Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, two of the greatest point guards in history, have mended their relationship after nearly three decades. Their friendship began after the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons met in back-to-back NBA Finals in 1988 and 1989. The two athletes were once teammates and close friends, but a shocking rift developed between them.
Magic Johnson claimed he wasn’t responsible for keeping Isiah Thomas off the 1992 Olympics team, but he did say the guard’s attitude contributed to his exclusion. Thomas also questioned and criticized Johnson’s sexuality, which hurt his feelings. Johnson talked about how Thomas allegedly spread rumors about him in the book “When The Game Was Ours” authored by Larry Bird, Jackie MacMullan, and Magic himself.
In September 2023, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas were best friends early on in their careers but their relationship fell apart after Thomas’ controversial comments on Larry Bird. Magic allegedly played a role in keeping Isaiah off the Dream Team after Isaiah made some comments about Magic when he came out to the NBA. Thomas wanted to know if a bi-sexual lifestyle has led to Magic’s HIV virus and went about the locker room and NBA community openly wondering.
The feud between Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas ended in an emotional interview for NBA TV’s “Players Only: Monthly” special that aired on Tuesday. Magic Johnson believes Anthony Edwards has opinions about the generations of players before he was born and doesn’t think Edwards has the credentials to warrant a response.
📹 Magic Johnson & Isiah Thomas went from best friends to enemies | Ep. 57 | CLUB SHAY SHAY
Shannon Sharpe sits down with Magic Johnson to discuss friends turning into enemies. Magic reveals his relationship with his …
📹 Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas shed tears in emotional reconciliation | ESPN
NBA legends Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas share an emotional moment of reconciliation, deciding to leave their past behind …
The way their games contrast each other is awesome. It’s like comparing a prime Derrick rose to a prime steph curry. Zeke had the scoring, the midrange game, the handle and was a pin point passer in the half court and like to play off ball. Magic grabs the board, run down in transition, can make any pass going at speed, and uses his physical dominance to just get easy lay ups or post ups. Both team players and wizards but totally different style of play
Magic is one of the Goats in basketball. He took what pistol Pete did to another level and was Magic! Basically Kyrie but 6’10, and push the ball fast uptempo pace like never seen before or after. Those Lakers teams With Magic and James Worthy, Byron Scoot, Michael Cooper were fun to watch because of the style and grittiness and seeing Magic pass unbelievable assist with finishing strong at the basket.
One thing I always respected was Magic Johnson’s compettive spirit. I have been perusal him play since he was Sophomore year at Michigan State. The first time I saw him play, I knew he was special, but I wasn’t sure if his style of play was transferable to the NBA level. It turns out that it was, mostly due to Magic Johnson ability to play multiple positions. In High School he played Center, but in college he played Point Guard, and his first year in the NBA he basically had to share point guard duties with Norm Nixon. But the Lakers sort of used Norm Nixon more like shooting guard even though he was only 6ft 2, which allowed he and Magic to stay on the court at the same time. In the 70s, the guard positions were more interchangeable than they are today. Both guards were able to bring the ball up the court and run the offense. But in today’s NBA, most shooting guards do not have the skillset to play the point guard position, they are strictly shooters.
I loved both of these guys, but please keep this in mind you hear how tough it was back then. When you hear how much they hated each other back then and today’s players get along to well. These two use to kiss each other on the cheek before they went after it. I am not complaining about it just stating a fact.
You know what’s sick about all that Magic/Isiah thing is the teammates of Magic put him in a position to do that along with coach Riley…. Why would you even put your captain in a position to do that? See, that shows you, what?… The Lakers tried to take out Thomas; just like the media talks about how the Pistons played rough against Jordan… so everyone was doing that back then, just like what the Lakers did vs. the Celtics — that’s what Isiah Thomas was talking about when he spoke about Jordan and how EVERYONE played like that back in the 80’s to win titles, Jordan wasn’t special in that regard.
Isaiah hurts to say, has done a lot of snake and foul stuff. Started with Michael Jordan in his rookie year, Mike looked up to him and after pretending he would help snaked him. He turned on Magic and did some Suspect things with the Knicks. He was a great player but from his past actions don’t seem like a good dude.
Magic ..why not talk about the fact that you were HORRIBLE as a GM which is why you really stepped down. Look at the players you traded away some great players who are major contributors on other teams now. Also some really Dumb draft picks. He took a pass on Jason Tatum and Dearron Fox…..WOW! he took Lozon Ball over Foxx(what a mistake) and Ingram over Tatum..another mistake. So NO Magic…you are one of my favorite Laker players……but as a GM you were TERRIBLE!