Magic Denies Report That He Might Return

Magic Johnson denied a report Thursday suggesting that he was considering returning to the Lakers for this season’s playoffs.

Through his agent, Lon Rosen, Johnson said that his intentions have not changed, that he will remain retired on the advice of his doctor.

“It was a misinterpretation of his quotes,” Rosen said.

Interviewed at halftime of Wednesday’s New York Knick-Seattle SuperSonic game, Johnson was quoted by Newsday’s Jan Hubbard as saying:

“I haven’t ruled anything out. You know me. If I was sick, then you rule out everything. But I’m not. So that’s the difference. Now my mind is open to everything.”

Said Rosen: “He said that, but he wasn’t referring to playing.

“(Johnson) had heard those rumors about playing in the playoffs. What he said to Jan was, those were just rumors and he’s not planning on going back and playing.

“Earvin said to me, ‘I didn’t tell him I was going to play. I might have said, ‘I would like to play, but I’m retired.’ ”

Said Laker General Manager Jerry West: “It’s news to me. It’s not the first time I’ve heard (the rumor that Johnson would return) before, but it’s news to me.

“He has never indicated to me that he wanted to return. The only thing I have heard consistently is that he’d like to play in the Olympics.”

Johnson has said he is planning to play in the Olympics, since the games are shorter and the schedule less demanding than an NBA season.

He also has responded to recent speculation that he might be voted onto the West All-Star team by saying he’d like to play.

Johnson and Rosen were in New York Tuesday and Wednesday. Johnson met with NBA Commissioner David Stern to discuss his interest in buying a team. He also worked out with Pat Riley, his former coach, and held a news conference, before attending Wednesday’s game between the Knicks and SuperSonics.