Life on the Court Without Kareem : Magic Ponders New Role With Lakers

A week before facing what may be the biggest transition of his professional career, Magic Johnson said he still has not fully come to terms with his situation. The Lakers’ star begins his 11th National Basketball Assn. training camp Oct. 6, and all he knows is that it will be unlike any of the first 10.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will not be there.

“It’ll hit me in training camp when I don’t see him walking out there with us,” Johnson said Tuesday after giving a clinic at Fordham University here. “I know it’s happening, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

What has sunk in is the Lakers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons in June’s NBA finals and the realization that, even under the best of circumstances, their reign as the unrivaled team of the ‘80s is likely to wither along with the last months of the decade.

“I feel that nobody will dominate in the ‘90s,” Johnson said. “The talent is too much spread around. If you ever have a chance to win it now, you better take advantage.”

Johnson’s role on an evolving team is also likely to change as he heads into his 30s. Although many consider him the league’s best point guard, he said he would probably spend more time at forward this season and could even help at center, where Mychal Thompson figures to start in Abdul-Jabbar’s absence.

“I could play center against certain teams,” the 6-9 Johnson said. “As far as dominant centers, there are only two: (Patrick) Ewing and Akeem (Olajuwon). Neither one I would ever dream about playing. Other guys, like (Bill) Laimbeer, I could play against.”

Another variable that will affect Johnson’s role on the Lakers is the development of 6-11 Yugoslav import Vlade Divac. Johnson said the team does not expect more than 10 to 15 minutes a game from Divac early in the season.

Johnson entertained a crowd of about 400 children, teen-agers and college students for 45 minutes. He answered questions, gave some brief demonstrations and finished with a humorous summary of his basketball life that turned poignant when he contrasted it to the unrealized dreams of Len Bias, who died of a cocaine overdose.

Among the questions asked of Johnson by the audience was whether he would be interested in playing in the 1992 Olympics if NBA players are permitted to do so. “Yes,” he said. “It would be fun.”