Magic Johnson says Jim Buss is to blame for Lakers' woes

Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson says Lakers owner Jim Buss needs to let go of his ego. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson says he knows exactly what the team's problems are and they have nothing to do with the rash of injuries that have sunk the team to the bottom of the Western Conference.

Johnson says that owner Jim Buss should be like his late father, Jerry, when it comes to personnel decisions. He says that general manager Mitch Kupchak is doing a great job but doesn't have any power.

“This is what happens when you make the wrong decisions, two coaching wrong decisions, giving Steve Nash that deal, it’s backfired," Johnson said, via the Los Angeles Times.

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The Lakers have lost six in a row and 12 of their last 13 games. At 14-25, they are next to last in the Western Conference standings.

"The biggest problem they're going to have right now ... you've got to get a guy like Jerry West to be the face of the team. ... You've got to have someone helping Jim," Johnson said. "He's got to quit trying to prove a point to everybody that he can do it on his own, get his ego out of it, and just say, 'Let me get someone beside me to help achieve the goals I want.' "