INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Magic Johnson insisted Wednesday he is not worried about his coaching moves being second-guessed or about falling out of favor with Los Angeles Lakers fans who cheered his every move for more than a decade.
"No, I'm not worried about that," he said. "Hey, there are already a lot of bad coaches. (They) might as well give me a chance."
Johnson also says his ego, stroked regularly during a 12-year, three-MVP career, won't get in the way.
He said he'll seek the counsel of former Lakers coaches Jerry West, the current general manager, and Bill Sharman.
He's already discussed his task with his former Lakers coach, Pat Riley, with whom Johnson won four of his five NBA titles.
"The main thing Riles told me," Johnson said, "was, 'Don't try to make them what you were. Don't ask them to be Magic.' "
No problem, Johnson said.
"The only thing I'm going to expect them to do like me is give 150 percent on the court. That's all."
The Lakers are centered around inconsistent big men Vlade Divac and Elden Campbell, rookie point guard Nick Van Exel and frequently injured second-year swingmen Anthony Peeler and Doug Christie.
Avoiding missing the playoffs for the first time since 1976 "is going to be tough," Johnson said. "I don't know nothing but the playoffs, (but) if it doesn't happen, I'll deal with that. I'm a realist, too."
Since his retirement, Johnson has been a frequent courtside visitor and has been critical of the team's lack of consistent effort. He said he took the job only after receiving the blessing of his wife, Cookie. "She said, 'You're there every night. Shoot, you might as well go on and be the coach.' "
Asked to describe what his coaching style will be, he said, "Aggressive - on both ends. That's the only way I know how to play."
If Johnson's initial goal is to get the Lakers to play hard consistently, he acknowledged that perhaps his most difficult feat will be resisting the temptation to find his No. 32 jersey and step on the court.
"I'm going to go crazy," he said. "In the last minute, when it's tight, I'm probably going to be saying, 'Go get No. 32.' That will never leave."
He couldn't resist joking about a playing comeback, though.
"If we get close to the playoffs, then I'll have to go back and talk to (his wife) again," he said, laughing. "If Michael (Jordan) will come back and play, then I will, too. . . . I'm retired. We'll leave it at that."
Other than leading a barnstorming tour and working from time to time with young players, he has no coaching experience.
"I know what it takes to win and to be a good basketball player - hard work," he said. "This team needs to go to work."
How long he'll stay on the job, Johnson wouldn't say. He has agreed only to try the job for the rest of this season.
He promised only one thing: "Whether they win or lose, I guarantee you they'll be better players at the end of the season. I guarantee you that."
