“Magic Johnson has no doubt that he could shine in today’s NBA.”
“Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were friends before they were rivals. The two stars played against each other in the NBA, but that didn’t stop them from becoming close friends.” Read more in detail here: larry bird magic johnson friendship.
In NBA history, there are a few names that stand out. Magic Johnson is the owner of one of them. Even if you’ve never seen the Los Angeles Lakers icon play basketball, you’ve almost certainly heard about his contributions to the sport. Without Magic, the current NBA would be a very different place.
When it comes to the current NBA, have you ever considered how the guard might do in today’s league? Would his brilliance still shine through? Would he be outclassed by LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example?
While we are unlikely to see Johnson on the floor anytime soon, he did respond to the question. In his mind, he understands that regardless of the period, he has more than enough talent to be a star.
In today’s NBA, Magic Johnson believes he’d still be strutting his thing.
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Professional athletes must be immensely confident in their own skills, at the risk of painting with a wide brush. While Magic Johnson hasn’t played professional basketball in a long time, his confidence hasn’t waned.
The Lakers great recently got down with TSN’s Kayla Gray for an interview. The talk centered on They Call Me Magic, although they did bring up the issue of today’s Association at one point. Will Johnson be able to shine in the 2020s as brilliantly as he did in the 1980s?
“Oh, I don’t wonder,” he said, “but I know I could accomplish what I did back then in today’s game.” “You know, pay attention. Do you believe Larry Bird would be able to shoot in today’s game? That’s when he did it. Couldn’t Michael Jordan do what he did back then? He was certain that he could achieve it today. When you’re good at something, and you deliver on time, and you win…”
While it’s difficult to dispute with Jordan and Bird, Magic wasn’t finished yet.
He went on to say, “See, I won at every level.” “Winning wasn’t going to alter whether I was playing back then or now.” My no-look passes were fantastic at the time. And it would have occurred today. You know, when you’re excellent at something and great at something, you can pull it off no matter what age you’re in.”
Aside from sheer skill, Magic would most likely fit in in with the current Association.
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You can’t teach talent, as Johnson so eloquently said. While there may be some aesthetic variations, the majority of NBA legends would be able to fit into almost any period. Having stated that, Magic’s game in 2022 will be played at home.
Johnson’s combination of stature and talent on the court was startling. Despite his 6-foot-9 stature and ability to play center, Magic was mostly a point guard. He also didn’t just pass the ball into the post after bringing it up the floor. He was a force on the court, dishing out great assists and scoring baskets in his own way.
If it sounds familiar, you’ve undoubtedly been watching the NBA today. Positionless players, who can drift from the paint to the three-point line and settle anywhere in between, are the foundation of modern basketball. This adaptability is useful in today’s pick-and-roll attack. Everything is about generating mismatches, and you must be able to handle such circumstances on both ends of the floor to fully flourish.
While some modification would be required — you could argue that he’d be more effective as a point-forward or shooting guard than a typical point guard — it’s simple to see how Magic might fit into the current NBA. He’d be a walking mismatch because to his stature, court vision, and scoring touch. Johnson would muscle his way to the hoop if you attempted to defend him with a smaller guard. A power forward or big man would just drag things out to the perimeter and work off the dribble if you countered with one. Magic has the size and vision to pass his way out of problems if double-teams are used.
However, one might argue that in order to live in 2022, Magic would need to improve his long-range shooting. While that is true for the most of his career — he averaged fewer than one three-point try per game — it is worth mentioning that his stats did improve toward the end. While shooting just over 30% from downtown isn’t very impressive, it does show that Johnson has room to improve on that aspect of his game.
There’s no way of knowing what would happen if Magic Johnson returned to the NBA in 2022. However, one thing is certain: it would be well worth the price of admission.
Basketball-Reference.com provided the statistics.
RELATED: Magic Johnson Dishes on Michael Jordan’s Cold-Blooded ‘Advice’ During His NBA Comeback
Magic Johnson Has No Doubt That He Could Shine in Today’s NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers legend has been a part of the game for over three decades, and he is still going strong. Reference: magic johnson real name.
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