Imagine meeting your idol face to face, overwhelmed with joy, only to be pointed out that you do not belong here. Well, this was indeed what happened when Magic Johnson met Bill Russell! Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers dominated proceedings around the NBA in the 80s. In nine out of the ten years, either or both of the teams were in the finals. This led to many iconic matchups between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The battles between the two legends are a major reason for the NBA to become popular around the world.

Being dubbed the greatest rivalry in basketball history didn’t stop the players from being friends off the court. Following their playing career, Magic Johnson got an opportunity to meet Bill Russell and Larry Bird, and his inner fanboy couldn’t contain himself. He revealed his admiration for the two, only to be brought back to reality by the Celtic legends.

Magic Johnson was hilariously roasted by Celtic legends

In an Instagram post shared by Larry Bird, the three of them can be seen on a basketball court when Magic Johnson pointed at Bill Russell and said that he was his idol. Then Johnson praised Russell for his accomplishments on the court and stated that Russell has 11 championships, and that’s the most ever.

Johnson then invited Larry Bird onto the screen to say that he was his other idol. He went on to explain that he tried to get as many rings as Bill Russell, but he couldn’t. To this, Bill Russell replied, “It was a noble effort though“. He teased Magic Johnson that, even though he tried, it was never possible.

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Then the cameraman made a comment about so many rings being in one frame. To this, Johnson said that they have most of the rings right there, which meant the three of them. But Larry Bird had to clarify and say that “the majority of them are right here” while pointing to Bill Russell and himself. Magic Johnson started laughing, but soon realized that they meant that he didn’t belong in the same category as them.

Larry Bird said, “Run and get Kareem“. Johnson acted as if he fell to the floor and then hilariously replied, “He put the dagger in my heart“.

The greatest rivalry in basketball: Lakers v Celtics

The Lakers and Celtics have faced each other a record 12 times in the NBA finals. The rivalry between both the teams was the highlight of the 1980s. In the 1980s, the Lakers won five championships, and the Celtics won three. They faced each other thrice in the finals during the 1980s, and the Lakers came out on top with a record of 2-1.

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The last time the two teams faced each other was during the 2010 NBA Finals. It was a historic matchup as the pendulums kept swinging. However, in the end, Lakers managed to edge past Celtics 4-3 for the win. With fans eagerly waiting for the two teams to meet in the finals again, it is possible the wait is not long as both the Lakers and Celtics have retooled their teams for the 2023–24 season and are hoping to make a run at the championship.

Do you think the fire will be ignited again? Let us know in the comments below.

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