Pride of Lansing discusses proposed age limit in NBA, praises the Pistons.

The only thing Magic Johnson has more of than businesses are opinions. Johnson, a Hall of Fame basketball player-turned superstar businessman, tackled a variety of issues in a wide-ranging, one-on-one telephone interview from Los Angeles the other day.

Johnson, who is coming back to Michigan to promote his new affordable sneakers, Magic32, is locked in with the goings-on in the NBA and basketball as a whole.

There are things he likes, starting with the improved play of Cavaliers guard LeBron James. Then there are things he doesn't agree with, such as so many kids entering the NBA from high school.

But didn't James do that?

When it comes to the Lakers' fall from grace, Magic spreads the blame.

He has nothing but praise for Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and the MSU women's basketball team for their fine NCAA Tournament runs. Maybe that really shouldn't count, though. After all, that's where Lansing native Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. played his college basketball and won a national championship in 1979.

And who will win the NBA title this season?

Magic didn't hesitate to pick the Pistons to repeat, beating the Heat in the East and the Spurs in the West.

On an age minimum

This will be the hottest topic during the summer when the NBA and its players union try to reach a collective bargaining agreement. Commissioner David Stern seems determined to raise from 18 to 20 the minimum age at which a player can be drafted. Many players are in opposition, saying the other other professional sport with such a rule is the NFL.

For the record, Magic, at 19, could have been the No. 1 overall pick by the Kansas City Kings. But he decided to play a second year at MSU. As a result, he entered the league at 20 when the Lakers drafted him No. 1 in 1979.

"I'm for the age limit being pushed back," said Magic, who is a studio commentator on TNT's basketball coverage. "What we're finding out is that guys aren't ready for the NBA, maturity-wise.

"Also, they're lacking fundamentals. The problem with most high school players is that it takes them three years (to develop into solid NBA players) and so those teams that invest all the money into them, they don't reap the benefits most of the time."

Although some players have excelled almost immediately -- Kobe Bryant with the Lakers and Kevin Garrnett with the Timberwolves, to name two -- Magic said most haven't. His prime example is Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal.

"Indiana reaped the benefits instead of Portland, which drafted him," he said. "It took O'Neal five years to get to this level."

O'Neal has been vocal against any age restriction, calling it borderline racism. O'Neal questioned why it's OK for kids to be given guns to fight a war but they can't play for the Warriors.

"To his point, I'm torn because all the other leagues don't have it, except the NFL," Magic, 45, said. "That's a valid point.

"I just wish the guys were more ready because a lot of them lose jobs because they're not ready. They think they're ready, but they're not ready to deal with everything."

On LeBron James

Magic acknowledges that talk of an age minimum is strange on the heels on James' stellar start to his NBA career. James, 20, is already a star. He improved dramatically in almost every area in his sophomore season, averaging 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. On most nights, he's the best player on the court. Best of all, he had handled his stardom with aplomb.

If anything, James has shown that someone's age doesn't always dictate how he'll respond.

"LeBron is ready," Magic said. "But let's talk about all the other ones that came out with him.

"Look at Darko Milicic. We can go down the line because there were a lot of guys who were drafted with LeBron that have done well. But look at last year's draft and it's taken some of the others a little longer.

"I just wish we had a system where we could tell if they were more mature and ready."

Still, Magic is a big James fan.

"He's the best 18- to 20-year-old that has ever come out," he said. "He's the best that has ever come out at his age that we've seen. But we still have to wait on everything else."

Magic isn't ready to proclaim James king of the NBA. He said Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are standing in front of him.

"For him to be better than the Michaels, the Larrys, the Dr. Js (Julius Erving), the Kareems ... that still has to be proven," Magic said. "The only way you prove that is by winning a lot of championships. The bar has been set very high. He'll have to win five or six to be in the conversation. Until that happens, then we can talk."

On the Lakers

Magic said fans in Los Angeles are devastated by how far the Lakers have fallen. Last season, they lost to the Pistons in the NBA Finals. But after the retirement of coach Phil Jackson and the trade of Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat, the Lakers did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.

"We don't know anything but the playoffs," said Johnson, who holds a minority interest in the team. "The fans are just disappointed."

Many blame Bryant, who reportedly couldn't get along with O'Neal and Jackson and wanted both gone before he'd re-sign with the Lakers last summer.

"The fans are past all of that," said Magic, who retired from the Lakers in 1991 after contracting HIV and came back briefly in 1995-96. "Kobe played his heart out this year. Fans saw that. We had the sixth spot in the playoffs until Kobe missed those 15 games with an injury. So we could have very well been in the playoffs.

"But when he was out, we went downhill from there. And we lost our coach, Rudy Tomjanovich (who retired because of health issues)."

Magic said he expects the Lakers to bounce back next season and again rank among the league's elite.

"We don't ever want to have this feeling again," he said. "This is the sickest feeling that I've ever had, Dr. Buss (owner Jerry) has ever had, that Laker fans have ever had. We're used to excellence. We're used to winning."

On Michigan State

Magic, of course, was proud that the Michigan State men's team made it to the Final Four before losing to North Carolina. The Tar Heels went on the win the NCAA title, beating Illinois.

"It was an incredible job," he said.

And yes, Magic gave most of the credit to Izzo.

"That's why Tom Izzo is one of the top three coaches in the NCAA," he said. "Every tournament time, they are always ready. I tell guys all the time that when they want to improve and you want to get better and you want to make a run in the NCAA Tournament, you have to go to Michigan State."

Magic didn't overlook the MSU women's team, which lost to Baylor in the national championship game.

"I'm proud of them, too," he said. "They made people believers now. Now, not only will men's basketball be popular, but the women's team is going to be popular. That means women will want to come there as well."

On the Pistons

Magic said he has nothing but respect for the Pistons. He also said teams are afraid of the Pistons because they have won. Priceless experience and know-how come with winning.

"One thing Miami hasn't done is win a championship," Magic said. "You better believe it counts for a lot. The Pistons won't be nervous or scared."

Magic, who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, said teams that have been down that road have a huge advantage over their opponents.

"When you talk about experience, we used that so many times," he said. "That's what won us championships ... because we knew what to expect, what to do."

Magic is impressed by the way the Pistons play. He loves their teamwork.

"That team is the best team in basketball in terms of playing together and knowing their roles," he said. "They have the best defense of any team. Plus, they have the best coach in basketball. Larry Brown always has an incredible game plan."

Magic said he believes the Pistons will play the Spurs in the NBA Finals.

"I always favor Detroit," he said.