Dodgers Co-Owner Magic Johnson Discusses Shohei Ohtani‘s Potential Impact

Los Angeles is the “City of Angels,” but also of superstars.

Long before Shohei Ohtani first donned Dodger Blue, Magic Johnson ruled L.A. with the “Showtime” Lakers. In 2012, he bought a minority stake in the ownership group of the Dodgers. While not the principal owner, Johnson has been more vocal and fan-facing than most of his partners with Guggenheim Baseball Management.

Recently, he joined KTLA to discuss L.A.’s next superstar, Shohei Ohtani. When asked about what Ohtani can bring to the Dodgers as a leader and superstar, Johnson had this to say:

[Shohei] was amazing in the locker room and the weight room. He does not say a lot, but his workout regimen was unbelievable. That was contagious to the other guys.

— Magic Johnson on KTLA

For now Ohtani seems to be taking a “lead by example” approach with a team that has other superstars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. Teams thrive when the premier players work as hard, if not harder than everyone else on the team.

L.A. fans can reference the late Kobe Bryant as someone else who led by example. He frequently showed up to the court earlier than everyone else and practiced like he played. Almost every story involving Bryant talks about how fierce a competitor he was, and also how he worked harder than everyone.

While not making a one-to-one comparison, Ohtani seems to have a similar effect on his new teammates as Bryant did on the Lakers. His work ethic is contagious and he wants to be the best.

If anyone can understand the impact that can have on a team, it’s Magic Johnson.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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