“He says, ‘Magic, I knew you were going to make it well in business,’” Magic Johnson once recalled. The first person to recognize Johnson’s potential in the business world was none other than Lakers owner Jerry Buss. Always eager to give him a leg up, Buss even allowed himself to be tricked—just so the five-time NBA champion could gain valuable business insights from him. But while Magic aimed for the stars, he never forgot to lift others up along the way. Just like his legendary passing on the court, he looked out for his teammates in the business world too—something that took one of his former teammates by surprise.

The Lakers Showtime star Byron Scott has always shared how Johnson had big dreams for his post-NBA career. Michael Cooper said it too. However, despite having aspirations to become a billionaire, Scott shared how one of Johnson’s gestures was very surprising. The Lakers legend didn’t think twice before refusing one of his commercial deals so that the offer would go to his former Showtime teammates.

“He wants everybody to do well right and I remember they came to Buck (Magic Johnson) with, I think it was Circle K or 7-Eleven commercial to do and Buck was like ‘y’all ain’t got enough money for me!’” Scott said on his show Byron Scott’s Fast Break with Johnson as his guest on this special segment.

Speaking of Johnson’s suggestion, Scott continued, “‘But why you go talk to Bee Cooper and Kurt (likely Kurt Rambis) and and get those guys to do it’ so they came to us and we was like yeah we we’ll do it…we did the commercial and found out that that’s how he (Johnson) was that’s how he was as a man, as a player always looking out for us.”

That was exactly the kind of thing Johnson would do. But that didn’t mean he abandoned his own aspirations. He worked just as hard to keep up with the promise he made to himself. Showtime legend Scott himself shared the story of how Johnson, as a player, dreamt of becoming a billionaire when everyone was talking about their post NBA career. 

Sharing Johnson’s words, Scott said, “‘I’m going be a billionaire’ like what? He (was like) ‘look man they gave the wrong brother some money cuz I’m going to make this money work I’m going to be an entrepreneur’ and when you talk about mindset he (Johnson) said this 40 years ago right so it’s not surprising to me.’”

And when it comes to Johnson’s business aspirations, the late legend Buss cannot be forgotten. After all, he helped Johnson hone his entrepreneurial skills.

Jerry Buss Knew Magic Johnson All Along

Stories of Las Vegas are always the most intriguing, and this one is even more striking. During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Johnson spoke about his trips with Buss and their adventures at Las Vegas clubs. He recalled how the Los Angeles Lakers‘ owner used to give him $5,000 worth of chips to gamble. Rather than gambling, he would cash it out later. “”He would be feeding me chip. He’d say, ‘Here’s $5,000 worth of chips. Go gamble.’ And I’d put them in my pocket,” he said.

So, on one trip, Johnson ended up with $15,000. However, he had no idea that Buss was already aware of it. Much later, during the Lakers’ owner’s final days, when Johnson visited him, Buss revealed the truth along with a proud declaration.

“I thought all those years, I had tricked him. True story. Jeanie Buss calls me and says, ‘My dad is dying. And you’ve got to come see him. He wants to see you,’ so I go see him. And first thing he says, Jimmy. He says, ‘Magic, I knew you were going to make it well in business. All them times I gave you those chips, I knew you were cashing them in,'” Johnson said. 

The 5x NBA champ’s friends, who knew his potential, weren’t shocked as the legend continued to climb to success. Johnson who has a net worth of $1.2 billion now has had the mindset for 4 decades.