Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night, with host Jimmy Kimmel saying Johnson “just put the best player in basketball in purple and gold.” Kimmel pointed out Johnson's green tie, and Magic replied, “Maybe I just want to pay homage to Larry Bird.” Kimmel: “Or a little homage to all the money you just gave LeBron.” Johnson: “We gave him a lot.” Johnson noted he “got in trouble” the last time he was on the show because of his comments about speaking to Paul George. Kimmel: “I got in trouble too. People were mad at me because there was a fine assessed.” Johnson: “But the thing I was mad at, everybody out here, Jimmy didn't call me to say, 'Hey, I’m going to throw in $100,000, $200,000.'”
Kimmel: “Before you took this meeting with LeBron, did you speak to Lonzo Ball's father to make sure it was okay?” Johnson: “I would have called you first before I called LaVar Ball, trust me.” Kimmel asked Johnson if he talked to James before some other free-agents signings this offseason. Johnson: “For sure. … LeBron has played against these guys so he knows them even better than myself” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 7/18).
