The city of LA truly adores the Lakers and the Dodgers—two legendary franchises that have produced icons etched into the soul of the city. Magic Johnson, a five-time NBA champion and now a key figure in the Dodgers’ ownership group since 2012, was among the familiar faces at Dodger Stadium on the 78th anniversary of Jackie Robinson Day. But he wasn’t alone. Several Showtime Lakers showed up to honor the trailblazer who broke baseball’s color line in 1947—a legacy now celebrated league-wide, with every MLB player wearing No. 42. For Magic, the tribute was doubly special, as he was joined by teammate Michael Cooper—the defensive maestro who earned eight All-Defensive First Team selections and had his No. 21 jersey raised to the rafters earlier this year, finally getting the spotlight he so often helped others shine in.

“Tonight at the @dodgers game Buck hosted us in celebration of Jackie Robinson day! @magicjohnson We also go to say happy birthday to our boy Coop-a-Loop with all our friends! @showtimecooper21 #jackierobinsonday #21 #gododgers #showtime.” Byron Scott, on his Instagram, updated the fans about Magic Johnson’s method to celebrate the 69th birthday of teammate Michael Cooper. The 5x NBA champion also gave credit and flowers to Magic for this special surprise.

“I love you and how I feel about you man,” said Cooper. “You know the Lakers are all about family, and this boy here has brought that family atmosphere here to the Dodgers. And we love you for that. Thank you everybody, hope everybody had a good time. And my boy B (Byron Scott) back there. What y’all are looking at right now is a real musketeers here for the electric backcourt.”Before the real celebration, Magic Johnson celebrated his teammate on social media.

“Happy birthday to the 5-time NBA Champion and Hall of Famer, Michael Cooper!” The post was with a throwback photo of Coop in a Lakers jersey. The legend only played for the Lakers in his 12 seasons in the NBA. Plus, he helped them to win 5 championships and played a key role defensively, as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar took over the offensive duties. Speaking about the captain of the Showtime era, he was even present for the Jackie Robinson Day.

Magic Johnson and his captain shared the same “hero”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the pregame ritual as both sides gathered at the statue of Jackie Robinson, which was unveiled back in 2017. The Lakers legend said, “It’s great to be here on this day, especially because he was a hero of mine from Day 1 when I became aware of him.“Growing up, Jackie Robinson was one of the heroes for Magic Johnson. In fact, when he unveiled the statue in 2017, the Lakers legend spoke about the impact of the baseball icon.

“Between Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali, they opened the door for me to be an owner of the Dodgers. Jackie paved the way for that.” The Lakers legend also acknowledged Robinson for breaking the color barrier and playing in Major League Baseball. On April 15th, the team wears jersey 42 to honor the icon.

So, it wasn’t surprising to see Magic Johnson at the venue. As both a Dodgers owner and a lifelong admirer of Jackie Robinson, he stood tall in celebration of a hero who paved the way for so many. Similarly, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the gathering, offering heartfelt words that echoed Robinson’s enduring impact, reminding everyone that greatness isn’t just measured in stats but in courage and change. Do you wish to celebrate a memory of Jackie Robinson’s legacy? Let us know in the comments below—because legends like Jackie deserve to live on through our stories.