he worked with shows a laugh out loud lack of either self awareness or he just straight up doesn’t care.

The Lakers are a shit show and if you disagree just look at this quote from Magic about who is running what out in La La Land.

“[Tim Harris] is supposed to run Lakers business but he was trying to come over to our side,” Johnson said. “Have everybody who has a role with the Lakers, stay in that role. OK, Tim Harris, you’re the president of business, stay over there in business. Jesse and Joey [Buss], hey, you’re the general manager assistant to Rob. Joey, you run the G League team. Then do that and do it well. Once you show you can drive excellence, now maybe you can move to another department. But right now, everybody has a voice.”

Johnson said that Jeanie Buss is listening to those closest to her, including longtime friend and Lakers executive director/special projects Linda Rambis and former Lakers head coach and her ex-fiancé, Phil Jackson.

So we’ve got Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, Tim Harris, Jesse Buss, Joey Buss, Linda Rambis, and Phil Jackson all giving their two cents on what the Lakers should be doing.

Fuck. That.

For as dumb as Magic sounds at times…

Magic actually said on First Take that this Lakers job was a big commitment and he even gave up going to the movies on Sunday nights for it. This is incredible TV.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 20, 2019

…I don’t blame him for quitting. He basically had become Peter in Office Space.

“Thats my only real motivation is not to be hassled. That and the fear of losing my job, but you know Bob, that’ll only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired.” – Peter Gibbons
-Magic Johnson

Johnson was asked to name his top free agent. He laughed that he doesn’t have to worry about tampering anymore and can say whatever he wants.

Be honest, does this look like a guy who should have ever been put in charge of one of the most valuable franchises in the world in the first place?

Skip to :24

NO MORE FINES. 🤣

Magic got HYPE talking about upcoming free agents. (via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/zGlemMcY2u

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 20, 2019

PS – Lavar Ball continues to be the Three Eyed Raven of the NBA.

Looking back.. LaVar Ball was trying to tell us about Magic Johnson & the Lakers, but didn’t wanna say too much 🤔 pic.twitter.com/X5oPwnRDwG

— kingtisemedia (@kingtisemedia) May 20, 2019