“James Harden joined Brooklyn Nets but LeBron James will win NBA title”: Magic Johnson chooses Lakers star with Anthony Davis over Kevin Durant and co

Magic Johnson says that the Los Angeles Lakers will the 2021 NBA championship despite James Harden being traded to the Brooklyn Nets.

The Houston Rockets decided to pull the trigger on the James Harden trade after all, and did so merely a couple hours after Harden’s harsh comments towards the Rockets. The Brooklyn Nets received the perennial MVP candidate while the Rockets received 8 FRPs and Victor Oladipo in return.

This trade changes the entirety of the NBA landscape. 538’s Chris Herring claims that before the Harden trade, the Nets were given a 2% chance to win the NBA Finals. Post-Harden trade, they are now up to 16%.

Also Read: “James Harden loves Houston strippers”: Former Rockets star spotted liking internet meme suggesting his move to Brooklyn Nets would affect strippers in H-Town

The Nets are currently the favourites to win the East, ahead of the 76ers and the Bucks. However, claiming the Eastern Conference title would be one step closer to facing the favourites to get out of the West: the Los Angeles Lakers.

Magic Johnson picks LeBron James and the Lakers over the Nets

It isn’t really surprise that Lakers legend and 5x NBA champion Magic Johnson would be betting all his chips on the Los Angeles Lakers to win it all once again.

In a tweet following the James Harden trade, Magic said that he is excited to see Harden team u[p with KD and Kyrie, but will ultimately side with the Los Angeles Lakers to win it all.

James Harden getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets to join KD and Kyrie will be special to watch… but I’m still picking the @Lakers to win the Championship 😁

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 14, 2021

Also Read: “It’s a star’s league”: Steve Nash reacts to blockbuster James Harden trade that brings him alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

There is no doubt that the Brooklyn Nets will be lethal on offense. Their issue is their defense. With Kevin Durant and Bruce Brown being the Nets’ best defenders, it will interesting to see how much effort they put into the defensive end of the floor.

The Lakers on the other hand, are a team that are capable of being top 5 both on offense and defense throughout a season. LeBron James is statistically being the best on-ball defender this season and AD is a perennial DPOY candidate year in and year out.

The narrative surrounding a potential Lakers-Nets Finals would have to be one for the books: LeBron James vs. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

Read More