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Eye for talent ‘unmatched’: Magic Johnson shares memories of Jerry West

Related Topics: Magic Johnson, Jerry West

When Magic Johnson heard the news that friend Jerry West had died early Wednesday morning, he began to reminisce about their first lunch together at the Forum in Inglewood after the Lakers had selected him No. 1 overall out of Michigan State in 1979.

Johnson recalled how his dad, Earvin Johnson Sr., was at the lunch and how his father “idolized” West and viewed him as his favorite player.

Magic and his dad were excited about him joining a historic franchise like the Lakers, the two of them looking forward to what the future held for The Magic Man.