Magic Johnson has long claimed that his love for the Los Angeles Lakers means he would be reluctant to consider owning an NBA team. But that could be about to change now.
DailyMail.Com can exclusively reveal that the five-time NBA champion with the Lakers and Hall of Famer could lead an expansion of the NBA franchise in Las Vegas or Kansas City.
Johnson, 65, has an estimated wealth of $1.6 billion and an impressive portfolio of sports teams to his name, with stakes in the Washington Commanders, LAFC, Los Angeles Sparks and the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
And that could be about to grow with a long-awaited foray into basketball. Las Vegas may seem like a more natural fit for Johnson on the West Coast, with suitors from across the city considering joining him to help raise the $4 billion to $6 billion needed for a franchise.
A source told DailyMail.Com: 'Several investment groups in Las Vegas are interested in partnering with him. His extensive experience in sports ownership and business acumen position him as a formidable candidate.
The Las Vegas sports market is expanding and the Oakland Athletics are pushing to move there and bring Major League Baseball to Sin City. The NFL's Raiders, who recently welcomed Tom Brady as a minority owner, are there with the NHL's Golden Knights and the WNBA's Aces.
Magic Johnson could be about to lead an NBA franchise in either Las Vegas or Kansas City
Johnson photographed earlier this month receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Lakers star LeBron James, 40, has also made no secret of his desire to one day bring a franchise to Las Vegas once his playing days are over.
Speaking in October 2022, James said: “I'd love to bring a team here at some point, that would be amazing.”
“It's the best fan base in the world and I would love to bring a team here.”
But Kansas City could also be an attractive option for Johnson, with the Chiefs' recent success and Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift helping to put the area even more on the map.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also talked about the possibility of bringing a WNBA franchise to town.
Next year, the NBA begins an 11-year television deal worth about $76 billion through the 2035-36 season.
As for Johnson, in September 2023 he said he would consider owning the New York Knicks and admitted he had previously turned down ownership roles with the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks.
“The only team I would probably think of is the New York Knicks,” he said then. “I think it would be intriguing.”
Johnson, 65, pictured with his wife Cookie, is worth an estimated $1.6 billion.
Johnson added: “That's what you'd really have to think about, in terms of being a minority owner of that team.”
“Other than that, I would just stay with the Lakers and even with my current role, just being a fan, I'm happy to do it with the Lakers because, again, I bleed purple and gold.”
But that could now be about to change.
Earlier this month, Joe Biden awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House.
“I feel very honored and overwhelmed with emotion right now,” Johnson said. 'It is an absolute honor and privilege that President Joe Biden has selected me to receive the esteemed Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that this little boy from Lansing, Michigan, would one day grow up and receive one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.”