Magic Johnson’s Unexpected Ultimatum to Jeanie Buss: A Look at His Early Uncertainty with the Lakers

In the summer of 1979, the Los Angeles Lakers changed the course of NBA history by selecting Earvin “Magic” Johnson with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-9 point guard from Michigan State was coming off an NCAA championship win and was widely regarded as a generational talent. Lakers owner Jerry Buss, fresh off purchasing the franchise, saw Magic as the linchpin of a dynasty that would restore the Lakers to their former glory.

However, what many people didn’t know was that shortly after joining the team, Magic privately told Jeanie Buss that he had plans to leave Los Angeles for Detroit within three years.

The Surprising Revelation

Magic Johnson was just 19 years old when he entered the NBA, and despite his undeniable talent and infectious charisma, he had reservations about his long-term future with the Lakers.

According to Jeanie Buss, daughter of Jerry Buss and future controlling owner of the Lakers, Magic confided in her that he wasn’t sure Los Angeles was the right place for him.

At the time, Magic’s heart was still in his home state of Michigan, where he had become a basketball icon at both Everett High School in Lansing and Michigan State University.

The thought of building his career in California, far from family and friends, left him uncertain. Jeanie later recalled in interviews that Magic told her he intended to fulfill his rookie contract and then strongly consider signing with the Detroit Pistons when his time with the Lakers was up.

A Young Star’s Inner Conflict

Magic’s early doubts about staying in Los Angeles weren’t entirely unfounded. The Lakers were coming off a disappointing season before his arrival, and while the roster featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the team had struggled to find stability.

The franchise had not won a championship since 1972, and the expectations surrounding Magic were immense.

The pressure of being the No. 1 pick for one of the league’s most storied franchises weighed heavily on him.

Additionally, the culture shock of moving from the Midwest to the bright lights of Hollywood was overwhelming. In Michigan, Magic had enjoyed a quiet, close-knit support system.

Los Angeles, with its celebrity lifestyle and relentless media attention, was an entirely different world. Magic had always been a people-first player, someone who thrived on camaraderie and personal relationships. He wasn’t sure if he could replicate that same sense of belonging in a city so vastly different from Lansing.

The Turning Point

Despite his early uncertainty, Magic quickly found his footing on the court. His rookie season was nothing short of spectacular.

Partnering with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic helped lead the Lakers to an NBA-best 60-22 record and an eventual berth in the NBA Finals.

When Kareem went down with an injury in Game 5 of the Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, it was the rookie Johnson who stepped into the starting center role for Game 6.

In a performance for the ages, he delivered 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists, securing the championship for the Lakers and earning himself Finals MVP honors—an unprecedented feat for a rookie.

That legendary performance began to shift Magic’s mindset. Winning had a way of making Los Angeles feel like home, and the adoration he received from Lakers fans was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

The city, once unfamiliar and overwhelming, started to embrace him as its own. Jeanie Buss would later say that Magic’s doubts seemed to fade as he became more immersed in the Lakers culture and the franchise’s vision for the future.

Building a Dynasty

The championship-winning rookie season cemented Magic’s place in Lakers lore, but it was only the beginning. As the 1980s unfolded, he developed an unbreakable bond with Jerry Buss, who became a mentor and father figure to him.

The Lakers also built a strong foundation around him, with the emergence of key players like James Worthy, Byron Scott, and Michael Cooper, alongside the veteran presence of Abdul-Jabbar.

Magic and Jeanie Buss’s early conversation about leaving for Detroit became nothing more than an afterthought.

Instead of heading back to Michigan, he embraced the fast-paced, showtime culture of Los Angeles and became the face of one of the most iconic dynasties in NBA history.

The Lakers won five championships in the 1980s, and Magic secured three MVP awards, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

The Power of Loyalty

Looking back, Magic’s initial hesitance to commit to Los Angeles serves as a fascinating “what if” in NBA history.

Had he followed through on his early plan to leave for Detroit, the NBA landscape could have looked entirely different.

The Lakers may have never built the “Showtime” era, the Pistons’ Bad Boys may have had a completely different trajectory, and the rivalry between Magic and Larry Bird—one that revived the NBA and defined a generation—might not have carried the same weight.

In the end, Magic’s love for the Lakers, his relationship with Jerry Buss, and the success he achieved made it impossible to walk away.

While he may have once envisioned returning to Michigan, Los Angeles became his true basketball home. His decision to stay not only shaped his own career but also altered the fate of the NBA forever.

Magic Johnson’s early doubts about playing in Los Angeles provide a rare glimpse into the vulnerability of a young athlete stepping into superstardom.

While he once told Jeanie Buss he planned to leave for Detroit after three years, fate—and championship success—had other plans.

What began as uncertainty transformed into an unbreakable bond with the Lakers, and in the process, Magic Johnson became synonymous with the franchise’s rich history.

His story is a testament to the idea that sometimes, the right path isn’t always clear at first—but with time, the greatest opportunities reveal themselves.