Lakers News: Magic Johnson Thanks Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, More After Resigning

Magic Johnson thanked members of the Los Angeles Lakers organization—including owner Jeanie Buss, general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach Luke Walton—Wednesday morning after resigning as the team's president of basketball operations Tuesday night.

He posted the message of gratitude on Twitter:

Johnson's original announcement came during an impromptu press conference hours before the Lakers finished a disappointing 37-45 season with a 104-101 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

"I was happier when I wasn't president," he told reporters. "We are halfway there with LeBron [James] coming. Think this summer, with that other star coming in, whoever is going to bring him in, I think this team is really going to be in position to contend for a championship with the growth of the young players."

L.A. released a statement about the Basketball Hall of Famer's sudden decision to leave the front office:

There is no greater Los Angeles Laker than Earvin Johnson. We are deeply grateful to Magic for all that he has done for our franchise—as a player, an ambassador and an executive.

We thank him for his work these past two years as our president of basketball operations and wish him, Cookie, Andre, EJ and Elisa all the best with their next steps. He will always be not only a Lakers icon, but our family.

As we begin the process of moving forward, we will work in a measured and methodical fashion to make the right moves for the future of our organization.

The Lakers entered the 2018-19 season with sky-high expectations after signing James to a four-year, $153.3 million contract to join a young core that the team had assembled in recent years.

There were promising signs early on. Los Angeles owned a 19-14 record, fourth-best in the loaded Western Conference, heading into a Christmas clash with the two-time reigning champion Golden State Warriors.

James suffered a groin injury in that 127-101 Lakers victory, however, and proceeded to miss the five weeks. The Lakers dropped to ninth in the West by the time he returned Jan. 31 and they never fully recovered. Absences by Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram also hurt their chances.

Johnson's departure adds another layer of uncertainty heading into an offseason when the organization must make decisions about whether to keep Pelinka and Walton before entering the trade and free-agent markets to add more star power alongside James.

Magic had served as president of basketball operations since February 2017. He played 13 seasons for the Lakers during his on-court career, leading the storied franchise to five NBA championships.