Losing LJ at an interview session is not necessarily the worst thing that could happen. Johnson never has been a terribly talkative guy, anyway, certainly not outside the confines of the locker room. He brings a bunker mentality to basketball, learned in the laboratory of UNLV and coach Jerry Tarkanian. Tark the Shark made a major impression on Johnson. No. 2 in tribute to his old coach, who wore that number when he played.
Teams often flourish with that mentality.
But it has nothing to do with simple courtesy and acting in a responsible manner to promote the game that provides him with all those fancy paychecks. Others manage to do it. The punchout he had in last year's playoffs with Alonzo Mourning of Miami was an example of his quick temper. To his credit, Johnson played the NBA Finals in some degree of pain. Both knees and his right elbow were wrapped because of assorted aches and pains, evidence of how hard he plays every night.