LeBron James will return to Los Angeles as an opponent on Christmas Day, and Magic Johnson already knows how he thinks Lakers fans should respond.
Videos by FanBuzz
Namely, with cheers.
James, now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, is scheduled to face his former team at Crypto.com Arena for the first time since ending his eight-year run with the Lakers.
Johnson was asked by TMZ Sports how fans should treat the four-time NBA champion upon his return.
"They should treat him great," Johnson said. "He was there."
When asked whether that meant plenty of cheers, Johnson didn't hesitate. "Of course, of course."
Johnson's feelings shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
He was serving as Lakers president of basketball operations when James signed with Los Angeles in 2018 and personally helped recruit him to the franchise.
James went on to lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship and spent eight seasons in Los Angeles before leaving for Philadelphia this summer.
After James' departure, Johnson publicly thanked both James and agent Rich Paul for taking that initial meeting with him eight years earlier.
"He created a whole new era for the Lakers," Johnson wrote, adding that he'll "always love and be grateful for him."
Now comes the potentially awkward part. James will walk into Crypto.com Arena on Christmas wearing a different uniform and trying to beat the Lakers.
Johnson doesn't seem to care. Cheer for LeBron. Then, presumably, Lakers fans can spend the next two hours hoping he loses.
