Magic Johnson is not known for being particularly critical of teams and players on his Twitter page. But after the Boston Celtics were routed by the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night, that changed.
During his playing career, Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers met Boston three times in the NBA Finals. So, he’s well acquainted with the tradition of the Celtics.
But after Sunday night’s 128-102 game — which may not have been as close as even that lopsided score would indicate — Magic saw none of that pride.
And he made his feelings known.
“In my 44 years of being associated with the NBA I never thought I’d see a Boston Celtics team, a franchise with 17 Championships, quit,” Johnson tweeted. “I know Celtics fans all over the world must be disgusted and devastated. The Miami Heat blew them 128-102 out in Game 3.”
In my 44 years of being associated with the NBA I never thought I’d see a Boston Celtics team, a franchise with 17 Championships, quit. I know Celtics fans all over the world must be disgusted and devastated. The Miami Heat blew them 128-102 out in Game 3.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 22, 2023
Knowing Magic’s reputation on Twitter, NBA fans took notice of this scathing tweet.
Adjusting for Magic speak, this is basically Hit Em Up https://t.co/AQBcj18IOh
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) May 22, 2023
Magic shade https://t.co/c6QmztsTj4
— Phil Spain (@philenespanol) May 22, 2023
Magic tweeting this: https://t.co/gGhxnWhacG pic.twitter.com/aWDormqmpD
— Killjoy 🤔 (@KilljoyGSW) May 22, 2023
When Magic Johnson goes disappointed dad on you….. https://t.co/PnfPwv0jMn
— 'Nata Edwards (@NataTheScribe) May 22, 2023
celtics blew it so bad they made magic post an actual opinion https://t.co/xWjIEdzi7U
— largest rodent (@capybaroness) May 22, 2023
seeing Magic say something critical in a tweet is like hearing my mom swear, you gotta REALLY be in trouble https://t.co/79GaVcUCYA
— actioncookbook (@actioncookbook) May 22, 2023
Of course, things aren’t any better for Magic’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Conference Finals started with a notion that the Celtics-Lakers rivalry — the greatest in the league — might be renewed in the finals for the first time in 13 years. Instead, both teams are down 3-0, a deficit never overcome in the history of the NBA postseason.
