Zubac Shares Damning Stories About Magic Johnson's Time With Lakers

The former Lakers center provided insight into Magic's harsh treatment and poor decision-making during his tenure as team president.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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In a recent interview, former Lakers center Ivica Zubac shared several anecdotes about his time with the team, with a focus on the difficult relationship he had with then-team president Magic Johnson. Zubac described Magic as being "unreasonably harsh" on the young center, and the stories further highlight the poor decision-making that marked Magic's tenure running the Lakers' front office.

Why it matters

Zubac's stories provide a rare insider's perspective on the dysfunction within the Lakers' organization during Magic Johnson's time as president. They underscore how poorly Magic managed the team and its players, contributing to the Lakers' struggles in recent years despite the arrival of LeBron James.

The details

In the interview, Zubac shared several anecdotes about his time with the Lakers, including how Magic would frequently criticize and bench him despite his consistent improvement early in his career. Zubac also discussed how Magic's signings of players like Andrew Bogut, Michael Beasley, and Tyson Chandler blocked his playing time, and how the team ultimately undervalued him before trading him to the Clippers.

  • Zubac was traded from the Lakers to the Clippers in 2019.

The players

Ivica Zubac

A former Lakers center who was traded to the Clippers in 2019.

Magic Johnson

The former Lakers team president whose tenure was marked by poor decision-making and dysfunction.

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What they’re saying

“Magic was unreasonably harsh on me during my time with the Lakers.”

— Ivica Zubac, Former Lakers Center (Croatian YouTube Channel)

The takeaway

Zubac's stories provide further evidence of the dysfunction that plagued the Lakers during Magic Johnson's time as team president, undermining the franchise's ability to build a contender even with the arrival of LeBron James. The team's mismanagement of young talent like Zubac highlights the need for better decision-making in the Lakers' front office.