Tuesday night, to everyone's surprise, Magic Johnson announced that he was leaving the position of president of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The dream season in the Hollywood scenario has turned nightmare flop: after the resounding failure on the floors of LeBron James and his teammates, Magic Johnson left Tuesday, to everyone's surprise, his position as president of the Lakers. In the long and glorious history of the Lakers, it had never happened yet.

"As handcuffed to this post". A few minutes before kickoff of the last game of the season against Portland, Johnson called the press to make an announcement that took all the NBA short. "I decided today to leave my post as president," he said. During his press conference of more than 40 minutes, sometimes surreal, even confused, Johnson, on the verge of tears, said he wanted to regain his freedom.

"I had more fun when I was on the other side, when I was an ambassador, when I was the big brother (...) I am a free bird and I was like handcuffed to this post", advanced the five-time NBA champion. "I love my freedom, I have a wonderful life outside basketball and I'm very happy to return to this life," he added.

On several occasions, Johnson, 59, said the Lakers executive president and co-owner, Jeanie Buss, who had convinced him in February 2017 to take the leadership of his team of always, adrift. "I can not disappoint her, I will do everything to preserve our relationship, she is like my sister (...) but it is the right thing to do," he said, assuring that he had not warned him before his decision.

Disagreements between the leaders. Johnson hinted that it was not all rosy between the Lakers leaders, especially with general manager Rob Pelinka. The reason for their recurring disagreements is not a surprise: it concerns coach Luke Walton who was expecting to be sacked within hours of his team's final game. The Lakers are drifting again. They find themselves without a president and may have to look for a general manager and a coach. This is the consequence of a season 2018-19 which should however mark, with the arrival of LeBron James, the rebirth of the second largest franchise in history.

From 4th to 11th place . And it had started better: at the end of December, the Lakers were 4th in the Western Conference and had not been to such a party at this stage of the season since 2010. But "King James" injured the adductors and missed 17 games in a row, the longest absence of his career. Without their superstar, the Lakers have plunged into the rankings and never recovered, especially behind the scenes, the leaders have attempted a gamble that has ... implode the team. They wanted to recruit New Orleans pivot Anthony Davis by offering in exchange most of their young talents who took it very badly. The Lakers finally finished the season in 11th place in the Western Conference and missed the play-offs for the sixth year in a row.