The Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame guard Magic Johnson recently offered a candid reflection on his iconic rivalry with the Boston Celtics, revealing that his competitive animosity towards the franchise has endured long after his playing career. Even decades later, the “hate” persists. Johnson, after congratulating LeBron James on reaching 50,000 career points, delved into his feelings about the Celtics during a podcast appearance.
Los Angeles Lakers Legend, Magic Johnson Reveals The NBA Team He Still Hates
Johnson explained how his relentless drive to win fueled his intense battles against the Celtics, as shared on Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast. “I just want to win. My whole life, I’ve been about winning and playing the game the right way,” Johnson stated. “When you win this many championships, they all mean a great deal to you because it’s hard to win. But if you think about beating the Celtics — that’s always going to mean the most to me. Yeah, for real. Yeah, yeah, let’s be real. You know, I hate them. Even today, I still hate them. And so when we beat them in ’85, it was the first time.”
Following their 1985 Finals loss to the Lakers, the Celtics rebounded to win the 1986 NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets. Johnson and the Lakers then defeated the Celtics 4-2 in the 1987 Finals, securing Johnson’s fifth and final championship.
Johnson remains a dedicated follower of the Lakers, recently acknowledging LeBron James’ milestone achievement. “Congratulations to the King LeBron James for becoming the only player in NBA history to score 50,000 regular season and playoff points! 👏🏾,” Johnson posted on X (formerly Twitter). James, who sustained a groin injury during a recent loss to the Celtics, has missed the Lakers’ last four games, during which the team has a 1-3 record.