Magic Says He’s Only Just Begun

Remaining in Los Angeles for another few hours before heading out to settle the crisis in the Middle East and find a cure for the common cold, of course in time to be back for the Chicago Bulls’ visit Friday, Magic Johnson returned to practice Wednesday and basked in the amazement of fellow Lakers, then wondered what all the fuss was for.

“What am I happy about?” he said when asked to critique his performance from the night before. “Nothing yet. Because I really haven’t accomplished anything in my mind. I know that with time, things will get better, and I just have to keep working. Once I get happy or satisfied, then I quit working, so I got to continue to work. I’m not nearly in the type of shape I would like to be in, in terms of NBA shape, so there are some things I need to work on.”

But you came within two rebounds of a triple-double against the Golden State Warriors . . . In only 27 minutes . . . In your first real NBA game in 55 months.

“Yeah,” he said, “but I missed it.”

Johnson, his expectations as high as his talent level ever was, finally allowed a laugh.

“I know what you’re talking about,” he said after practice at Loyola Marymount, still only his fifth workout with the Lakers. “But I’m not a guy to sit back and say, ‘Oh, man. What a great game.’ Not me. I’ve got to keep working.

“I was so nervous that I just about threw my jump shots. . . . The main thing here is still trying to fit in. You’ve got to remember that. We’ve all got to fit in with one another.

“My reading of the situations will get better; I’m disappointed. But that’s because I haven’t played in so long. I’m disappointed that I missed a free throw. I’m disappointed because I turned the ball over a few times. I’m disappointed because I charged into a man and got an offensive foul. Those are the things you’d be disappointed about.”

Johnson reported only slight soreness the day after his debut, mostly in his lower back, the natural result of getting a forearm from defenders in the low post. Nothing a massage won’t take care of, he said.

The Lakers and Warriors reported amazement.

“I don’t think anybody expected a player, even of Magic’s stature, to come back and come within two numbers of a triple-double in 27 minutes,” Laker Coach Del Harris said. “Let’s face it. So he exceeded reasonable expectations, even of an all-time great player. The beauty of it is, there is room for improvement as he learns our players and they learn him.”

Said Warrior rookie Joe Smith, who exploited some of Johnson’s defensive deficiencies while going for 23 points and 10 rebounds: “He did everything I saw him do when I was young. He was passing the ball, he shot that hook with both hands. He was finding the open man.”

Imagine once Johnson gets in NBA shape, not touring-team shape. Imagine once he knows the offense, not only the four plays he took into the Warrior game, before going for 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

“It’s going to take us a good month,” he said. “. . . As soon as they learn that when I drive, don’t be sitting back on your heels, come in and get ready for the shot because the ball’s coming. It’s all those things because you’ve got to remember, they’re not used to playing with me, I’m not used to playing with them.

“The only question I had was, could I do it? Let’s get out here and see. Just get out there and do it. Play. I was doing it all the time in my practices [with his touring team], I was doing it with the Lakers. But, you know, you want a real game against an opponent. Real situations.”

He got them Tuesday. And real results.

Laker Notes

Magic Johnson reiterated his desire to play in the Atlanta Olympics. There are two remaining spots to be filled by the selection committee of USA Basketball, shortly after the end of the regular season. . . . One comeback won’t lead to another. Sam Bowie briefly reconsidered his decision to stay retired after hearing he would have a chance to play with Johnson now, but decided to stay in Kentucky and play the family man instead. “Obviously, I started daydreaming and visualizing what it would be like to play with him,” Bowie said. “But I’m too content with the lifestyle I’m leading and I’m comfortable with my decision.” Actually, Bowie could have played with a legend-on-a-comeback in Los Angeles or Chicago since he was also contemplating signing with the Bulls earlier this season. “Now people will really say I’m insane,” he joked. . . . The Warriors either had the honor or the misfortune of being the other act in the circus Tuesday. “Thanks for inviting us, Del,” Golden State Coach Rick Adelman deadpanned to his Laker counterpart, Del Harris, in the hallway before the game. “We appreciate it.”