Chimezie Metu became a Lakers fan in the time of Shaq and Kobe, not Magic. But, growing up in Lawndale, like any kid he heard about the legend of Showtime. And a couple of times during Metu's career at USC, he'd see that Magic was in the building.
"I never actually got a chance to go and shake his hand, to talk to him," Metu said.
At the end of Metu's predraft workout Wednesday with the Lakers, Johnson, who watched quietly from the sideline with Lakers coach Luke Walton, made his customary offer to potential draftees that earn the invite to don the purple and gold for a day — get their phones and pose for a photo with him.