It requires the heart of a lion to stand against what’s dearest to you. But when the controllable things lose control, someone’s got to speak up. The Los Angeles Lakers were supposedly a strong contender against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, five playoff games later, the only thing one could say is “Really?” It’s rather surprising how head coach JJ Redick’s strategies (that is, if any) crumbled like stale bread. And when criticism took hold, JJ felt the heat. But, on the other hand, Magic Johnson is cheering the critics.
The Lakers legend couldn’t resist his urge to congratulate the Minnesota Timberwolves for moving to the next round after pinning down his team with a 4-1 record. Commending Alex Rodriguez, Ant, and everyone on the team, Magic Johnson also tweeted: “The reason the Lakers lost was because they played awful on defense, they were too small, and the Timberwolves dominated them in the paint.” Undoubtedly, this raised some eyebrows that the franchise’s icon didn’t defend them.
Moreover, Johnson didn’t stop at this. He soon dropped two more tweets aimed at ESPN employees. They had broken down LA’s stats, failures, and JJ Redick’s coaching flaws. In the first tweet, Magic Johnson addressed Mike Greenberg. He called him a fellow point guard. Magic praised him for highlighting the Lakers’ struggles and explaining why they lost.
ESPN’s Get Up host Mike Greeny was playing point guard like I used to by dishing the ball to all of the talent on the show this morning talking about the state of the Lakers and why they lost. Kendrick Perkins did a wonderful job, and I really respect his point of view on the…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 1, 2025
Meanwhile, Johnson appreciated Kendrick Perkins for his detailed descriptions and for calling out Redick’s strategies. In the next tweet, Johnson praised Jay Williams and Brian Windhorst for exposing the Lakers’ deep-rooted flaws. Here, Magic Johnson didn’t just show a clarity of emotions but also hit the siren on his team for their evident mistakes on the court and bench.
Johnson’s emphasis on defense isn’t a first-time story. After Game 1, the 65-year-old pointed out that defensive failure and a lack of physical game were the cause of the downfall. But the question here is, what has JJ Redick done to curb the flaws? According to Big Perk, nothing. Another major reason for losing the series was the Lakers’ lack of a reliable center. Jaxson Hayes, who played during the regular season, averaged just 7.8 minutes per game and couldn’t crack JJ Redick’s rotation in Round 1.
The post Magic Johnson Tries to Save Himself as ESPN Employees Throw JJ Redick Under the Bus After Elimination appeared first on EssentiallySports.