DETROIT -- Magic Johnson, who signed a 25-year, $25 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers 2 years ago, says he is underpaid.
Johnson told the Detroit News Sunday he wants to be paid as well as Houston's Moses Malone, who makes $2.16 million a year, Boston's Larry Bird, $2.14 million annually, and teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, $1.65 million a season.
'I have to be paid what the other top players are being paid,' said Johnson, who has been sidelined for a week with a dislocated index finger and doesn't plan to get back into the Lakers' lineup until mid-January.
'If I'm paid like they are, I'll be happy and everything will be fine. I don't want to renegotiate now; all I want to do is win the championship. But I do want to be paid what I think I deserve.'
The newspaper said an insider close to Lakers' management indicated owner Jerry Buss and Johnson's attorney, George Andrews of Chicago, began contract talks in late November. It is believed Johnson is seeking a contract to make him the highest-paid player in the NBA, the newspaper said.
'I don't want to sound like I'm rocking the boat,' the former Michigan State star guard said. 'Our team has got enough problems to overcome without something like this. At this point, I don't want to start nothing.'
Before his finger injury, the 6-foot-9 Johnson was off to the best start of his five-year pro career. He had been averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and 15 assists a game.
'I was just totally involved in the offense,' Johnson said. 'I love it. When I come off the court now, I feel I have played as hard and as well as I possibly can.'
In his second pro season, Johnson wrecked his knee in mid-November and missed 45 games.
