Eddie Johnson claims Magic Johnson would dominate today's NBA

The former NBA player believes the Lakers legend would win 8 titles and average a 25-point triple-double in the modern era.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former NBA player and current commentator Eddie Johnson believes that if Magic Johnson played in today's NBA, he would dominate the league and win 8 championships. Johnson claims Magic would average a 25-point triple-double, arguing that the Lakers legend's size, scoring ability, and playmaking would make him unstoppable in the current era that emphasizes offense and limits physical defense.

Why it matters

This debate highlights the ongoing discussion around the greatest point guards in NBA history and how players from different eras would fare against each other. While Magic Johnson's resume is undeniably impressive, some question whether his game would translate as seamlessly to the modern, three-point heavy NBA as Eddie Johnson suggests.

The details

Eddie Johnson believes Magic Johnson's unique physical attributes and all-around game would allow him to dominate the current NBA. At 6'9", Magic could overpower most defenders, while his elite passing and scoring ability would make him nearly unguardable. However, the modern game's emphasis on three-point shooting presents a potential challenge, as Magic was not a prolific outside shooter. Additionally, maintaining dynastic control in the NBA's current landscape of salary cap restrictions and superteam formations would be extremely difficult, even for a player of Magic's caliber.

  • Magic Johnson played in the NBA from 1979 to 1991, and then again from 1996 to 1999.

The players

Magic Johnson

A Hall of Fame point guard who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 5 NBA championships and 3 MVP awards during his 13-year career.

Eddie Johnson

A former NBA player who is currently a commentator, known for his strong opinions on the game's all-time greats.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Magic would win 7 or 8 titles in this era, multiple MVPs, and avg 25 points, 15 assists, and 15 rebounds in this era. You youngsters have zero clue how much he would dominate today's game and did not have to take 1 3-point shot.”

— Eddie Johnson, Former NBA player and commentator

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing discussion around the greatest point guards in NBA history and how players from different eras would fare against each other. While Magic Johnson's resume is undeniably impressive, the modern NBA's emphasis on three-point shooting presents a potential challenge that may limit his dominance, even if his overall game would still translate well to the current era.