Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson (Photos via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss seemingly hinted at once hooking up with franchise legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson back in the ’70s.

Jeanie Buss inherited the Lakers from her father, Jerry Buss, following his passing at the age of 80 in 2013. Magic Johnson worked in the Lakers’ front office from 2017 to 2019, serving as the president of basketball operations.

Johnson played a pivotal role in recruiting LeBron James in 2018 free agency. Two years later, James led the Lakers to an NBA Championship (their first in 10 years) in the Orlando Bubble.

During a recent appearance on “ALL THE SMOKE” hosted by Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Jeanie Buss recalled one of the first interactions she had with Johnson after he was drafted first overall in 1979.

Buss recalled seeing Johnson’s signature and flashy smile when she opened the door to welcome him inside. And with the way she told the story, some fans are now convinced that Buss and Johnson hooked up that night:

Buss recalled Johnson even telling her that his plan was to leave the Lakers in three years so that he could play for his hometown team, the Detroit Pistons. After Jeanie relayed the message to her father, Dr. Buss promised Johnson wouldn’t play for another team after putting on the Lakers jersey.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Jeanie Buss & Magic Johnson Brought Lakers Back To Relevance

The Lakers endured one of their worst stretch runs in franchise history from 2014 to 2019, finishing no better than 37-45 during that stretch. They missed the playoffs every year and had little draft lottery luck.

But Buss’ decision to bring Johnson back in 2017 proved to be a franchise-changing move. If not for Johnson, perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers would not have recruited LeBron, and their period of irrelevance would have lasted even longer.

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup.

Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw.

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood, in December after 10 years of marriage.

She has since made swipes at Jesse and moved on with TV director Elliot Hegarty, with the pair having been seen kissing during a recent night out.

Fearne has had a difficult few months after undergoing surgery to remove two benign tumours from her jawline, just days before her split with Jesse emerged.

She told host Lorraine: ‘It’s all very amicable and kids are doing great. I am in a very good place.’place.’

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Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup

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Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood , in December after 10 years of marriage (both pictured in February 2024)

Discussing her recent surgery, she added: ‘I feel very grateful to have completely recovered.

‘I feel really good. I have a lot of people reaching out who have had the same thing.’

Davina McCall, 56, announced in November she’d been diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour, and has supported Fearne.

She continued: ‘Everyone needs a Davina. She’s been amazing, weird that we had the same health thing going on at the same time. She’s so calming and we speak every day. She is just the best

It comes after Fearne has seemingly made another thinly-veiled dig at her ex-husband as she gushed that she is the happiest she’s ever been in a positive update.

Speaking to Scott Mills on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Fearne gushed that she is ‘really happy’ and is ‘springing out of bed in the morning ready for life’.

Scott, who has known Fearne for 25 years, said he has never seen her ‘more positive or happier’, prompting Fearne to agree and reply: ‘Yeah I feel great!’