<P> In 2009, Johnson and Bird collaborated with journalist Jackie MacMullan on a non-fiction book titled When the Game Was Ours . The book detailed their on - court rivalry and friendship with one another . </P> <P> Magic Johnson had an extremely close relationship with Lakers owner Jerry Buss, whom he saw as a mentor and a father figure . Calling Buss his "second father" and "one of (his) best friends", Johnson spent five hours visiting Buss at the hospital just a few months before his death from cancer . Speaking to media just hours after Buss had died, Johnson was emotional, saying, "Without Dr. Jerry Buss, there is no Magic ." Buss acquired the team from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, shortly before he drafted Johnson with the #1 pick in the 1979 NBA draft . In addition to playing 13 seasons for the Lakers and coaching the team briefly in 1994, Johnson also had an ownership stake in the team for nearly twenty years . Buss took a special interest in Johnson, introducing him to important Los Angeles business contacts and showing him how the Lakers organization was run, before eventually selling Johnson a stake in the team in 1994 . Johnson credits Buss with giving him the business knowledge that enabled him to become part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers . </P> <P> Buss supported Johnson as he revealed his diagnosis of HIV in 1991, and he never hesitated to keep Johnson close to the organization, bringing him in as part - owner, and even as a coach . Johnson had never seriously considered coaching, but he agreed take the head coaching position with the Lakers in 1994 at Buss' request . In 1992, Buss had given Johnson a contract that paid him $14 million a year, as payback for all the years he was not the league's highest paid player . Although Johnson's retirement prior to the 1992--93 NBA season voided this contract, Buss insisted that he still be paid . It was this arrangement that allowed Johnson to coach the team without receiving any additional salary . After Johnson ended his coaching stint, Buss sold him a 4% stake in the Lakers for $10 million, and Johnson served as a team executive . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="6"> Legend </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> GP </Td> <Td> Games played </Td> <Td> GS </Td> <Td> Games started </Td> <Td> MPG </Td> <Td> Minutes per game </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> FG% </Td> <Td> Field goal percentage </Td> <Td> 3P% </Td> <Td> 3 - point field goal percentage </Td> <Td> FT% </Td> <Td> Free throw percentage </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> RPG </Td> <Td> Rebounds per game </Td> <Td> APG </Td> <Td> Assists per game </Td> <Td> SPG </Td> <Td> Steals per game </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> BPG </Td> <Td> Blocks per game </Td> <Td> PPG </Td> <Td> Points per game </Td> <Td> Bold </Td> <Td> Career high </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Nba player who won more than 3 championships family feud