Q&A: Magic Johnson says ‘nobody’ is going to want to play the Lakers in the playoffs

Magic: “I think D’Angelo has really grown and matured. He can score the basketball.”

Magic Johnson is a man so accomplished both on and off the basketball court that needs no introduction.

No matter the criteria, it would be hard to not include Johnson as one of the greatest to ever play the game. The five-time NBA champion and three-time NBA MVP also has one of the most charming and magnetic personalities in sports.

For The Win recently caught up with Johnson for a wide-ranging interview.

Johnson, who won the NCAA championship and was named NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1979, checked in to discuss the upcoming March Madness tournament.

The former Lakers star, who also had one year of experience coaching the team in 1994 and had a brief stint as an executive before abruptly stepping down from the position in 2019, also shared his thoughts about the current state of the franchise.

Johnson also gave us a preview of his upcoming ad with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which features multi-hyphenate rappers and actors Dave Burd (AKA Lil Dicky) and Travis Bennett (AKA Taco).

The campaign with Coca-Cola launches on March 4, 2023, when North Carolina hosts Duke.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.