(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 16, 2019 Magic Johnson reacts after being introduced at halftime during the NBA All-Star game as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. – April 9, 2019 Magic Johnson steps down as Lakers president. (Photo by STREETER LECKA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
Magic Johnson stunned the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday after resigning from his role as president of basketball operations at the struggling NBA giants.
“Today, I’m gonna step down as the president,” Johnson told reporters at an impromptu press conference.
READ: Magic: I’ll step down if I don’t land free agents for Lakers
Johnson’s resignation comes after a disappointing season which saw the once-mighty Lakers fail to reach the playoffs for a sixth straight season.
Johnson had played a key role in luring LeBron James to the Lakers last year.