While the NBA was struggling for ratings in the first quarter century of its existence, one man’s arrival changed the landscape. With a trademark smile and oozing charisma, Magic Johnson was the symbol of change. Even though the league had seen some spectacular talents, Johnson was the first to transcend the sport into the mainstream. But what many might not remember is one of Magic’s less famous endeavors with the Los Angeles Lakers. An arrangement that could have brought Hollywood even closer to the sport of basketball.

While Magic was on his months-long vacation in European waters, there was some talk about who wasn’t there. The likes of Michael Jordan and Samuel L. Jackson were seen with Johnson on his $7.5 million yacht, but there was one person, who after repeatedly begging to join them, was not invited. And it could have been his own doing.

The Magic Johnson Talk Show

At the conclusion of the 1990-91 season, there were few players with a stock as high as Earvin. But, it was the calm before the storm, if nothing more. Soon after a tough loss against an ascending Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, Johnson’s diagnosis revealed HIV.

Forced to retire, the 5x Champion wasn’t sure of which avenue to follow. However, with his winning personality and keen business mind, he set about setting a new trajectory for life post-basketball. As a result, a $600 million empire stands today.

During the journey, the 3x MVP made a lot of pit stops. Among those was a short-lived talk show on the Lakers network. While the show would last just 8 weeks, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Whether it was guests like Howard Stern or Kobe Bryant, or a co-host in Craig Shoemaker, The Magic Hour had a fair shot.

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Ultimately, it did not work out. But, according to SI, two major names in the TV industry today could have been a part of the talk show. Those names were Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. On the Strike Five podcast, the two revealed how both of them had an opportunity to work on the show. However, both declined.

Perhaps, with either of the two at the helm, the show could have been a staple of basketball for years to come. Further, Kimmel might have been part of a legendary yacht.

The Yacht Experience with Magic

While the man most consider the NBA’s GOAT PG was on a trip for 2 months, the TV host was not a part of the entire ordeal. But it could have been his own doing. Even though a large majority of the trip was a family affair, the first leg of the journey was friends only.

Boasting names like MJ and the legendary Samuel L. Jackson, the trip was a highlight for multiple months. Throughout the trip, Magic would serenade us with a bunch of pictures and clips from the group’s trip. However, Kimmel’s desperate outcry to Johnson to include him in the trip left fans in splits. Were it not for a choice some 24 years ago, Kimmel could have been a part of the luxurious entourage.

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