The Los Angeles Lakers barely had a chance to finish their post game celebration following their season-opening win over the Clippers Tuesday night before franchise legend Magic Johnson was already warning fans of a "long season" for the team.
"Laker fans are spoiled. I don't know how they're going to react now, because this is going to be a tough season," Johnson told ESPN. "This is going to be one of the roughest seasons that the Lakers have ever faced. You're waiting on Kobe Bryant to see if he can get healthy. Nobody knows if he can be what he was. Then you've got Pau Gasol -- who I think is a premier big man -- but he plays better when he has talent around him.
"You've got guys who are all on one-year contracts, and all were journeymen on other teams. Laker fans are not used to that. I don't know if they're going to buy into that. We're going to see. If you want the Laker fans to really buy in and be involved, you're going to have to win right away. I don't see that happening. The West is tough this year."
In Johnson's eyes, the one silver lining could be Bryant coming back to be a dominant player. "Kobe can get 30 or 40," said Johnson said. "But you have to remember, you need at least three guys who can score. Right now I'm looking at that roster and going, 'Who else is going to get you 15-20 a night besides Gasol and Kobe?' "
When asked if he would be willing to be part of the Lakers' recruiting pitch to potential free agents next summer, Johnson said he would always help the Lakers if they should ever call upon him. Johnson sold his ownership stake in the Lakers in 2010 and is no longer officially affiliated with the team.
"This summer is going to be a crucial summer for the Lakers," Johnson said. "They have all that cap space. Hopefully [Lakers executive Jim Buss] has a plan. His dad [the late Dr. Jerry Buss] would've had a plan two years."
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