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Magic Johnson passed up offers from Dubs, Pistons, Knicks before taking Lakers job

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Whether as a player, coach, or executive, Magic Johnson has worked for no NBA organization but the Los Angeles Lakers, so perhaps it was inevitable that he'd end up back with the franchise.

But before he took the job as the Lakers' president of basketball operations back in February, Johnson apparently had offers to join the ownership groups or front offices of at least three other teams. Johnson said on ESPN's First Take that Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, and New York Knicks president Steve Mills all came calling at various points in time, and that he gave them all the same answer: "I'm a Laker."

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