Magic Johnson: Lakers Need Coach Who Will Hold Everyone Accountable

The Lakers are conducting a coaching search and are believed to be getting close to making a hire.

Whoever it is need to hold the players accountable, Lakers legend and former team executive Magic Johnson told The Athletic’s David Aldridge it should be someone who holds each player accountable.

Johnson added that hiring an ex-player may not hurt in that department.

“I think that, to me, they’re showing you, right now. Probably besides Erik Spoelstra, all the other three that’s in the final four are ex-players,” Johnson told Aldridge. “So, I think that says a lot about these young ex-players who command respect right away, who have done it before. I’m not saying it has to be an ex-player, but I’m saying you have to look at what’s going on. Most of the guys who are in the playoffs.

“But the most important thing to me is accountability. They must hold everybody, one through 15, accountable. And we got away from accountability. Guys never talked about that this season. It was always somebody else’s fault. I hated that. Never, ‘Hey, I played bad. Hey, It’s on me.’ So whether it’s an ex-player or not, but the trend is ex-players. But if not, I want a coach that’s going to hold everybody accountable. And, so, that’s what I would like to see.”

The Lakers are reportedly down to three coaches in their search — former Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts, ex-Nets coach and current Clippers assistant Kenny Atkinson and Bucks assistant Darvin Ham.

Of the three, only Ham has played in the NBA, and he is indeed believed to be the favorite.

Johnson and former Lakers coach Phil Jackson are advising GM Rob Pelinka in the search, as we relayed over the weekend.