See Los Angeles home built for Magic Johnson with indoor basketball court, locker room
A 10,000-square-foot California mansion built for Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson — with, of course, an indoor basketball court and locker room with signatures on the wall from “many notable NBA players” — is for sale for $14.5 million.
The home, which was built in 1981 and designed specifically for Magic, sits at the end of a cul-de-sac in the exclusive Moraga Estates in the Bel Air community of Los Angeles. The gated community offers 24-hour security.
“This home is one of the most private properties in Moraga Estates,” the seller Nancy Ellin said in an email. “It is originally Magic Johnson’s home, so naturally it has an indoor basketball court. Following a complete renovation, the home now has top-of-the-line appliances, marble, custom cabinets and Moroccan/Spanish design elements that were inspired from our travels.”
Ellin is the listing agent with Compass real estate firm along with Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker.
Johnson lived there until 1990, according to a Compass representative. Ellin purchased the property for $4.4 million in 2004, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Ellin said in a follow-up email that the NBA superstar, businessman and owner returned to visit the house, play hoops and “personally signed walls in the kids’ bedrooms, gym and basketball court. I had glass installed to preserve them in the house, and the (basketball) court has them all in (the) wall.”
She said her children’s friends all wanted to hang out at the Moraga estate.
“My home was the house to be at,” she added. It was the “greatest family home.”
The updates to the residence also include new security systems, electrical work, lighting, a pool and spa.
The home sits on more than a half-acre with six bedrooms and six-plus bathrooms. The living space breaks down like this: the first level spans 4,436 square feet; the second is 4,188 square feet; the third, 1,050; and a garage spans 992 square feet. That’s a total of 10,666 square feet.
A gorgeous staircase makes for a grand entrance into the home, which has completely new, custom wide-wood plank floors throughout. The foyer leads to a large formal dining room underneath a silver-leaf soffit ceiling. A light-filled formal living room with a fireplace flows into a family room with a wood-burning fireplace, a bar and a “Moroccan-inspired seating rotunda,” according to the listing.
Ellin said the design and flow of the house indoors to outdoors allows for “constant entertainment.”
“Originally Magic Johnson’s home, this completely remodeled stunning transitionally-designed estate was designed for total privacy and entertaining,” said Mills. “Tucked into the canyon and the last house at the end of a cul-de-sac, this unique and magnificent estate is perfect for those seeking the ultimate at-home retreat and great space for entertaining in a private, secure community.”
French doors in the family room and chef’s kitchen lead to a backyard with views of the Santa Monica mountains. Light floods into a large breakfast area through French doors on all sides.
The first floor houses the maid’s quarters, laundry room, a bathroom and three-car garage. The second story is where a spectacular primary bedroom suite with a sitting area, fireplace, balcony, custom walk-in closets and amazing bath with steam shower and jacuzzi tub, all surrounded by windows.
On the third story is a large gym with skylights and mirrored walls that could serve as an office or playroom. There are three ensuite children’s bedrooms and a guest bedroom and bath.
An expansive media/game room with a wet bar has a separate entrance into the backyard.
“Originally Magic Johnson’s home, it was designed for total privacy and entertaining,” the listing says. “You can watch your guests and family play basketball through the glass windows from the media room into the indoor hoop court, designed especially for Magic. It is fully equipped with locker room and signed walls by many notable NBA players. The grounds are truly a special private haven that offer a serene and picturesque setting with lush canyon views, tall surrounding hedges for total privacy, large grass area, brick patios, built-in BBQ, fire pit, vegetable garden, pool with built-in seating and spa.”
This story was originally published August 10, 2022 at 4:53 PM with the headline "See Los Angeles home built for Magic Johnson with indoor basketball court, locker room."
