National Basketball Association

Magic Johnson: I am willing to help the Lakers get back on track

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:45 p.m. ET

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Magic Johnson dished out 10,141 assists during his Hall-of-Fame career with the Lakers.

And now, he's once again offering to help out his former team.

Days after apologizing for ripping the Lakers, Johnson told reporters that he would assist the Lakers in the chase for top free-agent talent.

"I've been in a lot of different things with the Lakers, but it's up to them -- Jim, Mitch, Coach D'Antoni -- to decide who they want," Johnson told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. "Once they make their decision, they say, 'Hey, Earvin, can you put in a call to so-and-so?'

"I've done that in the past. I told [General Manager] Mitch Kupchak that last week. First they have to make up their mind on who they want, and then they tell me, just like I recruited Ron Artest, I talked to Lamar Odom."

On the topic of the injured Kobe Bryant, Johnson believes the All-Star guard should sit out for the rest of the season.

"I'm always in the belief when you come back and then you get hurt again, to make sure you heal your body all the way," Johnson told the LA Times. "I want him to stay out, but I know that's not who he is. But I definitely want him to stay out to get his body healthy and strong to get ready to go for a championship next season."

The Lakers won a crazy game in Cleveland on Wednesday, in which, they ran out of 'eligible' players on the bench.