From owning rivals on the court to owning teams altogether, Magic Johnson takes multipreneur to another level. Not many former athletes can boast of having 14 championships outside their sport. But, Earvin “Magic” Johnson can. It comes from nifty business decisions since retiring from basketball. Johnson bought and sold stakes in the NBA and WNBA, MLB, MLS, and recently the NFL. For the uninitiated, even getting a minority stake in a franchise is a cutthroat race. So, does Magic have a golden child among his hard-earned team babies? Yes. Spoiler alert: it’s not the Lakers.

Speaking to the Los Angeles TV station, KCAL-TV, Johnson had a definitive answer to who stands out from the Lakers, Sparks, LAFC, Dodgers, and Commanders, all teams he had or still has ownership stakes in. “I love the Dodgers,” he said. At least the beloved Showtime Lakers star likes the LA-based team.

For good reason too. Johnson said on KCAL-TV, “The Dodgers is a special team and…we have a special fan base now, I mean, it’s around the world. That stadium is so unique and special. And when we’re playing good, it’s nothing like being in [the] Dodger Stadium and hear the Dodger fans go crazy.”

Well, Dodgers Nation is a special place that has drawn the biggest celebrity names known. From Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg to Lakers legends like Magic, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, the Dodgers stands are an unparalleled celebrity show. For most, it’s an incredible experience to be a part of.

Magic wanted to partake in Dodgers Nation as more than just a fan. It’s special to him as an athlete because of the legacy of Jackie Robinson, the baseball legend who broke barriers for black athletes. After a decade of intense financial hardships, Magic Johnson bought into the franchise for an astounding $2.3 billion in 2012. The sale was led by the Guggenheim Baseball Management of which Magic is a founding member.

It was not an easy task as it involved saving the franchise and its storied legacy from bankruptcy. Since his group took over the team at a $1.4 billion valuation in 2012, they are worth $5.4 billion in 2024. This team owns the largest payroll in the MLB and won a championship in 2020, the same time as the Lakers.

While his attachment to the Dodgers is understandable, it’s a bit surprising two other teams rank after it for him.

Magic Johnson’s teams are special to him

It was the late Lakers owner, Dr. Jerry Buss, who planted a seed of team administration in then NBA pro, Magic Johnson. Soon after retiring, he got into coaching the Lakers as well as owning a part of it. That led to him buying a stake in the Los Angeles Sparks. He went on to buy minority ownership in the LAFC and Dodgers but would sell his Lakers stakes.

His teams had added to the five NBA championships he had already won. But, Magic had his sights on a Super Bowl ring. Initially, he bid for the Denver Broncos but lost. His business partner, Josh Harris, however, invited him to a new ownership group bidding for the Washington Commanders. This group acquired the NFL team in 2023 for $6.05 billion.

It was huge for multiple reasons related to Magic Johnson. He is listed as a limited partner, one of the few black owners in the NFL, and an NBA champion to boot. His arrival into the league is nothing short of a cultural shift. This acquisition made Magic one of the four billionaire athletes in the world in 2023.

However, the Commanders still need a lot of work to enter its Showtime Lakers era. Magic’s first season as an NFL team owner leaves a little to be desired after the team went 4-13 this season.

Magic is rebuilding the Commanders to add a Super Bowl championship to his collection. But, it’s also surprising that the Sparks didn’t get a mention by the basketball legend.

However, Johnson has shown a lot of excitement since the Sparks acquired Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, and the Dodgers acquired Shohei Ohtani. So not getting a mention from the boss is not a big deal when he’s passionate about all his teams.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.