Magic Johnson loves the Los Angeles Lakers. During his 13-year career, he played with the Purple and Gold and won 5 NBA championships. After his retirement, he also bought an ownership stake in the Lakers. However, he later sold the stakes in 2010. Since then, he has openly expressed his stance of not getting ownership stakes in any other team. Is that about to change?

The love will always remain. But swirling rumors of the NBA expansion team Las Vegas have caught the eyes of several businessmen and investors. Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James are some of the names in the conversation. A new name joining it is Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

As per the Daily Mail, the billionaire’s impressive resume has made him the most preferred candidate for the partnership. He already has stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Commanders, and LAFC. It further read, “Several investment groups in Las Vegas are interested in partnering with him. His extensive experience in sports ownership and his business acumen positions him as a formidable candidate.”

Johnson certainly has the experience and expertise. And his knowledge can benefit the young NBA team when it joins the pro league. However, Johnson has yet to make any official comments on this. He had once expressed his wish to buy a stake in the New York Knicks, but that hasn’t happened yet. But Johnson’s involvement might complicate things for Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaquille O’Neal is interested to buy stake in NBA expansion team

The 4x NBA champ, O’Neal has often expressed his wish to join the ownership group of an NBA  team. And the expansion team is certainly promising.  At a Las Vegas charity event, he reportedly said, “I know Vegas hasn’t been awarded an NBA team yet, but if they ever get to a point where they are awarded a team, I would like to be a part of that. I don’t want to partner up with nobody. I want it all for myself.”

Not just O’Neal, Lakers veteran LeBron James has also been quite vocal about it. Back in 2022, after playing a preseason game, he had campaigned for an NBA team in Las Vegas. “I would love to bring a team here at some point, that would be amazing,” the Los Angeles Lakers star James said while giving a nod to the amusing fanbase.

He is rumored to be competing to join the ownership group. So now, O’Neal not only has James but also an even stronger competitor, Johnson, in the race.