Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has become a very successful entrepreneur ever since his first retirement from the NBA in 1991.
Among many other things, he was part of a group that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were then a second-rate Major League Baseball franchise, in 2012. Since then, they have finished first in the National League West nine times and brought home a world championship in 2020.
More recently, Johnson launched a failed attempt to buy the NFL’s Denver Broncos, but now, he has set his sights on another pro football team, one that used to be based in Los Angeles.
Via Lakers Daily:
“It’s looking like he is trying to expand his empire, as he is reportedly in talks to buy a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders for a record price.
“‘Former NBA star Magic Johnson is in talks to buy a stake in the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders at a price that could set a new record for sports deals, according to people familiar with the matter,’ wrote Liz Hoffman and Reed Albergotti of Semafor.
“‘Johnson has been assembling a team of investors in recent weeks for a minority slice of the Raiders, which is majority owned by the family of the late Al Davis, the people said. One of them said the group was conducting due diligence with the team. A deal hasn’t been finalized and could still fall apart.'”
The Raiders spent much of the 1980s and early 1990s in the Southland, and during that time, they won Super Bowl XVIII. In doing so, they built a huge following in the area that remains to this day, even more than 25 years after they left.
What was supposed to be a strong season for the Raiders this year has devolved into a dismal 3-4 record, despite the acquisition of Davante Adams, arguably the best wide receiver in pro football.
Perhaps Johnson would be able to work his magic with them and make them a winner once again.
