Lakers News: Magic Johnson Sees His Own Leadership In Play Of Finals Star
Hall of Fame Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson sees plenty of his own game in the play of Miami Heat All-NBA small forward Jimmy Butler, who has propelled his eighth-seeded Miami Heat all the way to an NBA Finals matchup against the mighty Denver Nuggets. Josh Peter of USA Today has the full skinny.
“Team first,” Johnson told Peter of Butler's ethos. “Winning first. Making your teammates first. All those things were first for me and first for [Butler]."
"That’s why the Heat are in the NBA Finals, and so Jimmy has lifted the play of all his teammates around him," Johnson continued. "He’s made them better. And because he’s the hardest worker on the team, those guys follow that. He’s tough as nails, so they follow that.”
Johnson, a 12-time All-Star knows a thing or two about leadership, having led LA to five titles during his tenure with the team.
Butler is currently averaging 27.3 points on .475/.364/.813 shooting splits, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.6 blocks a night across 19 playoff games thus far. The 6'7" wing has brought Miami to its second NBA Finals appearance in four seasons. As Lakers fans may well remember, that first appearance in 2020 ended with a six-game Los Angeles win.
This second Finals berth has most likely cemented a trip to Springfield for the six-time All-Star out of Marquette.
After the Heat's 111-108 Game 2 win tonight, the series is now knotted up at 1-1 heading back to Miami.
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