Magic Johnson: 'I hope Lakers lose every game'
NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson seems to be in favor of his former team tanking, saying he hopes they can continue their losing ways this season, Newsday's Neil Best reports.
Johnson was in New York City on Tuesday speaking at a promotional event. He later received the Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award from Sports Illustrated. Johnson believes that the Lakers are in a good space, because they will have significant cap room to sign or trade for a top player next summer.
"I hope the Lakers lose every game," Johnson said, according to Newsday. "Because if you're going to lose, lose. I'm serious."
"If you're going to lose, you have to lose, because you can't be in the middle of the pack," he said. "You either have to be great or you have to be bad, to get a good [draft] pick."
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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant says he doesn't believe that teams around the league are tanking, ESPN reports.
"Maybe there are certain teams in the league -- and this is not one of them -- where ownership sits up there in their office and they're crossing their fingers quietly and hoping," Bryant said. "But the players themselves? Never."
The Lakers' losing stopped at least for one night, after they beat the Sacramento Kings 98-95 on Tuesday. Their 6-16 record is second-worst in the Western Conference.
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