Look, we’ve all been there—making a bold prediction only to have reality hit us like a brick wall. Magic Johnson, NBA legend and five-time champ, recently found himself eating some humble pie after underestimating the Oklahoma City Thunder and their shining star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And man, did Shai’s MVP season come with a side of “I told you so” for Magic!

First off, let’s talk about Shai. The guy didn’t just have a good season — he straight-up dominated. Named the 2024–25 NBA Most Valuable Player, Shai snagged 71 out of 100 first-place MVP votes. To put that in perspective, he left Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo eating his dust with 913 total points. The dude led the league with 32.7 points per game over 76 games, and the Thunder finished with a jaw-dropping franchise-best 68–14 record. That’s like showing up to the playoffs with a cheat code activated.

Oh, and don’t sleep on his defensive game — the Thunder’s defense was so lockdown that opposing offenses looked like they were trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. And when playoffs hit, Shai stepped it up harder than Steph Curry in a three-point contest, earning the Magic Johnson Trophy as the Western Conference Finals MVP. Yes, the same Magic Johnson who just apologized for doubting him!

Remember Magic’s prediction back on May 20th? He boldly declared, “I have the New Knicks beating the Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves beating the Oklahoma City Thunder to advance to the NBA Finals!” Well, that didn’t age well at all. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder smashed the Timberwolves 124-94, turning what was supposed to be a competitive series into a blowout that looked more like a scrimmage.

Magic, being the classy legend he is, took to social media to say: “I want to congratulate the Oklahoma City Thunder Coach Mark Daigneault as well as NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the OKC team on advancing to the NBA Finals!” He said, and further went on getting real. “I want to apologize to the Oklahoma City Thunder for underestimating them and not thinking they were ready to compete for a Championship.“

Of course, he did not forget to talk about the WCF MVP award. “Congratulations to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for winning the MVP of the Western Conference Finals named after me. What I love about Shai is that he dominates on the court and is humble off the court!“

If humility were a three-point shooter, Magic just hit a buzzer-beater from half court with that apology. But on a different note, if you’ve been following the Thunder’s journey, you know this success wasn’t overnight. It all started with GM Sam Presti pulling off one of the most criticized yet genius moves in recent NBA history.

The Sam Presti Masterplan: From “Huh?” to “Heck Yeah!”

Back in 2019, when Paul George left, Presti flipped the script by trading George for Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a treasure trove of draft picks. At the time, many scoffed, calling it a “slow rebuild” that might never pan out. Well, the joke’s on them now.

Shai has blossomed into a franchise cornerstone, proving Presti’s faith in youth development was not just some pipe dream. Adding players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams has given OKC a balanced, exciting roster that can hit threes, defend, and run the floor like a well-oiled machine. Think of it as the ultimate fantasy team draft that actually worked.

In that decisive Game 5, the Thunder didn’t just win—they stomped. OKC jumped out to a 26-9 lead after the first quarter and didn’t look back, holding a 65-32 halftime lead that forced the Timberwolves to rethink their life choices. Shai led the charge with 34 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Chet Holmgren was a beast too, posting 22 points, 7 boards, and 3 blocks. Jalen Williams chipped in 19 points and 8 rebounds. The Thunder shot a scorching 52.3% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc — numbers that made Minnesota’s offense look like it fell off a cliff harder than stocks in a 2008 meltdown.

The Thunder are now headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, with Shai leading the charge and Magic probably updating his bracket. They’ll face the winner of the Pacers vs. Knicks series, and with home-court advantage locked in, OKC is looking like the team nobody wants to face.

Magic Johnson’s apology is a classic reminder: Never underestimate the power of a well-executed rebuild and a supremely talented MVP who can carry his team through fire and ice. And for Sam Presti, it’s a validation of patience and vision—a slow-burning recipe that turned into a championship contender.

So here’s to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the MVP who made Magic say “Oops,” and to the Thunder, who’ve turned skeptics into believers. And Magic? You just set the bar for how to eat humble pie with style. Now, can we get you to predict the Finals winner without a sequel to this apology tour?