Magic Johnson denied a report yesterday suggesting that he was considering returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for this season's playoffs.

Through his agent, Lon Rosen, Johnson said that his intentions have not changed, that he will remain retired on the advice of his doctor.

"It was a misinterpretation of his quotes," Rosen said.

Johnson was quoted by Newsday's Jan Hubbard, at halftime of Wednesday's New York Knicks-Seattle Supersonics game at Madison Square Garden as saying:

"I haven't ruled anything out. You know me. If I was sick, then you rule out everything. But I'm not. Now my mind is open to everything."

Said Rosen: "He said that, but he wasn't referring to playing."