Michael Jordan: 'When Magic Johnson came in, that’s where the game changed' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Although Michael Jordan has sometimes praised some of the players of his generation, he isn't used to conceding his place at the top of any category.

However, it looks like the time is ripe for "Air" to acknowledge that someone else has been more influential than himself.

In the first episode of a new documentary series titled "They Call Me Magic," the Bulls legend revealed that it was Magic Johnson, not himself, who really changed the NBA.

Jordan said in the episode, "Everybody wants to credit Michael Jordan for changing the NBA, but when Magic Johnson came in, that’s where the game changed."

Magic Johnson, humbled by Jordan’s words, replied:

"I was up there laughing and almost crying at the same time, hearing my family talk, hearing Larry Bird, and when Michael said what he said, which was really amazing. We had never heard that from Michael, for him to say that everybody thought he had turned the league around but that I was a big part of that."

The Lakers legend is releasing his series on April 22nd On Apple TV+, drawing inspiration from Jordan's "The Last Dance," which debuted in 2020.

"The reason we did it is that when Michael did "The Last Dance," my phone just started ringing," Johnson said in a post-screening discussion.

"They said, "When are you coming out with yours?’" And we got some great investors, great partners, great producers, and they really took it to another level," the 12x All-Star said.

Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.