Magic Johnson critical of Lakers owner Jim Buss, 'you've got to have someone helping'

The Los Angeles Lakers lost for the 12th time in 13 games on Wednesday night, finishing with only seven players after Nick Young was ejected for taking a swing at Suns center Alex Len.

Each loss seems worse than the last, and the Lakers' chances of reaching the playoffs are surely slim to none at this point.

Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, former Laker and five-time champion with the franchise Magic Johnson wasn't hesitant to pin the blame on owner Jim Buss, saying he needs to "get his ego out of it."

"This is what happens when you make the wrong decisions, two coaching wrong decisions, giving Steve Nash that deal, it backfired," Johnson said. "The biggest problem they're going to have right now ... you've got to get a guy like Jerry West to be the face of the team.

"You've got to have someone helping Jim. He's got to quit trying to prove a point to everybody that he can do it on his own, get his ego out of it, and just say, 'Let me get someone beside me to help achieve the goals I want."

Johnson was known for having an excellent relationship with Jim's father and former Lakers owner Jerry Buss, referring to him as a "second father." But Johnson's relationship with Jim is not on that level, and his criticism of the current owner seems justified given recent injuries and performances.

"Look what Pat Riley did in Miami," Johnson continued. "If Pat Riley's not there, you don't get LeBron to buy in.

It's understandable that Johnson wants West, who is currently a consultant with the Golden State Warriors, to return to the Lakers. West was brought to Los Angeles by Jerry Buss and the franchise won six championships with him as general manager.

"Dr. Buss was smart," Johnson said. "He said, 'I'm going to get the best dude, Jerry West, and he helped me helped me achieve my goals. Then I went and got the best coach [in Phil Jackson]. He wanted to work with the best."