"He's an icon" - NBA legend Magic Johnson pops big names for his dream team plan
NBA legend Magic Johnson pops big names for his dream team plan (Image Source: Getty Images)
Magic Johnson appeared on ESPN's show Get Up and talked heartily about his dream team squad. He revealed his penchant for Stephen Curry, calling him an icon and a player loved by fans of all ages.
Stephen Curry's influence beyond the court through youth-centric player development programs and other ventures has earned him a huge fan following. Not only the NBA legends and critics, but also the innocent kids are included in his fan base.
Magic Johnson shared his dream team roster with big names
NBA legend Magic Johnson poured his heart out while talking about Stephen Curry's growing legacy on the Get Up show at ESPN. He had very kind words for Stephen Curry. While elaborating on the achievements made by Curry, he also hinted at his dream team composition and shared his idols fit for that roster. He said, praising Curry:
'He's an icon, and it's only a few icons.
He's beloved. There's only a few athletes that's ever been beloved... He's definitely on my dream team as the greatest that's ever played this game. Him and LeBron's legacy will live on forever."
Johnson praised Stephen Curry, making a bold claim about him and said:
'He's one of the greatest of all time.
Then, he changed the game forever... Nobody we've seen ever with the ability of Steph Curry to shoot that basketball. The greatest shooter we've ever seen in history... He also brought in fans that we didn't have in the NBA before. He brought in kids." (18:09 onwards)
Magic Johnson joins Get Up! 👏 His message to Luka Doncic 🗣️ 'IN LA, WE EXPECT CHAMPIONSHIPS!' 🏆
Johnson is quite right in his thoughts about Stephen Curry, whose impact goes beyond the court.
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Curry, along with his wife, donated $700,000 in December 2024 to ensure meals and groceries for the underprivileged. They also pledged $25 million to promote child literacy by establishing libraries. His player development programs, like Masterclass and SC30 Select Camp, are already popular among budding talents.
Magic Johnson had earlier snubbed Stephen Curry while naming All-time NBA superstars
The recent proclamation about Stephen Curry coming from Magic Johnson is indeed a surprise. He picked his 5 superstars, when Stephen A.
Smith outlined the definition of a superstar for him. His list didn't have LeBron James or Stephen Curry.
Smith said, 'A person who can go on a road and sell the building. Simple. I'm going to see that person.'
The changed stance seemed to be his attempt to cover up the previous snub. Earlier, in 2023, while speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Johnson had said:
'We've got to celebrate both guys. Michael is the best, and we should celebrate him and celebrate LeBron.
The guy [Jordan] is just unbelievable. LeBron is special too in his own right, and people shouldn't forget that either. But when it's all said and done, if you come at me and ask me, that's who I am going to with, and it's MJ.'
Also Read:
'You gotta be box office' — Magic Johnson defines NBA superstardom with examples like Larry Bird, Shaquille O'Neal, and Charles Barkley'
Magic Johnson's U-turn from his previous statements speaks about the soaring popularity of Stephen Curry. The Warriors' star had four championships to his credit so far (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022). He also bagged the MVP title with the 2022 championship.
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