Zubac Shares Damning Magic Johnson Story From Lakers Tenure

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Former Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac has shared a surprising story about his time with the franchise, revealing that NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had expressed interest in mentoring him, only for the opportunity to fall through after a meeting with then-Lakers president Magic Johnson.

Why it matters

Zubac's account adds another frustrating chapter to the Lakers' recent history, as the decision to trade away the young center has been widely criticized in hindsight. The missed opportunity for Abdul-Jabbar to work with and develop Zubac also raises questions about the leadership and decision-making within the Lakers organization during that period.

The details

Zubac, now a key player for the LA Clippers, was just 21 years old when the Lakers traded him in 2019. At the time, he had already shown promise as a reliable double-double center, but the Lakers opted to move on. Zubac revealed that after a few workouts, Abdul-Jabbar told him he wanted to mentor him and work for the Lakers, but after a meeting with Magic Johnson, that opportunity never materialized. Zubac said that after that, Abdul-Jabbar would come to watch games, and the Lakers even drew up a play for Zubac to shoot a baseline sky hook, but he missed it, and that was the end of him being featured in the offense.

• Zubac was traded from the Lakers to the Clippers in 2019, when he was 21 years old.
• Zubac revealed the story about Abdul-Jabbar's interest in mentoring him in a recent interview on X&O's CHAT.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Lakers' decision-making during that period continues to be scrutinized, and Zubac's account raises further questions about the team's leadership and missed opportunities for player development.