Magic Johnson Posts on Celtics Winning 18th NBA Title, Topping Lakers for Most Ever

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJune 18, 2024

Set Number: X31522

Boston Celtics 18, Los Angeles Lakers 17.

While the 2024 NBA Finals was between the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, the battle within the battle was the one between longtime rivals in Boston and Los Angeles.

After all, the two iconic franchises were tied for the most titles in NBA history with 17 heading into the 2023-24 campaign. And now the Celtics have bragging rights after defeating the Mavericks in five games to win their 18th.

One of the defining figures of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry was not happy about it:

Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnsonI hate that the Celtics officially have more championships than us now 🙄

Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnsonCongratulations to the Boston Celtics Majority Owner Wyc Grousbeck, Coach Joe Mazzulla, their three leaders Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and the rest of the team for winning the NBA Championship!

Magic Johnson faced Boston in three NBA Finals (1984, 1985 and 1987) and won two of them as he and Larry Bird defined the 1980s for the league. Even though the Celtics have the overall bragging rights, Johnson will always have that counterpoint from his Hall of Fame career.

The two franchises also faced each other in the 2008 and 2010 Finals with Boston winning the first and Los Angeles winning the second in matchups that featured Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and others.

Perhaps they will play each other in the NBA Finals again in the future, but the Purple and Gold are officially in catch-up mode again after Monday’s result.