Magic Johnson made a surprising announcement on Thursday when the Los Angeles Laker great said that he would not be returning to ESPN's "NBA Countdown" or any of the network's coverage right on the cusp of the basketball season; sources at ESPN say that a power struggle with Bill Simmons prompted the decision, according to Deadspin.
Simmons has risen to the top of the ESPN empire since he started out as a columnist on ESPN.com's Page 2 back in the days when writing on the Internet received little to no respect. Simmons now runs Grantland.com and has become a major contributor to projects such as "30 for 30" in addition to his role on "NBA Countdown."
Going into the 2012-2013 season sources say that it was the influence of Simmons that led to Michael Wilbon's role on the show being diminished to the point that he eventually was removed from the program and that Magic was "privately seething" about the development, according to Deadspin.
"The bottom line is they turned that show over to Simmons," the source told Deadspin. "That's why Doug Collins got hired and why Wilbon was out."
Simmons, who happens to be a Boston Celtic fan, has aired some grievances about Magic's role on the show in the past, Slam reports.
"I feel like the biggest problem the show has had over the past couple of years is that everyone was hanging on Magic's every word," Simmons said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "Nobody was challenging him."
Simmons responded to the Deadspin story with the following tweet:
My first experience today with someone writing a "sources" report about me that's not true. Part amusing, part horrifying.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) October 10, 2013
In his official statement Johnson said nothing about any conflict with Simmons; the part-owner of the Dodgers and businessman blamed other commitments on why he had to give up the show, according to ESPN.
"I love ESPN. Unfortunately, due to the nature of my schedule and other commitments, I don't feel confident that I can continue to devote the time needed to thrive in my role," Johnson said. "I will always feel a strong connection to the ESPN family and I enjoyed working with them very much."
