Magic says teams must carry the NBA since Jordan's retired

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., (AP) -- Magic Johnson believes the era of one superstar dominating the NBA ends with Michael Jordan's retirement.

"I don't think one person can carry the baton and lead the league, it'll have to be the teams. ... The Lakers have to become the team they are supposed to be. Indiana and New York are going to have to come up," Johnson said Wednesday.

"Just like when the Lakers dominated, and the Celtics dominated, we have to turn to somebody else."

Basketball needs to develop new role models as well, Johnson said.

"We have to continue to be the good guys until the young guys break through. Maybe it will be Kobe Bryant or Shaquille O'Neal or Grant Hill."

Johnson, commenting after Jordan announced his retirement earlier Wednesday, called Jordan "the most incredible athlete I've ever seen."

"He's an icon, a one-man show. It's going to be a devastating loss. It's a loss for basketball, but for kids, too" in terms of not being able to see a superb role model in action, Johnson said.

"I was hoping he would stay just one more year to help these young NBA players learn how to be a true professional.

"The NBA has to have a great year, 50 games," said Johnson, to regain fans and respect in recovering from the labor dispute that will keep the league idle until next month.

"We can't have any incidents, players getting into trouble. ... I feel sad because we won't be able to watch the superstar and the best player anymore. It's really disappointing because of the lockout. But I'm happy for him because he found peace with himself, and will have more time with his wife and kids."

Johnson was the dominant player of the '80s, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships before Jordan's Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles in the '90s.

"He's won one more championship than I did. He'll be rubbing it in my face for eternity," Johnson said with a laugh as he talked with reporters outside the offices of Magic Johnson Enterprises.

Johnson, who became part-owner of the Lakers after retiring, hopes he and Jordan can get together for some pickup games. However, Johnson's not about to talk himself into 1-on-1 action against Jordan, his former teammate on the U.S. Dream Team for the 1992 Olympics.

"That's his game. If we played 10 times, he'd win 10 times. My game was leadership, and passing. He can't match my passes. But I can't score 60 points. I can't compete against him dunking," Johnson said.