Magic Johnson Cost the Lakers $50,000 Just for Saying Giannis Antetokounmpo Would Lead the Bucks to an NBA Title

Over the last five years, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has developed into one of the greatest players in the NBA. Already a two-time NBA MVP and a five-time NBA All-Star at just 26 years of age, Antetokounmpo really hasn’t even hit his peak years yet (which should terrify the rest of the league) and with one more Bucks win in the NBA Finals, Giannis will be able to add NBA champion (and likely NBA Finals MVP) to his already stacked resume.

One of the most fun parts about Giannis’ ascent is the fact that Magic Johnson, who Antetokounmpo studied growing up in Greece, predicted it would happen. Just ahead of Giannis’ second All-Star appearance, Magic said he would one day be an NBA MVP and would bring a title to Milwaukee. And it oddly cost the Los Angles Lakers the sum of $50,000.

Like Magic Johnson, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a terrific all-around player

In his prime with the Lakers, which was essentially his entire career, Magic was easily one of the best all-around players in the NBA. He was clearly a pass-first point guard, but he could score when he needed to and was also an excellent rebounder. Over the course of his 13-year career with the Lakers, Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds.

Like Magic, Antetokoumpo is also an excellent all-around player, as evidenced by his career averages of 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, numbers that would obviously be much higher had he not been more of a supporting player in his first few years with the Bucks. Taking just the last five seasons into account, all in which he was selected to the NBA All-Star Game and an All-NBA team (three First Team, two Second Team), Antetokounmpo has averaged 26.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists.

Johnson sees a lot of himself in Giannis

A few weeks ahead of the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, which marked the second consecutive season in which Antetokounmpo was named a starter for the game, Magic was asked his thoughts on the “Greek Freak” and said he saw a lot of his own game in the then-23-year-old star, who he’s obviously a big fan of as he called Giannis “the greatest athlete we have in the league today.”

Magic spoke on just how “special” Antetokounmpo truly is, citing his ability to score, rebound, pass, run the floor, block shots, essentially just saying everything we did above about him being a complete player (h/t ESPN).

“With his ball-handling skills and his passing ability. He plays above the rim I never could do that. But in his understanding of the game, his basketball IQ, his creativity of shots for his teammates. That’s where we [have the] same thing. Can bring it down, make a pass, make a play. I’m just happy he’s starting in the All-Star game because he deserves that.”

Magic Johnson on Giannis Antetokounmpo

But Magic didn’t stop there.

Magic said Giannis would be an NBA MVP and would bring a title to the Bucks and it cost the Lakers $50,000

Johnson was clearly enamored with Antetokounmpo when talking with ESPN and continued to shower praise on the young star with these comments:

“And he’s going to be like an MVP, a champion, this dude he’s going to put Milwaukee on the map. And I think he’s going to bring them a championship one day.”

Magic Johnson on Giannis Antetokounmpo

Nice prediction on Magic’s part. A year and a half after Johnson’s comments, Antetokounmpo won his first NBA MVP award and then won it again the following season. And, again, Giannis is just one win away from making Magic’s prediction on him bringing a title to Milwaukee come true as well.

Overall, it was just a nice compliment, right?

Well, the NBA didn’t think so. What one has to remember is that Magic was still the president of basketball operations for the Lakers at that time and the team was slapped with a $50,000 tampering fine for Johnson’s kind words, which makes absolutely zero sense. This wasn’t Magic trying to recruit Antetokounmpo to the Lakers. I mean, he didn’t even go the generic/wink-wink route in saying that Giannis would someday win a title. He literally said that Antetokounmpo would bring an NBA championship to the Bucks. Absolutely ridiculous, right?

Now, Magic and the Lakers going after Paul George while he was still under contract with the Pacers? That was tampering and it cost the franchise half a million bucks. But I digress.

The only point Magic was trying to get across was that Antetokounmpo was on the cusp of becoming an absolute superstar and he was exactly right. Would he have been overjoyed if he could have gotten Giannis to come to LA? Absolutely. But he was simply complimenting a player that reminded him of himself. No more. No less. Well, unless you count the $50,000 less the Lakers’ bank account had in it after he said what he said.

Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference

RELATED: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton ‘Hated Each Other’ During Their Early Days With the Milwaukee Bucks

The post Magic Johnson Cost the Lakers $50,000 Just for Saying Giannis Antetokounmpo Would Lead the Bucks to an NBA Title appeared first on Sportscasting | Pure Sports.

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By: Luke Norris
Title: Magic Johnson Cost the Lakers $50,000 Just for Saying Giannis Antetokounmpo Would Lead the Bucks to an NBA Title
Sourced From: www.sportscasting.com/magic-johnson-cost-lakers-50000-just-saying-giannis-antetokounmpo-would-lead-bucks-nba-title/
Published Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2021 20:07:44 +0000