Editing Magic Johnson (section)

=== Relationship with Jerry Buss ===
Johnson had a close relationship with Lakers owner [[Jerry Buss]], whom he saw as a mentor and father figure.<ref name=father>{{Cite web |title=Report: Johnson to became part owner of Lakers |work=Ocala Star-Banner |date=June 27, 1994 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4dFPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-gcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886%2C4351985|access-date=December 10, 2024 |page=5B |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Calling Buss his "second father" and "one of [his] best friends", Johnson spent five hours visiting Buss at the hospital just a few months before his 2013 death from [[cancer]]. Speaking to media just hours after Buss had died, Johnson was emotional, saying, "Without Dr. Jerry Buss, there is no Magic."<ref name=jbuss>{{Cite news |last=Plaschke |first=Bill |date=February 19, 2013 |title=To Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss was friend, mentor and 'second father' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2013-feb-19-la-sp-magic-jerry-buss-20130219-story.html|access-date=January 3, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US|archive-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411085358/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2013-feb-19-la-sp-magic-jerry-buss-20130219-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Buss acquired the team from [[Jack Kent Cooke]] in 1979, shortly before he drafted Johnson with the #1 pick in the [[1979 NBA draft]]. Buss took a special interest in Johnson, introducing him to important Los Angeles business contacts and showing him how the Lakers organization was run, before eventually selling Johnson a stake in the team in 1994.<ref name=jbuss /> Johnson credits Buss with giving him the business knowledge that enabled him to become part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref name=jbuss /><ref name=doctor>{{Cite web |title=Magic says Buss made him the man he is today |date=February 20, 2013 |url=https://apnews.com/article/e5d99a3a1d364a24affbd2022f531178|access-date=January 3, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |language=en|archive-date=April 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411085355/https://apnews.com/article/e5d99a3a1d364a24affbd2022f531178|url-status=live}}</ref>

Buss supported Johnson as he revealed his diagnosis of HIV in 1991, and he never hesitated to keep Johnson close to the organization, bringing him in as part-owner, and even as a coach. Johnson had never seriously considered coaching, but he agreed to take the head coaching position with the Lakers in 1994 at Buss' request. In 1992, Buss had given Johnson a contract that paid him $14 million a year, as payback for all the years he was not the league's highest-paid player. Although Johnson's retirement prior to the [[1992–93 NBA season]] voided this contract, Buss insisted that he still be paid.<ref name=jbuss /> It was this arrangement that allowed Johnson to coach the team without receiving any additional salary.<ref name=brief /><ref name=father /> After Johnson ended his coaching stint, Buss sold him a 4% stake in the Lakers for $10 million, and Johnson served as a team executive.<ref name=jbuss />