No one has been more critical of the struggling Los Angeles Lakers over the past few years than Magic Johnson.
So, it was a bit odd to see such positive comments coming from the Laker legend’s Twitter account on Wednesday.
Jahlil Okafor worked out on Tuesday for the Lakers, who have the second pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Most insiders think Karl Anthony-Towns will be taken first by the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaving Okafor for the Lakers.
Magic would like to see it that way. Okafor, too.
I love Okafor because he's won a state championship in HS, NCAA Title at Duke and he can bring that championship pedigree to the Lakers.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 10, 2015
Pretty strong words from a player who knows something about winning titles. Earvin Johnson won the Michigan State title in 1977 with Everett High School, the NCAA Championship with Michigan State in 1979 and the NBA Finals with the Lakers in 1980. Magic added a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics with the Dream Team to become the seventh player to accomplish the basketball Triple Crown (NBA, Olympics, NCAA). The others were: Michael Jordan, Quinn Buckner, Jerry Lucas, Clyde Lovellette, K.C. Jones and Bill Russell.
Buckner, from Thornridge High School, and Lucas accomplished the quadruple-title feat.
Okafor won the Illinois high school 4-A title with Whitney Young in 2014 and the NCAA Championship with Duke in 2015.
Magic might be on to something. Winning an NCAA Championship usually portends well for players in the NBA. Here is a list of dual-title players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lucius Allen, Derek Anderson, Shane Battier, Henry Bibby, Ron Bonham, Brewer, Quinn Buckner, Mario Chalmers, Bob Cousy, Keith Erickson, Tom Gola, Gail Goodrich, Arnie Ferrin, Cliff Hagan, Hamilton, John Havlicek, Magic Johnson, K.C. Jones, Michael Jordan, Alfred Lee, Clyde Lovellette, Jerry Lucas, Rodney McCray, Nazr Mohammad, Frank Ramsey, Glen Rice, Bill Russell, Larry Siegfried, Terry, Tom Thacker, Isiah Thomas, Billy Thompson, Lou Tsioropoulos, Milt Wagner (also won H.S. title), Antoine Walker, Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes, Corless Williamson and James Worthy.
Still, all of this is moot unless the Timberwolves pass on Okafor.
