When Magic Johnson’s comeback in the 1995-96 season had just gained momentum, it came to a brief halt after 30 games . The cause: an in-game altercation with none other than the then-young referee, Scott Foster .
A chest bump against Foster had resulted in the ejection of the Lakers star, with Magic understandingly and remorsefully admitting fault afterward. However, Magic also didn’t hesitate to express dissatisfaction with the referee’s handling of the situation.
“I only said, ‘He fouled me.’ My intention was to get his attention. As captain of the team, he must talk to me,” Magic pointed out, per NY Times .
From scolding rebels to becoming one himself
After Johnson’s initial retirement in 1991 due to his HIV diagnosis, followed by a somewhat disappointing Lakers coaching tenure, Magic rejoined the team in a whole new role. On the court, he primarily played as a power forward , and now, more experienced and mature than ever, he is internally serving as a vet.
That naturally meant primarily dealing with the younger, rebellious teammates, including Cedric Ceballos and Nick Van Exel, who occasionally beefed with referees themselves. Just recently, the latter had also bumped a referee, leading to a seven-game suspension and harsh criticism from Magic .