HoopsHype.com Rumors

LeBron James won his fourth career MVP award on Sunday, after a stellar statistical season that had nearly everyone in agreement that he was the best player in the league in 2013. But NBA legend Magic Johnson had a different take when the subject came up on ESPN’s NBA Countdown halftime show on Sunday. “I’m in disbelief,” Magic said. “Chris Paul and Blake Griffin has more commercials than LeBron James. I can’t believe that. In all my 35 years, I’ve never seen an MVP, back-to-back winner … not have any endorsement deals, not have any commercials on TV? Every time I look at the TV, I never see any LeBron James commercials.” For The Win

LeBron James, Media, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson has just been swatted ... but this one is RADICALLY different from all the others ... because the LAPD is clearly hip to the prank now ... TMZ has learned. Someone placed the electronic 911 call within the last hour ... claiming multiple shots were fired at Magic's L.A. home. We're also told the caller claimed the shooters were holding someone hostage. TMZ.com

Law, Magic Johnson 

Plenty of Lakers fans were unhappy with Dwight Howard’s third quarter ejection in the team’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, but perhaps none more than the team’s most famous alum. Magic Johnson took to Twitter late Sunday to criticize the soon-to-be free agent, who admitted he’s “got to do a better job of keeping my cool.” For The Win

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: LN: Dwight, I've been swept before but I never let my team down by getting kicked out of the game. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Magic Johnson 

The 20-year-old son of basketball great Magic Johnson is surprised by the public interest in his being gay, something that he revealed to his supportive family several years ago. Earvin Johnson III, known as E.J., says he feels like he's coming out of the closet a second time and that he's "reveling" in the experience -- even though news of his sexual orientation broke publicly sooner than he had planned. In an interview posted Tuesday on the YouTube.com talk show "Gwissues," Johnson said that he didn't feel violated after TMZ recently revealed that he's gay. "I always wanted to come into the spotlight," he said. "I always had dreams and plans of doing my own thing and creating my own image, so it came a little sooner than I thought it would but this is still something I knew I would be going through and would have to experience." ESPN.com

Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: Laker Nation: Kobe is the closest thing to Michael Jordan that I have ever seen. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Injuries 

Roland Lazenby: Kobe's competitive nature IS the Los Angeles Lakers, pretty much, just as Jerry West and Magic Johnson before him. Twitter @lazenby

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Injuries 

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, contacted by TMZ for his comment about comments made by Magic Johnson, said he would be honored if the Mavericks had a gay player. Here is a transcription of some of Cuban's comments: TMZ: Mark have you seen the Magic Johnson interview that we did. Magic is essentially saying that if anybody from the LA Dodgers comes out, he will not only be supported, he'll be protected. What's your feeling? Mark Cuban: Exact same thing. I would do it the exact same way. I've been saying the same thing for years. There will be somebody who comes out. It'll be a great moment for sports. I would be honored if he was on my team. I think things have changed, significantly, in that the players would accept him. All professional sports have had their homophobic missteps along the way, it's a new era, a new generation and the player would be accepted. I think we are starting, at least on the edges, break down those barriers. This shouldn't be a big deal. I applaud Magic for being willing to step out and show leadership like he always has. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson has never talked about it before ... but he wanted to open up about his gay son and the implications that Earvin Johnson III's coming out will have in the black community, in the sports community and in their lives. TMZ sat down with the NBA legend for an unbelievably candid interview -- we've divided the video into three parts: 1) How Magic went to his son around the age of 13 and asked, "Are you gay?" Magic explains why he felt the need to approach his kid and the importance of letting EJ know his whole family loved and supported him. TMZ.com

Magic Johnson 

Magic talks about how his son's coming out could inspire professional athletes to follow suit. Harvey also asks Magic how, as the owner of the L.A. Dodgers, he would react to a player coming out. TMZ.com

Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson's 20-year-old son hit the Sunset Strip, hand in hand with his boyfriend ... and his parents couldn't be happier for their kid. Earvin Johnson III -- aka EJ -- is one of Magic's 3 kids. The Lakers legend tells TMZ, "Cookie and I love EJ and support him in every way." Magic goes on, "We're very proud of him." TMZ.com

Magic Johnson, Earving Johnson III 

Apparently, that guy in the AT&T commercials is tired of speaking with children in order to highlight the company’s service offerings. The wireless provider went out and got Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell to appear in its most recent iteration of television spots, with the one in the video clip above featuring an emotionally sensitive Bird being reacting to Magic poking fun at his lack of speed on the court during his playing days. NBCSports.com

Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Commercials 

David Stern: On Magic Johnson and his HIV announcement. Magic was probably more important to the NBA than any other player because he had a love of the game that was instantly recognizable. And of course he had the perfect foil in Larry. I have a lot of feelings about that [Magic announcing he's HIV-positive]... First of all, what people need to understand is we thought he was going to die. There's no mincing words; you didn't survive, Magic was going to die. Magic Johnson, by himself, changed the opinion of AIDS, not just in this country, but the world. Before Magic we had children like Ryan White being thrown out of school. After his announcement, Nickelodeon did a special with HIV-positive children and Magic Johnson. Now HIV / AIDS is a treatable disease. Gothamist

Magic Johnson, David Stern 

Coach Erik Spoelstra offered a surprising opinion before Tuesday’s game, asserting that “I don’t think last year’s [Heat] team is good enough to win this year.” He added the level the Heat is “playing at right now might not be good enough. We don’t know how good we can become.” Magic Johnson said on ABC on Sunday that he spoke to Heat president Pat Riley on Friday “and he said, ‘We’re really not playing that well. We’re not playing our best basketball. We’re just playing good enough to beat everybody.’ He says they have room for important and he’s looking for improvement.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, Magic Johnson 

LeBron James apparently is still mulling Magic Johnson's $1 million offer to finally participate in the NBA's dunk contest. James told ESPN's Lisa Salters that, although he hasn't decided on a response to Johnson's offer, he frequently considers entering the dunk contest. "I don't have a response yet," James told Salters prior to the Miami Heat's game against the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon. James had never taken part in the dunk contest in his 10-year career despite consistently throwing down trophy-worthy slams in warm-ups and games. The three-time league MVP told Salters, however, that he has considered participating. "I think about it every year," James said. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: Sacramento is a great NBA city and the @SacramentoKings should stay at home! Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Magic Johnson 

But much of the world saw him as a maverick, a rich man who acted like one of the guys. "I saw him walking in with these jeans on," Johnson recalled of their first meeting. "I said, 'This man's got all this money?'" This unpretentious style helped Buss, divorced and known as a playboy, forge close relationships with many of his players. After games, he transformed the Forum's press lounge into a late-night party spot, entertaining athletes, reporters and young women as announcer Chick Hearn poured drinks at the bar. Buss said: "Just because I'm a public figure doesn't mean I don't get to live my life the way I want." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss 

Magic Johnson is giving LeBron James a million reasons to consider the slam dunk contest. The Hall of Famer says Friday during ESPN's pregame show that he will put up $1 million if James finally enters the marquee event of All-Star Saturday night. James has always refused to enter the contest, but he's recently been putting on a dunking show before Miami's games, reigniting interest in seeing him take part. Johnson says: "Please LeBron, get in the dunk contest. I'm going to put up a million dollars. A million dollars to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner." Boston Herald

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Magic Johnson 

Johnson recalled how he knew Buss would always be there for him in the moment he told the world stunning news in 1991. "When I announced I had HIV, we cried for hours," Johnson said "He was thinking he would lose an adopted son. He picked up the phone and started calling hospitals to make sure I had the best health care and best doctors possible. "He'd ask, `You OK? You taking your meds?' That's when I knew this man loved me and cared about me outside winning championships and outside making no-look passes. That's who Jerry Buss was." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss 

Dave McMenamin: Magic's conclusion: "Please, Buss family, do not ever sell the Lakers and win more championships. Please." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss