CNN.com
Photo: CNN.com

NBA Legend Magic Johnson appeared on ESPN and explained his decision to step down as the LA Lakers’ president of basketball operations.

Johnson, who resigned on April 9, accused the LA Lakers GM, Rob Pelinka of backstabbing him.

“Things got going in the right direction. And then I start hearing, ‘Magic, you’re not working hard enough. Magic’s not in the office.’ So people around the Lakers office was telling me Rob was saying things. And I didn’t like those things being said behind my back,” Johnson said.

“That I wasn’t in the office enough and on and on. So I started getting calls from my friends outside of basketball and those things were said to them outside of basketball.  Now it’s in the media and so on. If you’re going to talk betrayal, it’s only with Rob,” he added.

Johnson became the president of basketball operations of the LA Lakers in the spring of 2017.