Why Magic Johnson hated the Celtics winning NBA title

Magic Johnson was sick to his stomach at the sight of the Celtics hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy on Monday night.

“I hate that the Celtics officially have more championships than us now 🙄,” the Lakers legend posted on X after the Celtics’ 106-88 win over the Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Magic Johnson smiling in a suit at the amfAR Cannes Gala 30th edition in Cap d'Antibes, France
Magic Johnson was not pleased with the Lakers winning the title.Mike Marsland/WireImage
Johnson is known for being rather factual on X, but the Celtics’ 18th triumph – passing the Lakers’ 17 – brought out the competitive fire in the Los Angeles icon.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum holding up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after winning the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum holds up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The war between the two teams dates back to 1959, with the two franchises battling for the most titles and bragging rights.

Johnson was a major part of the rivalry during one of the most defining and greatest times in basketball history: the Magic vs Bird era.

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics shooting over Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1984 NBA playoff game
Larry Bird shoots over Magic Johnson.AP
Throughout the 1980s, either Boston or Los Angeles appeared in every NBA Finals.

The two teams dominated the league, with the Celtics’ Larry Bird and Johnson being the pioneers for their respective teams.

Bird and Johnson met three times in the finals and clashed like none other, becoming the epitome of rivals.

Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers knocks the ball from Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics during the 1984 NBA championship game, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the background.

Magic Johnson knocks the ball from Larry Bird.AP
Johnson’s Lakers won two of the three matchups and he tallied five total championships with the “Showtime Lakers,” juxtaposed to Bird’s three total.

The two teams had been tied at 17 titles each after LeBron James helped the Lakers win the championship in 2020.

LeBron James and Quinn Cook of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrating with teammates, including J.R. Smith, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jared Dudley, after winning the 2020 NBA Championship, Game Six
Getty Images
Four years later, the Celtics took the lead after decimating the Mavericks in five games.

Johnson, while dismayed, still gave Boston their rightful praise for the win.

“Joe Mazzulla really improved as a coach this season and had the Celtics prepared for every round of the playoffs, making all the proper adjustments on offense and defense,” Johnson wrote on X.

Making it worse for Johnson, the Celtics seemed poised to stay in the hunt for titles, opening as the 2025 championship favorites.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are rudderless.

They are one of two NBA teams without a coach, and their star – LeBron James – is seemingly more interested in son Bronny James’ draft status than negotiating an extension.