NBA icon Magic Johnson lit up ESPN’s “First Take” set in New York this week, joining longtime friend Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim for a spirited conversation during the ongoing NBA Finals. Fresh off Game 3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers showdown, Johnson delivered strong takes on key basketball storylines. The Los Angeles Lakers legend also shared his appreciation for his media colleagues.
Magic Johnson made a dual appearance Thursday morning, first on Get Up! with Mike Greenberg and Jay Williams, then on First Take. The Lakers legend relished every minute of it. “I always have the best time when I’m on First Take with my great friend Stephen A. Smith and the super talented Molly Qerim! We covered a range of topics this morning and it was such an amazing time! @FirstTake,” Magic wrote on X.
His shout-out didn’t end there as the NBA Hall of Famer went on to extend his appreciation to the Get Up! crew as well, tweeting, “It’s always great to visit my boy Mike Greenberg and Jay Williams on Get Up! I want to thank them both for having me on this morning to talk the NBA Finals OKC vs. Indiana, the Lakers, and my championship mindset. @GetUpESPN
Johnson brought championship knowledge and an unmistakable presence to both ESPN platforms. During his First Take moment, Smith asked Johnson to define a “superstar,” and the response was classic Magic.
“A person who can go on the road and sell the building,” Johnson declared. “You gotta be box office… Larry Bird — people running home. Charles Barkley — people running home. Shaq — people running home. Kobe — people running home. And of course, the greatest to ever play — Michael Jordan. People running home to see him, or doing everything they can to get into the arena to watch him play. That’s a superstar.
Though Johnson has long been an admirer of LeBron James, especially since the King joined the Lakers, he didn’t hesitate when naming Michael Jordan as the GOAT. Johnson and Jordan famously faced off in the 1991 NBA Finals, a series that marked the passing of the torch as the Bulls began their dynasty.
Beyond legacy debates, Johnson also gave his take on the New York Knicks’ disappointing postseason exit. On Get Up, he pointed to one trade that, in his view, shifted the team’s identity. “The swagger left the Knicks when [DiVincenzo] got traded, and they don’t have that swagger again,” he said, referring to Donte DiVincenzo’s move to Minnesota as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns deal.
See, they got nice guys, but they don’t have tough, mean guys, and that’s what Donte brought to the table.” Johnson highlighted DiVincenzo’s grit and scoring touch, noting his 22.7 points per game in last season’s playoffs as a critical missing piece. “New York Knicks fans loved him because he was tough, he was mean, but also he could score,” Johnson added.
