Magic Johnson. The Lakers’ ultimate showman. Five championships. The face of a dynasty. A cultural icon. But for Jeff Teague? He’s not buying into the hype. In fact, he just threw some serious shade at Magic’s era. And Lakers fans aren’t happy. His words have set the internet ablaze. But what exactly did he say, and why is it causing such an uproar?
The Los Angeles Lakers have changed their jerseys multiple times over the years. They started with powder blue and gold in the Minneapolis era, then transitioned to the iconic purple and gold in L.A. Well, for Jeff Teague, it turns out that he’s not a big fan of the Lakers’ purple and gold theme. During a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast, the hosts analyzed the Brooklyn Nets’ 111-108 victory over the Lakers, which snapped a seven-game losing streak. Unexpectedly, the conversation shifted to the Lakers’ uniforms and Magic Johnson’s knee pads. So, what exactly did Teague say? And why are Lakers fans talking?
Jeff Teague just admitted something most NBA players wouldn’t dare say—he hates the Lakers’ iconic purple and gold. And that’s not all. He even took shots at Magic Johnson’s legendary look, and the internet is having none of it. On the latest episode of the Club 520 Podcast, Teague didn’t hold back. “The Lakers are good but I just hate their jersey. I never liked the yellow and gold or whatever purple or gold or whatever is it”. He did admit he liked their black alternate jersey, but that’s where his love for Lakers fashion ends. And then? He took it a step further, bringing Magic Johnson into the mix.
“Ever since the Magic (Johnson) wore them knee pads or whatever I was just….” Jeff trailed off, but we got the message. He wasn’t a fan of the look. And he made it even clearer when he added, “Swag was as-, shorts was little…I just never was a fan.” Now, personal opinions? Cool. But this one? Yeah, not so much.
We’re talking about The Magic Johnson, a legend so great that even Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant held him in the highest regard. If anyone in the game deserves respect, it’s him. So, will this “opinion” just fade into the background, or is it about to spark a whole new controversy? Well… only time will tell.
When Kobe Bryant met Magic Johnson: legendary lessons that shaped the mamba mentality
There’s no debate that Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant are two of the most brilliant players in Los Angeles Lakers history. They were both champions, both unstoppable forces, yet they dominated the game in completely different ways. But here’s the thing, before he ever played an NBA game, Kobe went out of his way to study Magic, proving that respect for greatness transcends style choices. Because that’s what made him Kobe, always eager to learn new things. In “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play”, Kobe recalled the first (and only) time he played with Magic before he even made his NBA debut. It happened at UCLA, during a pickup game.
Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant stand as two of the most brilliant players in Lakers history—no debate needed. They were both champions and incredible individual talents that dominated the game in totally different ways. Even though their impact on the game was different and Kobe initially never thought he would be a point guard in the NBA, he still took time to learn from Magic as much as he could. In the book “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” Kobe describes his first opportunity to actually interact with Magic, which happened before his first NBA game when they met at UCLA.
“We met at UCLA during a day of pick-up runs. I was there stretching and getting ready to play, and he (Majic Johnson) walked in. That was my first time, and I think last time, playing with Magic. That was pretty sweet. More than that, it was to talk with him.” And then came the real gem. He added, “I talked with him to learn how to deal with those challenges. After all, why reinvent the wheel when you can just talk to the wheels that were created before?”
Jeff Teague can dislike the Lakers’ colors all he wants. But when it comes to Magic Johnson, the verdict is clear—his impact is untouchable. The greatest players of all time, from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant, studied and admired him. And in basketball, respect isn’t just given. It’s earned.
The post Blaming Magic Johnson’s “Swag”, Jeff Teague Makes A Startling Confession About His Lakers Disdain appeared first on EssentiallySports.
