NBA Legends Explain How Why Magic Johnson Was Better Than Everyone 

Magic is my #1. He won 3 title in a four year span in three different leagues. High School, College and NBA. He also won the finals MVP as a rookie in the NBA. He was 🎩 🪄 🔮

Magic Johnson is hands down the greatest basketball player on the planet. Not only could he play every position, but he made everyone else better because of his court vision and passing ability. He was a great team leader, and always a gentleman off the court. No one else has done what Earvin has accomplished.

I agree, he’s not just the GOAT point guard, but I STRONGLY believe the he is the GOAT period!!!

I remember it like it was yesterday. The day he announced that he was going to have to retire from the NBA due to the HIV virus. It felt like a punch in the stomach. At that time it was a death sentence and you thought he would soon be dead. Although we were robbed of a portion of his career, we are still blessed with his personality and smile.

Hands down...Magic is the TRUE G.O.A.T. period!!!! A pure assassin who killed everyone with a huge smile. Mike hit the league in '84 and didn't meet Magic in the finals until '91 because he couldn't make it out the East to get to Magic his first seven seasons. Each team that eliminated Jordan's Bulls during that time was getting smoked by Magic's Showtime Lakers. And til this day....Magic is still the ONLY rookie in NBA history to be named finals MVP. He's "THAT DUDE"!!!!

Magic was always my favorite player. I watched him play for the first time in 1980 when I was 7, I was mesmerized. There is only one Magic. Completely unique in what he offered the game of basketball. Bird said it best, “he’s the best I’ve ever seen.”

Magic is in the conversation for greatest of all time. He was that good and influential

Best player of all time. Insane ball handling skills for someone 6'9". He elevated the play of everyone around him the second he entered the NBA.

Every NBA player that played during that era and every other player since owes a huge thanks to Magic and Bird. I don't think the league is what it is today without them. They revived a dying league.

It amazes me how so many people don't have Magic in the GOAT conversation. I have watched thousands of games from the 1950's until today's era in 2022. No player affected team-winning basketball more than Magic. He is definitely the GOAT to me! Jordan, Kareem, and LeBron also have great arguments for GOAT status too.

His place in history is monumental. No one before him was very comparable in this role - closest was a 6'5" Big O. Magic Johnson was both the blueprint AND the perfection of a point-playing forward at the same time. Great as they are, Luka Doncic or LeBron James can only wish they could be that great.

He's My Greatest Player of all Time! Period!

Magic Johnson is THE GOAT every place he played from High School to NBA he won legally not to mention in his first NBA championship (and season )he played all the positions and won! He's the GOAT!!!!

Magic and Bird saved the NBA in the 80's. Those 2 players along with DrJ made me love basketball.

Best point guard I ever saw play. Greatest leader on the court I ever saw play. Changed the way the game was played... Those Lakers teams of the 80s really introduced the current pace and tempo of today's game. Then, with Magic being 6'8"-6'9"; every team wanted a ball handler between 6'6" and 7' who could create for his teammates. Even now. If you have a guy between 6'6" and 7' with an extraordinary handle. High basketball 🏀 IQ. AMAZING COURT VISION AND PASSING. Make his teammates better. Guess what? He's going to be the first pick in the draft, every time. We have Magic to thank for that.

I truly believe Magic was not only the greatest point guard but the greatest basketball player of all time, he made unknowns known and good players great.

Magic was the reason why y started to play and watch basketball. The dude was one of the funnest players to watch but a pro and very competitive aswell.

He was reason why I start watching NBA,Showtime forever !

Magic Johnson lacked the athleticism that Michael Jordan had but he was more fun to watch because of his showtime passing and most of all his charisma.

Magic was a rookie and lead his team to the NBA Finals. Even when LAL went back to the Finals in 91 in the post Riley & Kareem era with Worthy & Scott injured. Magic, Jordan, & Kareem top 3 no doubt.

GOAT. He could do everything.

I'm not going to say he's the best ever or he's the goat, because that's when all the personal opinions come out. The majority of people can't deal with facts. So what I will say is that if I had first pick on any player past or present, I would pick Magic! I could list so many reasons why, but the bottom line is basketball is a team sport and Magic is the ultimate team player. That's right no ball hoggers on my team.

Magic is top 5 player ever. You just have to watch the games. Last night I watched randomly Lakers@Clippers 1988-12-06, Magic 25 points and 21 assists and deciding the game. Another day in the office. Sean David, there is no way Stockton comes close to Magic, he did not dominate the game as Magic did, did not make buzzer beaters shots, did not make his team-mates as good as Magic did (had he done so, someone like Jeff Malone would have been much better in Utah, just to provide with an example), did not change the game as Magic did and had no such incredible respect and admiration from his peers. Stockton was phenomenal, but he was not even better than Isiah Thomas.

For me, the holy trinity of the NBA are: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. I find them almost untouchable, for all that they have brought to the league, both in playing quality and mentally as leaders, through the prism of will and skill to win in the end.

Magic and Bird made the NBA more popular in the US...Jordan took it global

Greatest point guard of all time. Can play any position as well so ahead of his time

magic is the NBA overall best leader in the NBA all time and today he is still promotes the NBA like no other even ahead of Great Jordan,

Magic has been my favorite basketball player of all time since I was a kid.

Thanks for the video! I think it's really tough to compare any player pre-Jordan in the GOAT conversation. Jordan pretty much defined the GOAT conversations that go on today. But you have to remember pre-Jordan / pre-expansion era, the winning teams were stacked to a select few: Sixers, Celtics, Lakers, then later Pistons. Even some of the playoff teams were really good like Milwaukee, Mavericks, Rockets with twin towers, etc. I remember NBC would try highlight a star matchup like "Bird vs Dr J" or "Magic vs Isiah" and it would be a non story as someone else on their team would end up with the hot hand. In Jordan's era, the term "duo" and "supporting cast" started being floated around. If the stars didn't drop 30 or 40, there really wasn't someone else that can take over on a consistent basis. That's when you can focus on being the best player while winning and he was the first to do that. But then you also had longevity issues with the pre-expansion players. Knee surgeries were primitive, physical therapy methods were ancient, and it was common to get fat during the offseason. Most don't know Magic had nagging knee issues and walked awkward placing the stress on his hips. Bird had back surgery. Isiah shot too much and tore his wrist. When it comes to that above, that's where Jordan separates from the pack. He didn't lose a title due to injury like all above.

Dude this is definitely my favorite basketball channel. Congrats.

My all time favorite player! Magic got me hooked on basketball!

I think magic is one of the nicest players,always smiling and positive attitude

Even Earvin wanted to be Magic.

Nice! BTM does it again! Thank you!

Well done once again Sean. Thank you!

Magic is definitely the 🐐in my opinion. High School & Middle School Champion, College Champion, Olympic Champion, 9 NBA Finals appearances in 12 years. This was during the toughest decade ever to win (1980’s) before the NBA expanded from 23 to 30 teams from 1989-2004, which reduced the strength and depths of teams. Imagine if he never got HIV. He could’ve played another 6-8 years and would have been to a few more finals and gotten another 1-2 rings. Smartest player and greatest team leader in NBA history.

I love this channel so much. As a kid that was little and thought these guys were awesome (and I'm busting my little ass to shoot 100 shots over the summer after 2nd grade when I was 8 years old and wasn't strong enough at the start of it to shoot a 10 ft. hoop - which I did by the end of that summer damnit) I still remember the legacy of these guys and then watching the Bulls become what they did. Even though I was a Cavs fan and LOVED Mark Price I still couldn't help but watch the Bulls every year too. What a great time in basketball.

I always say I think larry bird was a better player than magic individually but magic had the better teams. They are both on the top for me.

I’m with you Sean on John Stockton. The guy is overlooked time and time again because he looks like he should be doing tax returns rather than controlling a basketball game. A bit like Tom Brady in the NFL, he bucks the trend for what a traditional flashy player at his position might be. Solid fundamentals, selfless and a clear head in those big moments

Magic has always been the greatest basketball player to ever play to me. I just wish fans could time travel and watch a game of his. These RU-vid clips and highlights never do him justice. Everything seemed to always go right for him on the court.

🔥🔥🔥 keep grinding bro!

You gotta love his smile and his energy!!!!

Magic is the best most transformative basketball player I’ve ever seen.

Thanks for the video I love it

Magic is in my top 5, along with Jordan, Hakeem, Duncan, and Bird

Revolutionized the game, 6'9" point guard that played every position, no one else has ever done it. Greatest player of all time.

Thank you for saying what the young generation does not understand, its because of Magic and Bird that we now have the NBA popular all over the world

As a kid growing up in Detroit our local paper talked about this kid in Lansing. Even put a color full spread photo out that I hung on my bedroom wall. Then he went to Mi State with J Vincent, won a national championship and then to the Lakers. Only time I didn't want him to win was against the Pistons in their championship season. Which he didn't win.

People won't agree with me, but Magic was the best player of all time. He beat Bird twice, and until Bird injured his back Jordan could never reach the finals. The Magic that Jordan faced in the finals was not prime or peak Magic. That would be like claiming a player is greater than Jordan because the beat him when he was with the Wizards. No one could do everything like Magic, score, pass, rebound. Best court vision. Best facilitator. No one ever won the NCAA championship, and then won the NBA finals MVP as a rookie.

Games back then had so much more flair and style. Today’s game in my opinion is slower and really lacking fluidity

In the span of 4 years Magic Johnson was a high school state champ, an NCAA champ and an NBA finals champ and was MVP OF ALL THREE!

NBA+#32Magic=G.🐐A.T.

My first and only arguing point when it comes to the Magic-Michael debate is this:: Magic would've been a HOFer at all five positions. That also made him the G.O.A.T.

Jordan loved Magic so much, he studied him and now he has a residency in Las Vegas with Chris Angel and David Coppered .

Magic was Lebron before Lebron. He was a superstar at age 14. Game six vs Philly was probably the best game played by a professional basketball player. He was unstoppable. He was schooling everyone on the court-Dr J, Moses, Daryl Dawkins and there rest of the 76ers did not stand a chance against him!!- And yes Every modern professional basketball player owes Larry Bird and Magic Johnson a little or a lot of their pay checks to them!!!

Magic is the best player ever for me. Or the second best behind Jordan. I don't have it defined. But without a doubt Magic is better than Lebron and Kareem.

My man! Great video, as always. I've been waiting for this one. Thank you. But my dude, John Stockton!!!? Come on now. First, I will say that I am in no way, shape or form detracting from Stockton's skillset of Hall of Fame pedigree. I've watched ALOT of Johnny Stockton over the years. I grew up in the 80's in LA and am a die hard Lakers fan. Magic is 100% my boy. So yeah, bias. But there's truly 3 reasons why John Stockton will NEVER be in Magic's echelon. 1.) Stockton needed Malone to be great. As many people said in the video you posted, you can plug and play Magic with ANY roster and that team will immediately be better. You can't say that for Stockton. But if you need something more tangible and stats related, peep this: 2.) Magic is the all time assists leader in the NBA playoffs with a total of 2,346 assists in 190 playoff games, including Finals. Stockton is third with 1,839 assists in 182 playoff games, including Finals. That means that Stockton would have to average (AVERAGE!!!) 63 assists per game to catch Magic. Dude. That stat alone blows Stockton right out of the conversation for best PG ever. And finally: 3.) Rings, baby. At the end of the day, you have to beat the best to be the best and Johnny Stockton never could get over the hump. So these are the reasons that John Stockton will never be in the same category as Magic. Mag is the greatest PG ever. Hands down.

You can choose the GOAT looking at the individual statistics and I get it. But you cant't really put the true value of the player only by his statistics. To me Magic is the GOAT. Thank you for all the joy you brought.

Magic is my 1st choice on any team!

Magic was the GOAT in my opinion because he was the best team player in a team game.

"Always Showtime" is the best Magic docu

So glad you gave props to John Stockton as well. Well Done.

Magic was the complete NBA weapon on the hardwood in NBA history,he played all positions well with a very high basketball IQ,there has been great player's in the NBA,who are Hall of Famers or will be Hall of Famers,but there will never,ever be a 6 foot 9 do it all NBA basketball player like Earvin (Magic) Johnson in this lifetime .(Unless they unnaturally make something in a laboratory of artificial intelligence,Magic was a gifted, natural, extremely talented basketball playing human being with a big smile,he truly enjoyed playing basketball,he most definitely had the perfect personality for what to do with a basketball on the hardwood floors.

As always brother I love the content. Magic has to be one of the starting 5 of the entire NBA based solely on the fact that he could start and dominate at any position on the court, I don't care what era!

PG-Magic, SG-Jordan, SF-James, PF-Bird, C-Kareem. I think that teams pretty hard to argue against. There's 1 guy I'm not sold on, but, if I took him off I'd get crushed, so whatever.

Magic , Jordan,Bird,Duncan, Chamberlain.Magic goat point guard.

Magic Johnson was the Michael Jordan of all Magic Johnson’s

Agreed, it's Magic and the Stockton as best 2 team leaders

Magic as his fan giving name tell us there is no second none

GOAT💡

Magic made EVERYONE on your team better. And installed a positive winning attitude. And made your franchise more marketable by a giant step for being so likeable. Definite GOAT candidate

I'm with Worthy, the way he said it early in vid. If I'm building a team, Magic is first pick. I mean, my thoughts are - your aren't picking for a pickup game for just the best talent (Jordan would seem the pick then) but who can an entire pro team and organization be built around? I just don't think I'd be down for Jordan's STYLE of teammate/'leader' if you can call his style leadership. Magic is better leader, motivator, presence and - everyone around him would be a better payer because of the way he plays, too. I think Magic makes for a better building block and all the while, has all the skills; and gave up points to spread them around to his team cause he could have scored all he wanted. I just don't think he is brought up enough in GOAT talk. But to me, it's too hard to say 1,2,3 - rather, I think in tiers because of nuances and other things so I instead group into tiers if too close to say absolute 1,2,3 rank I instead say tier 1: Bird, Magic, Jordan....

For some strange reason I always forget Magic in the discussion 🤷‍♂️ Maybe it's because I think of a point guard more as a silent worker, someone who leads without leading, someone who steps back, who orchestrates, who facilitates and let others do the spectacular stuff... But obviously he was damn f*#€ing good.

It breaks my heart to think of Ben Simmons. He could be be Magic Johnson with defensive player of the year defense on top of all of that and he just doesn't want to put in the work. All I ever wanted to be as a kid was the next Magic Johnson. 4 hours a day after school every day on the basketball court. 8 hours a day every day on the weekend. From 8th grade to senior year of high school this was my life. SMH I wish God would give talent and opportunity to the people who want to actually do something with it.

I don't think Magic gets enough love a winner on every level did every thing LeBron does and twice as clutch

Magic is the 🐐 hands down champion in college then the next year as rookie in the NBA

I was a Laker fan since Jerry and Elgin played. When Magic Johnson came into the league the energy just changed. Over the course of his career many great players had many great years but in my eyes he was my choice for MVP every year. He made every teammate a better player, he made showtime ballet.

Enough said. Magic Johnson is the GOAT!

My goat magic.

Magic was a true point guard and true leader. God has amazing plans for him and his family.

Even if he's not the GOAT or greatest point guard of all time, he was the consummate performer and entertainer. He changed the game forever. A fair amount of the 100's of billions of dollars the NBA is worth this days can be attributed to the way he played the game....and that smile!

Best PG? No question it's Magic Johnson, and frankly, it's not close. In fact, I'm on the same page with John Salley and a few of the others. Magic was the greatest player of all time at any position. People get on him about not scoring enough, but that's only because the Lakers didn't need him to score, and when they DID need him to score, like in Game 6, he put up 42, at a non-natural position. You don't have to score 30 when you can score 20 and dish out 12 assists per game, and bring down close to 10 boards. Magic simply made everyone around him better in a way no other player ever has or likely ever will.

Magic Johnson is the best of all time. I still believe that if HIV didn't take him out early, he would have had a few more championships.

My favorite player ever! He loved to play. He was better than Bird, but Bird was greater.

Magic Johnson said don't watch HBO special, he said they lie and he didn't approve of it.

Magic [IS] THE BEST POINT GUARD TO EVER PLAY THE GAME!

Magic is my greatest point guard ever. I have zeke second, and probably Stockton third. I have hard time ranking steph as a point guard, even though he is one of the best offensive guards ever. A score first point guard is a contradiction in terms to me.

I'm from the same city as Magic, and went to the same high school as him (23 years after him). Magic will always be # 1.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson…. The point GOD.!!!

John Stockton is def underated because he lacks the aura or charisma/flashy plays, outspoken leadership qualities of Magic plus the chips but stats wise #1 in assists all time and steals all times. Not a pushover for sure.

love magic johnson true legend

Magic is and will always be #1. He proved that by stepping in for Kareem and taking the Lakers to a 'chip.

Magic is the GOAT PG!!!

The best player in the history!!

#1!

I love this video great job

Magic was Great! But my favorite point guard is Isaiah Thomas aka Zeke. He went through Jordan, Bird, and Magic in their primes to win championships...... He is the only one who can say that. I'm not a Pistons fan.. But i am a big fan of the underdog. His 23 points in one quarter of a finals game on one good ankle will forever be my all time favorite moment in NBA history.

Magic-> #GOAT💪🏾

The goat.

Magic is my #1 of all time. You have Magic at the one, you can fill in two through five and they will win. I've never heard that story about the 1980s finals that Pat Riley shared, wow. he is the greatest.