Lakers legend Magic Johnson doesn't mince words as Boston makes history - "Hate that the Celtics officially have more championships"
The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 during Monday's Game 5 NBA Finals showdown, winning their record-setting 18th championship. Afterward, LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson reacted in dismay to his former rival standing alone as the winningest team in league history.
The Lakers won their 17th title in 2020, tying the Celtics for the most all-time. Four years later, Boston retook the crown, capping off a dominant season with a 4-1 finals victory. After finishing with the NBA's best regular-season record (64-18), the Celtics went 16-3 in the playoffs, facing little resistance.
Following their Game 5 win, Johnson, who won five championships with LA, including two against Boston, took to X/Twitter. He touched on his difficulty watching the storied franchise make history.
"I hate that the Celtics officially have more championships than us now," Johnson said.
While the Celtics more or less coasted to their first title since 2008, Johnson's Lakers failed to meet expectations this season. After finishing seventh (47-35) in the Western Conference, they lost 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets in Round 1 of the playoffs despite having a win-now roster.
Moreover, Boston appears to be far better positioned for the future. Its top players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are only 26 and 27, respectively, and appear to be entering their primes. Meanwhile, all the Celtics' core players are under contract through at least the end of next season.
Conversely, LA superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis are already 39 and 31, respectively, and most would probably agree that their supporting cast needs revamping.
So, Johnson may have to wait a while before seeing the Lakers threaten the Celtics' new championship record.
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Magic Johnson highlights keys to Boston's 18th NBA title
Magic Johnson may not have enjoyed watching the Celtics win their record-setting 18th title to surpass his Lakers. Nevertheless, he congratulated them on X on Monday, highlighting the keys to their success.
According to Johnson, Boston acquiring veteran guard Jrue Holiday and big man Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the season marked the organization's turning point. The three-time MVP noted that the moves "made the Celtics the best team in basketball" on both ends of the floor.
Johnson also credited Boston coach Joe Mazzulla's progression in his second season at the helm of the iconic franchise. Per the 12-time All-Star, Mazzulla "had the Celtics prepared for every round of the playoffs" and made "all the proper adjustments."
Thus, despite his discontentment, Johnson primarily took the high road, objectively analyzing his former nemesis' road to making history.
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