This year’s NBA Playoffs have been nothing short of intriguing. With the second round tipping off on Sunday—highlighted by the Indiana Pacers pulling off an upset win over the Cleveland Cavaliers—excitement continues to build as the remaining series get underway Monday and Tuesday.
Among those weighing in on the postseason so far is NBA legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. While the league has faced criticism in recent years over player effort and the overall product, Johnson made it clear he’s impressed with what he’s seeing.
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In fact, he delivered a strong message to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, praising the current playoffs as the best the league has seen in the past five to ten years—suggesting Silver’s vision for the game is finally paying off.
“I want to send a big congratulations to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver because everything he wanted is coming to fruition!” Johnson said. “Years ago, he shared that he wanted a competitive balance in the NBA. With Commissioner Silver reshaping the salary cap system and acknowledging the challenges in NBA trades, we are now seeing success in more small-market teams versus just big-market teams. OKC and Cleveland had the two best records this season and Minnesota, Indiana, and Denver are also having great success in the Playoffs.”
He continued, “These Playoffs have been the best I’ve seen in the last 5-10 years because of the talent, competitiveness, and physicality. They are must-see TV!”
In addition to the Pacers-Cavaliers series, the second round of the NBA Playoffs features several marquee matchups: the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets.
Magic Johnson’s former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, were eliminated in five games by the No. 6 seed Timberwolves—powered by 23-year-old rising star Anthony Edwards. Now, Edwards and the Timberwolves will look to eliminate another legend in Stephen Curry after sending LeBron James home.
Magic Johnson attends the 2024 NWSL Championship match at CPKC Stadium.Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
While both the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds have already been knocked out in the Western Conference, the top three seeds in the East remain standing strong. Some heavyweight clashes are now set to unfold in the coming weeks as the road to the Conference Finals heats up.
Related: Adam Silver Under Fire for Major Warriors-Rockets Mistake
