After many bleak years for the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the decade, the tides eventually started turning when Jeanie Buss hired Magic Johnson to begin her bombshell takeover in 2017.
Johnson replaced Jeanie’s brother, Jim, as the franchise’s president of basketball operations and was soon joined by the former agent of Kobe Bryant, Rob Pelinka, to fill the general manager position and form the new, rejuvenated front office.
Johnson’s vision for L.A. was centered on luring in an NBA superstar to Staples Center and, having set his eyes on LeBron James, he played a crucial role in signing the former Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat All-Star in 2018.