Magic Johnson to Clyde Drexler: "You Had a Chance to Say These Things to Me"

[@theletterj]

Magic Johnson @ 3:23: I don't talk about MVPs. I talk about championships. Damn, return fire.

[@thettruest]

All due respect (hes basically nearly my favorite player of all time, and i grew up in LA), Magic played for the Los Angeles Lakers. And had Kareem and an incredible team, in a league with some, but not a great amount, of parity (a few stacked teams). Clyde played for the freakin Portland blazers, with who i cant even remember, and then had to get by u-know-who -- which _NO ONE_ did. So championships isnt realy a fair comparison, and is quite armchair commentary comin from anyone other than Magic-taken-somewhat-out-of-context while tryin to make a point, in an interview and clip that got heavily edited.

[@thebrazilianatlantis165]

Dr. J.: "My goals weren't individual goals -- become, you know, All-Star game MVP, become league MVP, whatever -- it was winning the championship."

[@nonplayerzealot4]

+thetruest Truest: Teams that win the championships are great teams to begin with. However, when Magic joined the Lakers, they were getting beat in Rd 1 by Seattle for two years. The fact that they immediately beat Seattle the season he joined and then won in the Finals, including that road game without Kareem that Magic won on Philly's floor just shows that Magic was the guy who drove the machine. Blazers were a good team, and you can say the Lakers or Bulls or whomever were better, when it came down to closing out a series, Magic, Jordan, AND Isiah made the plays. Clyde always seemed to come up just short. That's definitely the case in the 91 and 92 series where the Blazers were eliminated. Magic rolled the ball down court in the final secs of the 91 set with Clyde standing there in disbelief. Magic won that series, and he didn't have Kareem.

[@ayrtonsennafan0038]

+thetruest Terry Porter and Jerome Kearsey (RIP) is who Clyde played for. And we never won the championship because 1) The NBA tends to lean towards the benefit of bigger markets such as LA for glamorous things like championships and 2) As you said, the Bulls owned the 90's.

[@miri9885]

Easy to talk about championships when you had the teammates that you had...

[@Methadone4Life]

Magic loved the game, played it the right way and was the ultimate team player....class all the way!

[@patrickg6753]

except for the fact he cheated on his wife with 100's of women and put her at risk of the hiv virus but yeah classy guy

[@ethelwashington5101]

Numsy Numsy [

[@patrickg6753]

the fact that you defend him speaks a lot of your character

[@enriqueasebez4834]

@@patrickg6753 Man, that’s the best you got?

[@blkjedi]

@@patrickg6753 its been documented for a while that Magic contracted HIV during the 80s. Before he meet his current wife.

[@bigstudwithaguitar]

Of course Clyde didn't tell YOU, Magic. YOU aren't the person he's criticizing. He felt like you received the benefit of pity. He never said that you are responsible for that pity. Your defensiveness is just a bit much... but for the most part, a classy reaction. If I were Clyde though, I wouldn't feel the need to bother YOU with this grievance. It actually doesn't involve you (though I suppose it does say that perhaps one of your accomplishments might have been better deserved by him... so I can understand SOME defensiveness)

[@ATLienForLife]

Great observation! Didn't see it that way as I watched it. But you're right on point! Clyde's comments had nothing to do with Magic. He was referring to how the media & the league were responding to Magic's situation. I've loved Clyde the player & the man since the days of Phi Slama Jama. He's always been humble & a class act!

[@llg7456]

Magic's positivity is so exhilarating! One of the strongest superstars EVER! Not only did he keep going after his diagnosis but he still kept his smile while doing it! 2020 and the man looks healthy as a horse!

[@PorkFrog]

Magic just demonstrated masterfully how to 'take the high road' while actually getting in several digs...'hide behind a book'[coward'] 'talking about the MVP instead of championships[loser], 'Instead of talking I will find a way to win'[big-mouth not as competitive-as-me whiner]...all the great players are Type A's, and Magic can pretend to be a B all he wants, but it's pretty clear he's firing back big time at Clyde behind a smile and a calm tone, like a verbal assassin

[@STACEYWORMACK]

+Joe Johnson #EXACTLY!! He killed him softly. He threw backhanded compliments with sharpness.

[@ConservativeAnthem]

+OUTTA FOCUS He didn't' exactly take the high road...he's very proud of himself.

[@STACEYWORMACK]

+ConservativeAnthem I didn't say he took the high road.

[@ConservativeAnthem]

OUTTA FOCUS Oops.

[@devilzdandruff9199]

Very well said Joe. Magic is the nicest guy when talking about other players. He's quick to give compliments when applicable and if anything, he downplays his own achievements which are phenomenal. To me he had the best basketball IQ that I've ever seen. But he really was slick Magic in this clip.. he gave you a glimpse of his competitive edge. Earvin Johnson was a nice guy.. but on the court it was Magic full on.. play to draw blood man.

[@grandslamchiguy]

Magic shows why he has been a winner his whole life in sports, business and life!

[@stab2122]

Drexler-“I have nothing but love and respect for Magic Johnson and all that he has accomplished in basketball and in life. I always took pride in being a great teammate throughout my career and I would never have made the statements that were reported in Jack McCallum’s book. I was one of Magic’s biggest supporters during that difficult period in his life and I take great exception to having such comments attributed to me. Magic and I have a friendship that goes back more than 28 years and I would never say such hurtful things. I have reached out to Magic to assure him that I did not say those things and to apologize to him and his family for even having to respond to something as baseless as this.” Nuff said in my book, Maccullum is trying to sell books, a sadly dying medium.

[@caidenhogan3655]

Hh

[@ellandecampbell6279]

Because famous people never lie & deny when they´re criticized, right?

[@josecalderon9487]

+Ellande Campbell but why would Clyde said that if he knew it could be material for the book? it's not like he was caught off guard or something. Well only Clyde and McCallum knows what actually happened.

[@ellandecampbell6279]

Phil Ster: McCallum said that Drexler did say the quote as it was written in the book, but that it was taken out of context by the people that were criticizing Drexler. McCallum said that Drexler was describing what the league felt as a whole, not Drexler's personal feelings towards Magic

[@jakelang1450]

stab2122 should they sit down like mag and tuss did?

[@Cultured_Barbarian]

3:23 - 3:31, super Yin moments. Seems like a great guy with an amazing perspective.

[@bungchew3552]

What?! I can tell you from somebody who owns Clyde Drexler's book (autographed, woot-woot), that was taken out of context! Clyde is easily the most humble person EVER! Oh, and by the way, EVERYONE thought Magic was gonna drop dead! Literally everyone! The virus was still new and people didn't know what was gonna happen! At least Drexler wasn't like Malone by talking about not wanting to play with Magic because of it! #ripCITY

[@pajeramos8903]

a legendary basketball player.. a legendary person.. class personified.. salute to magic johnson!

[@Galactu5]

Sounds like some combination of misquote, out of context, or fabrication. Just look at how Clyde has always handled himself. This is why everyone has to be careful when they hear anything like this. Dont rush to judge until its verified. Also Clyde was not second tier by any stretch of the imagination.

[@davidharden7575]

I know this is a few years old but Magic killed it in this video. What a winner! What an inspiration! I would love to get a hug from magic someday! I was in Maui one year and saw him driving down the road. Love him!

[@davidboyd3971]

It's amazing Magic's response to Clyde when he himself did the exact same thing to Isaiah Thomas. 20 yrs after the Dream Team he reveals "IN A BOOK" about how he conspired to keep Zeke off the team while pretending to be good friends & spending family vacations together. Yet he calls Clyde out for being fake so what does that make him. There's nothing magical about being a hypocrite.

[@alexandercoffman8319]

I concur.

[@bigmike676767]

Man you spitting facts

[@brianjackson5732]

No. By the time the Dream Team came along, that relationship was fully broken. Thomas has said some horrible things about Magic. But Masters move in silence. Everyone knew that Magic and Mike did not want Thomas on the team.

[@MarkyMark1221]

@@brianjackson5732 and Scottie and Bird plus we know Zeke didn’t like Karl Malone

[@MmeDesgranges]

@@MarkyMark1221 Even after the free cosmetic surgery Karl gave him

[@dfcintron]

Clyde had a great 1992 All Star game

[@markrobinson9394]

"It's funny to talk about MVP's. He's not talking about championships." * Drops the mic.

[@Angelsandhalos-j6d]

😂🤣

[@2008sALINAs]

Except Drexler is an NBA Champion

[@enriqueasebez4834]

@@2008sALINAs Huh?

[@yvans.]

@@enriqueasebez4834 Well that’s true 🙄

[@2dasimmons]

That supposed quote is highly uncharacteristic of Clyde Drexler who's always been a gracious-type player.

[@jarichoyoakum4807]

I love magic that man is amazing on and off the court

[@davidharden7575]

most positive person i have ever studied.

[@twain103]

I 've always been a fan of Clyde Drexler,and LOVE Magic Johnson.I hope Clyde did'nt say that about Johnson.There are'nt many things that bring me to tears many years later.Magic's announcement of having HIV STILL does.

[@jarichoyoakum4807]

twain103 love it

[@loutcb]

Magic had Kareem, Worthy, Macadoo, Scott etc. Clyde carries 2nd tier players Duck, Kersey, Porter, 1 season very goods to 2 finals. Nellie and Karl and others all agree that Clyde is 2nd best player in the leaque during his prime. In 95 he had 40 / Dream against and near triple double against Magic, he was the glue.

[@richreap3000]

Clyde is right, I watched the game live, and Clyde would have gotten the mvp of the game, but they took him out and played Magic, so that he would get the mvp. I was a little upset at that time because of it.

[@shazam8572]

This is what's called, class.

[@shazam8572]

***** Are you referring to Magic Johnson? If so, how was he a hypocrite? (It's spelled hypocrisy btw)

[@shazam8572]

Space Alien I don't know anything about his son to make that judgment, but how classy someone is has nothing to do with their sexual preference. Your comment though is typical of a disgusting and classless person.

[@brandonwells9233]

So cause his son is gay that makes him gay to right lol u pathetic and a bitch Magic Johnson is more of a man than u will ever be because anyone that has that much hate towards someone else especially that they don't even know has issues themselves fuck outta here dude

[@DanielsStation]

@Space Alien...you hit it hard bro. How did you get all this info?

[@gatshatsha]

Leave Clyde alone.

[@tiagocampos9528]

Magic is pure CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gmn545]

He came back for an All-Star game. Then as a fat PF in '96 for a while. But Magic did say, looking back at it, he wished he didn't retire when he did. It wasn't necessary, but at the time he feared it would "hurt the game."

[@PapiCee]

Jordan, Magic,Bird are the 3

[@williamfrawley1175]

And Isiah

[@williamfrawley1175]

@@rusted8157 he does easily and did it a 6 feet tall.

[@mr.billthrower7392]

@@rusted8157 As soley as a basketball player, yes he does.

[@jerry328i]

Drexler is a class act

[@tweatherspoonNewMedia7]

Drexler has a point.

[@loutcb]

I think Clyde was misquoted , but the jist is true. clyde did deserve MVP of that allstar game. clyde is the 2nd best SG of all time one 3 players with 20k pts 6k assts 6k rbs. Give Clyde better teamates and many more rings. He carried the 95 Rockets.

[@tonberrygaming3267]

magic johnson is one of the best gift the game of basketball has given to us. i mean, what a stellar personality. deepest respect for this man, who continues to smile and who continues to see the upside while living successfully every day professionally, personably, and against HIV.

[@johneli495]

Magic is a strong personality. I remember the announcement back in the early 90s about his health condition and a lot of people thought it was the end for him in every way. But he seems to be going from strength to strength ever since

[@parkjihoon394]

magic is the man. how can one not admire this guy?

[@anthonycoursey715]

Magic deserves every award he's ever won an he won them with class thanks magic for everything you brought to the game

[@tommak8679]

Magic actually sounded "hurt" after hearing Drexler's comments. If he wasn't really as "bothered" as he claimed, he wouldn't have gone on to talk about Drexler's "need" for publicity and recognition. He definitely tried to keep a good composure, and hat's off to that. But at the end of the day, Drexler was just honest about his own feelings and thoughts, which do not reflect the whole reality, and should not diminish the fact that Magic did play great in 1992. I hope Magic has let it go by now.

[@tommak8679]

Follow up: Found it on the Internet. Jack McCallum apparently did this piece to explain the whole "controversy" surrounding his book right after this clip was aired. I hope all of us would have a look and know the real story. I hope Magic would, too. www.jackmccallum.net/2012/06/28/more-on-clyde-and-no-this-isnt-fun/#.VP0GVHyUcmQ

[@johnnyboy7538]

@@tommak8679 exactly.

[@guccimomafly]

If you actually watched them play the season Clyde is talking about, you would agree with clyde

[@dwayneturner9395]

especially that all-star game...Magic hit 3 meaningless 3 pointers to close the game...I got it on tape. Clyde should have been MVP, him and Mullin worked great together...waaaaaaaaah Magic. F-U and your flamboyant gay son.

[@TattooedBlues]

DooM Raccoon Drexler was amazing! And a first ballot HoF

[@spitshinetommy3721]

Magic sat our the 91-92 season , genius. Had he played, he doubtlessly would have performed better than Drexler, seeing as how he was the superior basketball player.

[@spitshinetommy3721]

DWI 4 life Drexler = the Zeppo Marx of 90s NBA superstars. He has Olympic gold for one reason and one reason only: Jordan hates Zeke.

[@dwayneturner9395]

Spitshine Tommy Drexler was the 2nd best 2 guard....Stupid. So you may wanna exchange Stockton for Zeke. Scrub. Drex was an EASY choice. Crazy all-around game. Ask coaches/peers. And step up that bball iq fam

[@essvee86]

"And now you want to make these comments 20 years later?" Isiah was saying the same thing when you released that book, Magic.

[@bafda]

The truth is that Magic did get special treatment after he was diagnosed with Aids. He will not admit it. That would be foolish. Clyde truly was a victim of that to a large degree. Clyde would have been ostracized had he made comment of that at the time. In any event Clyde and Magic are class acts.

[@johnbell2568]

unless clyde drexler statement wrritten with quotes, i don't believe it.

[@guywebster8018]

But.. Wasnt.. It in... A book........

[@JoeSmith-iv3sf]

@@guywebster8018 ppl lie in books all the time. Not saying this is or isn't true but c'mon. Being in a book, news paper or TV doesn't mean anything.

[@dumdum9852]

John Bell Same here

[@222222e]

So he says he's going to take the higher road. But he continues to take shots at him. I hate when people do that, and I find it corny. I would've said he's entitled to his opinion and left it at that. It just makes Magic look fake, and proves that he knows it's true.

[@darringordon6950]

222222e........no you don't ITS AN INTERVIEW

[@melekelewis2945]

222222e your an idiot for saying that.

[@williebreamer9917]

I love Magic but that is true Clyde was the MVP that year

[@Budd631]

Jordan was. Clyde was 2nd

[@Landmark2Security]

Lol Jordan gave it to him in the finals did he think he was mvp then too?

[@benyah3390]

@@Landmark2Security Jordan didn't give Clyde anything. They rarely held each other. Clyde basically had to shoulder the load on offense and defense, while Jordan had Scottie on both sides of the ball. Jordan lit up Robinson & Porter than he did Clyde. Yall need to look at *what actually happened* instead of what the media projects. Yall haven't learned anything from Kwame lately?

[@JewFroLegend]

@@benyah3390 you are so correct

[@elrond3737]

To me it sound like they are talking about the all star game MVP. If you look at the box score Magic and Drexler were a dead heat. Sympathy vote for Magic... maybe... rather it would be a tie breaker. That and his 3 for 3 from 3 point land

[@paultommy2]

Look I agree but with Clyde that night east wins and wins big Clyde out played everybody and at the last seconds of the game Clyde gave the ball to magic Clyde is a class act. He also 2 block were Jordan and pippen Clyde played like a MVP !!!!

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

Drexler is my favorite player of all time. The Classiest Player to ever play the game.

[@msrubie11]

I love Majic for the beautiful person he is, for the things that he has done for his people. He put his people to work. He should kids how to succeed and did not worry about politics!

[@msrubie11]

therealist811 Yes, I seen C.J. that's between them and the Creator. I know what he did in California and all across the country, making sure Black people had jobs. I did not see Jordan or many of the rest do that. They were more focus on their money and white women!

[@toddsands6000]

Bingo! Excellent interview and responses from none other than Magic. And this is the main reason why Magic Johnson is one of the greatest winners of all time. And not to rub it completely in, but at the same time, I consider Magic Johnson a better winner that Clyde "The Glide" Drexler. And with all due respect, I totally admire all of the things Clyde has done as great player to the game of basketball. A sport I love dearly. But in the end, I consider Magic better than Clyde when it comes to overall greatness.

[@btez31]

Clyde was a great player, but Magic is one of the Legendary players this league has ever known.

[@Bdog1277]

Magic claimed he was taking the high road yet he still took subtle shots at Clyde, lol!

[@noelbradford5877]

One of the most classiest NBA stars ever love magic

[@georgefigueroa4182]

I'm not sure whether Clyde made those comments to be taken seriously or as a "tongue and cheek" thing; but i remember an aging/aged Magic Johnson (with two bad knees) with an aged 1991 Lakers team with Vlade Divac at center eliminating the reigning Western Conf champs Clyde and Portland (whom were heavy favorites to take on the Bulls for the 91 finals) to go on to the 91 NBA finals. The Lakers and Magic usually got the better of the Trailblazers and Clyde in those days, I'm sure it stung Clyde for a long time. Clyde should be happy, a lot of great players don't even win 1 NBA title. Without Clyde, Houston would not have won their 2nd title in their back-to-back finals wins 94-95. That 95' Houston team made history as the only 8 seed to ever win the NBA title. It shows how valuable his coming to Houston was.

[@georgefigueroa4182]

+MrMike25896 You are right, they were a 6th seed. But they are still the lowest seeded team to win the title

[@L92185]

+Jorge Figueroa 5th seed

[@aaroneaton583]

Spoken like a true man that's why magic will always be my favorite

[@eduardovelez9983]

Wow magic is really a classy guy !

[@bogota909]

Eduardo Velez love ❤ magic

[@thuaners]

respect to magic, love his attitude!

[@Soysaucemoto]

Of course The Glide didn't talk about championships. He won one with The Dream. Clyde wanted that MVP.

[@MrBigraw]

He won 2

[@Soysaucemoto]

1 with the Rockets in 95. Where did he win the other?

[@MrBigraw]

Ur right just 1.I was remembering Phi Slamma Jamma

[@803BIGSMITTYTHEKING]

MrBigraw He one 3 rings total one in 83 with U of H and 2 back to back with the rockets 93-94 and 94-95 it was the two years jordan retired the first time.

[@stuartperry8141]

Tremaine Smith NC State won that championship on Lorenzo Charles rebound that they have showed on sportscenter hundreds of times. Coach Valvano running around the court. Clyde played for Portland when Houston won their first championship. They traded him for Otis Thorpe the next season and he did win in 94-95

[@vkb1272]

Magic is so awesome and humble.

[@chazchavez413]

Cylde should have more credit he was really good he was the 3rd or 2nd best shooting guard i have never seen him in a top 10 shooting guards or a honabrole mention he should be appreciated more

[@TizOnly1]

ESPN ranked the top ten players at every position just last month, and they named Clyde the #5 SG of all-time. He gets credit. He just had the misfortune of coming around at the same time as Jordan, who essentially played the exact same style as Drexler... just demonstrably better.

[@classicsurvivor]

+TizOnly1 and in a big media market.

[@PAPAMEXICO10]

Only Magic can talk like these,,I knew about the outcome before watching these interview,, Magic´s intelligence always destroying opposition, while he smiles at you.

[@ToolMetrix]

What a class act, and a tribute to the league.

[@agenteayana]

I've met Clyde several times personally, that's not something he would say. He has always been a great man! Clyde loved Magic and wished nothing but the best for him.

[@Kingmentality23]

The way Magic Handled that comment was so professional, it's a tell to his character on a even deeper level. It's one thing to address something or someone but the way he did it I can tell and feel that it was 100% genuine. Some things in life you don't put out publicly. As A man and I'm sure a friend of Magic he could have called him or met with him Live and told him exactly how he felt.

[@aaroneaton4355]

That's right magic that's why you the man no matter what anybody say they can't hold you down

[@sandeepwatkinsiv4]

The facts don't add up. MVP in 190 Aids announcement 1991 Clyde lost to Isaiah in the 1990 finals THIS INTERVIEW IS FULL OF ERRORS

[@kenwilson9093]

Bulls vs Blazers 91-92.. Jordan second ring

[@BitcoinMotorist]

Clyde might be talking about the All-Star game where Magic won MVP in 1992. Edit: WGASA about All-Star MVPs?

[@dannyrobles1300]

One of the very few players with CLASS !

[@2008sALINAs]

Drexler did deserve that All-Star MVP over Magic!

[@solobolo3546]

2008sALINAs how you figure that ,,, Magic scored more points and had more assists! Magic lead the whole East and West is scoring , most of the time the guy who leads the game in scoring is the MVP !

[@dekshell8081]

love magic johnson. true class, from the great state of michigan. greatest PG ever. and a even better person.

[@jackwaddy5946]

that's my man magic tell him bro

[@clydeallen7852]

Amazing guy

[@margeeter]

Ya know Clyde was right tho

[@box5bastard277]

no he wasn't yell

[@azwris]

Magic still looks like the old days. A true miracle of life!

[@coltononline]

"I'm not the type of guy to" ...(you know some bull shit is coming next). "I'm OK with what he said" ...(spends 5 minutes discussing the comment and sideways dissing the guy). haha

[@jrsmith1998]

😂 yep

[@manojsrao]

what a gentleman Earvin has become! May God bless him!

[@jrjr.5311]

Humble-brag alert: when a guy says "I'm gonna take the high road", he is actually clapping back.

[@jrsmith1998]

Exactly. I see people in the comments section talking about Magic being “humble” and “classy” this interview. 😂 He is neither of those

[@vCLOWNSHOESv]

Magic Johnson is a class act and always was. Magic was still a great player when he retired with HIV and in fact was still the second best player in basketball. He wasn't second best because of decline, he was second best because of Micheal Jordan and that was the case since Jordan came into the league.

[@adamdaniel01]

Magic just schooled Clyde once again. lol

[@19868441]

Looking back on this: at the time I was very upset that Clyde didn't get the MVP, Today I see that Clyde sacrificed for the betterment of the NBA. Bottom line, Magic was the best basketball player ever to play the game until Jordan came into his own.

[@iNostraD]

Class personified

[@sodica81]

Yeah a man who had sex with a lot of prostitutes and gets aids.

[@NEBLEEKS]

Didn't Magic hide behind a book regarding an issue with Isiah Thomas?

[@Kbiggins1978]

Clyde was never more valuable than Magic Johnson.

[@bogota909]

Kbiggins1978 of course not he wasn't even in the same breath as magic

[@kennethlucas7473]

Great observation!

[@oogabooga1142]

Neither was most if not all of the players in NBA history

[@FuShengAlex]

@pmerk36 Clyde had the athletic ability to blow past anyone 1 on 1 and he did often. The problem was his jumper and ballhandling in the halfcourt was shaky and you could play off of him. The Blazers would look more to Porter than him for half court offense. In transition though, he was as good a scorer as anyone ever at any position.

[@mrstanbmw]

This Guy is a Giant.

[@jtan2010]

wow. that was a good response. he is so much polish now, probably learn that from being in business all these years

[@Hashirazdhj]

age also. hes not in his 20s when guys can be reckless with their words. older and wiser now

[@vivenciotabuada7616]

Magic! 💜💛

[@itshiho]

It's always those 2nd and 3rd tier HOF players like Clyde Drexler that run their mouth the most because they still have chips on their shoulder from never being considered the best at any time.

[@Igaveyoumyfakename]

+itshiho: It's because those chips on their shoulder aren't "champion-chips."

[@glst1974]

Dude won a title, get it right. You and the 13.

[@Igaveyoumyfakename]

Where did anyone say he never won a title? We're talking about Clyde making these comments 20 years after he lost the MVP to magic. A time when Clyde had YET to win a title. And apparently Clyde is STILL butt-hurt about it two decades later. So how about YOU get it right?

[@glst1974]

Igaveyoumyfakename +itshiho: It's because those chips on their shoulder aren't "champion-chips." This coming from you about Drexler, if you were lumping Drexler with those that "have chips on their shoulders" is incorrect. I like Magic, a lot, he was not to blame, but yeah he did won that MVP in large part because of the HIV thing. Still, Clyde should have not said that.

[@toddsands6000]

Honestly, I was completely surprised about Clyde making such comments. Clyde seemed to always have been a gracious soft speaking great player that consistently said positive things about almost anyone. Even going back to Clyde's UH days, he was always eloquent on how he handled himself on the court and towards the media. Still if the stories were true which they most likely were, Clyde should not have mentioned those opinions towards Magic. At the same time, these guys are extremely competitive. There may be reasons and possible beef between these two that may have been the reasons why Clyde made such comments. I probably would not have said those things about Magic if I were on Clyde's level of greatness as a basketball player.

[@crastapow]

Clyde did have a better season that year

[@pliskan22]

Clyde drexler gets framed for this shit drexler was a class act and by magic going on tv and blasting Clyde makes him a low life truth is the truth everyone in the nba felt sorry for the guy they all thought he was gonna die drexler don't get the credit or the respect from nobody he was in my opinion better than magic but people will always say how so magic got more rings lakers had better teams surrounding magic - now I give all the credit to magic for how great he was but by blasting Clyde without asking him personally makes him 💩

[@dwayneturner9395]

TRUTH!!!!!!

[@gavin1391]

Did you watch the video? He specifically said he is not mad about it.

[@juswolf22]

Reporters are known for switching words around

[@mookeychase0907]

They sh*t starters, the media period are!

[@fernandobarkley3965]

magic is a gentleman and he always be. YOU ROCK MAGIC.

[@DeCurtaRican]

Magic said that he was going to “take the high road,” and didn’t take the high road. He took some shots back at Clyde by saying that Clyde should have been concentrating on championships, etc. He was justified, but don’t say “class personified,” because he sunk to Clyde’s level in a way. The subtext of Magic’s remarks is that Clyde didn’t do what was needed to win MVP’s and get the recognition that he “thought” he deserved. Clyde was doomed the minute Jordan came into the league if he couldn’t match Jordan, and he couldn’t. He didn’t have a Scottie Pippen with him. To be fair, if Scottie and Dennis (and Ron Harper) had played with Clyde, he could have won as many championships as Jordan did - maybe more. I thoroughly believe that. I have always felt that Jordan was slightly overrated, and that the NBA refs coddled him. He wound up on the free throw line at times when guys had simply played great D on him. But David Stern was the robber-baron running the circus, and he decided whom his stars would be, and when and how they were promoted. Stern made the decision that when Dr. J left the league, and Magic and Bird were on the decline, Jordan would be the main man all by himself - unless at least one of either Clyde Drexler or Charles Barkley could insert himself into Jordan’s plateau.

[@mikevikeus]

I'm a diehard Celtics fan, but even I had/have HUGE respect for Magic. It's really amazing HOW Bird & Magic were/are forever linked, & even better than they're great friends now. Even many of their stats r amazingly the same, incl: 13 seasons; 12-time all-stars; 3-time MVPs; 10 All-NBA selection (including 9-time All-NBA first teamers). They came into the league together, & in the Olympics together. Even when it came to saving the NBA, everyone knows it was due to Magic Johnson & Larry Bird.

[@natswing]

Clyde was the most under rated basketball player. During Jordan's first retirement, Houston Rockets received back to back championships.

[@hmic55555]

Clyde was only part of the team for the 2nd championship.

[@natswing]

Nope. He was the 2nd best to Jordan.

[@SC72110]

HAKEEM is that reason

[@natswing]

SC72110 Nope. Clyde was the 2nd best.

[@robbymcintyre4184]

natswing Clyde was only there for the 2nd championship. Hakeem was the MVP in the first championship. Clyde was amazing, but Hakeem was a little bit better.

[@FatihEZF66]

magic always surprises me with his answers! what a man with class!

[@noontime9850]

I think he got the cure!! 1 billion dollars

[@OGKARATE1]

They said Michael Jackson's brother told him about a Dr in Brazil i believe it.

[@shubhamlele5395]

Yeah so?he earned them

[@PhilomathBret]

In the book "When the Game was Ours", it says that it's a misconception that Magic has better treatment because he's rich. He takes the same medication that is available to anybody.

[@EDOOO24]

Magic Johnson - nicest guy ever

[@offwiththehats]

"Im gonna take the high road. here's why he's lame:..."

[@marcusjohnsonsr.8336]

offwiththehats 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bigjabba]

my respect for magic is over 9000 after watching this. class act through and through.

[@darrenharper3046]

Always loved Magic, love him even more after watching this. Clyde wished that he was on Magic's level. Magic is arguably one of the top five players in man history. Clyde might be in the top twenty five maybe.

[@techracer2003]

Magic is still one of the classiest basketball player out there

[@calridd30]

great attitude

[@MrAitraining]

Nice guy but Clyde was always a weakling and 2nd tier.

[@harryettevanhoomissen9230]

MrAitraining Do you know Clyde, personally? I like Magic, but if Clyde said those things (and I doubt that he did) he was only telling the truth. I saw Clyde give Magic the ball to make the shot that made Magic high scorer (by two points over Clyde) and MVP!! What's wrong with telling the truth, saying what we all were thinking? In this interview Magic said Clyde was always looking for more publicity --- rubbish -- nothing could be further from the truth.

[@vaughnresperjr]

Magic Johnson is a KING!! He does not have to hide!

[@robertdaugherty6870]

magic is real

[@yocraigst]

Magic is all class.

[@dusttaker]

Magic is great but if you put Kareem with Clyde's Trail Blazers and give Magic Kevin Duckworth how many total rings do they end up having?

[@BDQ1975]

NONE! Clyde couldn't even lead Phi Slamma Jamma to a national title in 1983 over Jim Valvano's NC State Team or the year before being knocked out by Worthy, Jordan and Perkins. Guarantee if Clyde returned for his senior year in 1984, Ewing and Georgetown still would of beaten them. Clyde probably was mad that the year that Portland had the best record in the league in 1991 and finally thought the Lakers were finish, Magic destroyed him! Magic won in high school, college and in the Pros. It took Clyde, at the end of his career to win a title with Hakeem, when he was the best player on the planet (in the 1st Jordan Retirement)

[@UFOsAreRealArea51]

Clyde Drexler is a hater...bottom line! Clyde needs to think about those times Magic took his ass out of the playoffs to be in the Finals. Clyde didn't want the championship so Magic took it away from Clyde. "You don't really want this ring! This shit is mine!" Lakers advance to the Finals every year to face the Celtics and Pistons. Clyde wasn't Jordan or Magic enough to be were he wanted to be. Clyde can not dominate as a scorer when he needs to be...sometimes you have to be a ballhog like Michael Jordan and sometimes you have to be as skilled of a passer ensuring that your teammates are put into a position to get an easy basket. It's one thing to be open, it's another thing to be open and close to the basket for the easy shot. Clyde wasn't Magic enough with his passes and wasn't Jordan enough with his scoring. He was in the middle with the bare minimum essentials to win multiple championships. He was also too quiet of a player. Tim Duncan is a rare exception of winning with a quiet personality. Clyde is no Tim Duncan neither. Peace.

[@teesteven]

in 1980 jabbar was injured, magic moved to center and won the game and title,he would have won a title with duckworth and maybe even you.

[@stuartperry8141]

teesteven Kareem missed game 6 since he got hurt in game 5 of the championship series. He led the Lakers in scoring that series. Kareem was the MVP during that season. Magic jumped center against DR J. not Caldwell Jones. Jim Chones a old man started as center.Stop rewriting history. This is like the highlights of the North Carolina championship game in 1982, MJ gets all the credit now because of his pro career. When James Worthy was clearly the star of the team, the best player during that game, and led them to victory in that game making the crucial steal to seal the game.

[@teesteven]

magic went back to back as the leader of that 87&88 lakers team with kareem playing reduced minutes,im a rockets fan but I still say magic is as good as anybody who laced them up.all time!

[@essvee86]

Magic released an autobiography a few years back, saying that he didn't like Isiah since their first NBA finals meet, but he never told Isiah that until he released his book.

[@victorjohnson9085]

Clyde didn't say it to him in his face and was ignorant to his condition. ...Cowardice ...

[@motownzfinezt]

gotta love MAGIC dude still makin more then anyone and u never hear bad press about him

[@stuartperry8141]

That is the point some players get bad press and others do not. During the whole time he was having unprotect sesx with anyone and everyone he was in the same relationship with now 'wife' who thank God somehow did not get infected.