“Before Magic Johnson, it seemed like basketball was a job”: Ice Cube explains how he became a Lakers superfan during the 80s, and how he was ‘close to killing somebody’ after the 1984 NBA Finals

Ice Cube got candid about becoming a Magic Johnson fan and the whole Lakers-Celtics rivalry that defined ’80s basketball on All the Smoke.

The Lakers-Celtics is one of the biggest and oldest rivalries in the NBA. The two iconic teams are tied at 17 NBA championships respectively in the NBA currently.

The NBA in the 1980s was mostly known for the showtime Lakers and Larry Bird rivalry. Between 1984-87 the Lakers and Celtics faced each other 3 times in the NBA Finals, which had the Lakers winning in 2 out of their 3 meetings.

The 1984 NBA Finals where the two teams met was also known as the Showdown ’84. The Celtics defeated the Lakers in a seven-game series. That had Celtics legend Larry Bird win both the league as well as Finals MVP.

The following year the Laker had their redemption when they beat the Celtics at their home in 6 games. Kareem Abdul Jabbar was crowned the Finals MVP.

In 1987 the iconic teams met for the last time in their 80s Finals matches. The Lakers would trump the Celtics in 6 games. One of the most iconic moments of the series was Magic Johnson’s baby skyhook in Game Four. Magic Johnson was named the Finals MVP in 1987.

The rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird was iconic in many ways, which helped the NBA brand grow leaps and boundaries.

Also read: “Never put LeBron James in the same sentence as Michael Jordan”: NBA Fans react to Suns knocking LA Lakers out of playoffs with 4-2 first round series win

Ardent Lakers fan Ice Cube talks about the love for his team and the iconic Lakers-Celtics rivalry.

Ice Cube’s journey started with the Magic Johnson era of Showtime Lakers

When asked about when did his journey with the Lakers started the American rapper had the following to say, “It started from the womb it started from conception.” he even jokingly added, “It was the purple sperm that hit the egg.”

Ice Cube is an LA native and started watching the game with his brother when he was 10-years old. The American rapper spoke about being one of Magic Johnson’s biggest fans and how he was glued to the showtime Lakers.

Cube even co-narrated an episode in ESPN’s 30 for 30 that spoke about the iconic rivalry of the Lakers and Celtics over the decades.

While speaking about their rivalry Cube had this to say: “I was this close to killing somebody when the Celtics won in 1984.”

Also read: “LA Lakers have zero chances of winning the championship”: Charles Barkley breaks down why he believes that LeBron James and co. won’t be able to defend their title

It’s been 11-years since the two iconic teams met in the NBA Finals, with the last contest being one by the Kobe Bryant-led LA Lakers.