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Magic Johnson Sends Ominous Warning to NBA’s Western Conference: “Watch Out for Them in the Playoffs!”

Published 03/17/2024, 10:43 PM EDT

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If you didn’t get Kyrie Irving’s message, Magic Johnson is repeating it. The NBA legend was just like us, jumping off our seats when Kai made that spectacular buzzer-beater to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 107-105 victory. After they stunned even the defending champions, Denver Nuggets, Earvin “Magic” Johnson declared Luka Doncic and Kyrie’s squad the most dangerous in the West; a bold prediction leading up to the playoffs.

I want to put the Western Conference on notice – the Dallas Mavericks, coached under HOF Jason Kidd, are a different team with new additions of Washington, Lively, and Gafford. Watch out for them in the playoffs!” was Magic Johnson’s warning to the entire Western Conference.

He’s probably inspired by Uncle Drew making a left-handed shot 20 feet from the rim right after Doncic tied the game with a 3-pointer with less than half a minute on the clock. The defeat pushed the Nuggets to the second place in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Doncic led the team with 37 points. Irving ended the game with 24 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in 40 minutes. The Mavs are seventh in the West and likely to complete in the play-in tournament.

One tweet isn’t enough to sum up Magic’s emotions. Right before hailing the Mavs, he echoed how everyone was mind-blown after Irving’s showstopper.I jumped off my couch screaming after Kyrie’s game-winning shot from behind the free throw line for the Mavericks over the reigning champs Nuggets!! It’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest, left-hand game-winning shot I’ve ever seen.

As excited as Magic is about the Mavs having Kyrie Irving in their lineup, a year ago he was hinting at another team for the 2012 Rookie of the Year.

Magic Johnson enables the Mavericks guard

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When Irving was still with the Nets, Johnson was keen on luring him to the opposite coast. Specifically, Johnson wished to see Irving play for his Lakers. “Personally, I’d love to see Kyrie in the purple and gold,” he wrote on X after Irving was voted a starter in the 2023 All-Star Game. The Mavs would pick up Irving then but Johnson expected more.

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January was tough on the Mavs who turned a three-game winning streak into two-game losing streak while Doncic was absent due to injuries. Magic Johnson advocated for the team to pull a life-saving trade. He said then too that they only needed a trade to become top contenders in the West. They heeded his advice and bolstered their frontline with PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford.

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Magic Johnson’s faith in the Mavericks might be the motivation they need to claim a top spot in the Western Conference. Do you agree with his prediction?

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Written by:

Caroline John

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Caroline John is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. She holds a Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from a reputed university. With 8 years of experience in content writing and after judiciously covering the life of Shaquille O’Neal, she even earned an exclusive interview with the CEO of Shaq’s Big Chicken franchise, Josh Halpern.
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Edited by:

Aakash Nair