Magic Johnson and Earlitha Kelly attend "The Mountaintop" Broadway opening night at The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on October 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)
It seems like everyone has LeBron James jokes, even Magic Johnson.
Magic Johnson was asked by student moderator Nicholas Creegan about what he wants to be remembered for while speaking to a group of students at the University of Albany. The question sparked a, well, interesting series of jabs jokes towards the Miami Heat guard.
“That’s easy. Putting people to work in minority communities,” Johnson said. “There’s going to always be great players in basketball. There’s going to always be guys who win championships in the NBA, except LeBron.”
Zing!
But the Los Angeles Lakers icon said he was just joking and really “loves” LeBron James. After students erupted into laughter, cheers and jeers, Magic Johnson brought further clarity to his remarks.
“Don’t be mad,” he said. “Everybody asks, who’s better between Kobe [Bryant] and LeBron? Are you kidding me? I’m like are you kidding me? Kobe’s got five championships, LeBron zero.
I love the young man though. I know he’s going to get better in the fourth quarter this year.”
Ouch. Should LeBron James respond or just take this mounting criticism in silence?
