Shortly After ?Kissing? Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson Admits Why He Turned Into Mike Tyson in 1988

The NBA has witnessed a great deal of drama, controversies, and friendships during its long and glorious history. However, the league has also experienced situations when the greatest of friendships have turned into rivalries, ending the closest of bonds as a result of competition. One such friendship that got lost over the years was between Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas. Notably, Magic Johnson revealed how he turned into Mike Tyson, shortly after ‘kissing’ his former best friend Isiah Thomas during the 1988 NBA Finals.

The two Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons legends were the closest of friends during their days in the NBA. However, the rivalry between Magic and Thomas led to a pivotal change in their relationship. The Lakers and Pistons met in the NBA Finals for two consecutive seasons between 1987 and 1989. After Magic Johnson’s Lakers beat the Pistons in 1988, the Isiah Thomas-led Detroit team took down LA the following season in the Finals.

During the 1987-88 championship Finals series, former coach Pat Riley and Johnson’s teammates had a point of contention with the Lakers superstar’s friendship with Isiah Thomas. Incidentally, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas shared a ritual about kissing each other on the cheek before the Lakers vs Pistons games. However, Riley and Magic’s former teammates were not happy about the show of affection between the two players.

Pat Riley & the Lakers questioned the loyalty of Magic Johnson in 1988

In the second episode of his docu-series, They Call Me Magic, Johnson revealed why he took on Thomas and turned into Mike Tyson against the Pistons legend in 1988.

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Johnson stated, “Pat Riley did not like that friendship. He came to me and said, ‘Would I go after Isiah if that situation presented itself?'”

Further, Johnson added, “And I remember everybody looking at me like, ‘We’re gonna see what he gonna do.'”

The 12-time All-Star shared that Riley had reservations about his loyalties to the Los Angeles Lakers, given his closeness to Isiah Thomas. Johnson reckoned that his teammates wanted to know how he would react against Thomas in a difficult situation. However, Johnson shut off all the doubts in the most aggressive manner during Game 3.

Johnson used aggression to prove himself

Magic Johnson proved his dedication to the Lakers team and his will to win the championship when he pulled off a shocking move on Isiah Thomas shortly after “kissing” him before the game.

In an attempt to show his team and the coach, Magic Johnson knocked his former best friend Isiah Thomas with his elbow in an ugly looking foul to stop the two-time NBA champ from scoring.

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Thus, Johnson proved his loyalty towards the Lakers team and the game by taking on his best buddy despite their closeness in 1988. Eventually, the Lakers beat the Pistons by 4-3 in the seventh game of the Finals series to win the championship.