Hall of Famer Magic Johnson used social media on June 15, 2026, to congratulate the New York Knicks after the franchise ended a 53-year championship drought by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. The victory marked the NBA’s eighth different champion in as many seasons, an unprecedented stretch in league history.
Johnson singled out the Knicks’ starting lineup—Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart—writing that Hart was “one of the players I drafted” during his time running the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office. Johnson selected Hart 30th overall out of Villanova in the 2017 draft while serving as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations.
In a separate post, the former Lakers executive congratulated Knicks owner James L. Dolan, president Leon Rose, executive vice president William Wesley and head coach Mike Brown along with his staff on capturing the title.
Hart spent two seasons with Los Angeles before being included in the 2019 trade package that brought Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Since then, he has developed into one of the league’s premier role players, a reputation underscored by his contributions throughout New York’s championship run.
LeBron James Adds Praise
Former Lakers teammate LeBron James echoed Johnson’s admiration during a recent episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast. James called Hart a “wild card” whose impact extends beyond the box score, comparing his versatility to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. James, who played alongside Hart during the 2018-19 season, cited the guard’s rebounding, passing and hustle as critical factors in postseason success.
With the offseason underway, the Lakers—now led by Luka Doncic—are expected to pursue players with skill sets similar to Hart’s as they seek to rejoin the title hunt.
Source: LakersNation.com
