Top 100 moments of the 2018-19 NBA season, Part 2

29. Magic Johnson abruptly steps down as Lakers team president

Magic Johnson wasn’t particularly good at his job, nor was he happy doing it. On the same day The Athletic published a revealing article about the inner working of the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office, their president of basketball operations called an impromptu press conference to announce he was stepping down.

It was a sudden and stunning revelation, one that no one saw coming — including controlling owner Jeanie Buss, because he apparently couldn’t bear to tell her the news before broadcasting it to everyone in the media.

In a 45-minute presser that covered every frequency on the emotional spectrum, Magic rambled on about his feelings about the job and his future. The words just keep pouring out. How he couldn’t be himself. How he couldn’t tweet what he wanted.  How he’s a free bird. How he didn’t want to put himself or Jeanie in a position to fire head coach Luke Walton. He even made a joke about working for ESPN next (please, no).

While his tenure was certainly an embarrassing one, it also takes a certain amount of courage to be yourself, admit you’re not good at a high-paying and prestigious job, and walk away to pursue your own happiness. Lakers fans probably wish he had put the work in or realized his shortcomings before, but alas.

This wasn’t the first or even the second time Magic Johnson held an abrupt, earth-shattering press conference, but on an absolutely bonkers night in the NBA, it was certainly one of the standout moments of the season.