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via Getty

via Getty

Magic Johnson has expressed love and happiness over the achievement of his former university in gymnastics. The NBA icon is an alum of Michigan State University. He extended a congratulatory message to the university’s gymnastics team for achieving a historic milestone.

Congratulations to @MSU_Gymnastics for going undefeated in the regular season and winning back-to-back Big Ten Regular Season Championships!!” Johnson posted on X. This came in response to a post by MSU Gymnastics on their official X account. “BACK-TO-BACK. UNDEFEATED 2024 Big Ten Regular Season Champions!!!” MSU Gymnastics posted. The big moment for the team came on February 23, etching their names in the record books.

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This season, the Spartans did not just win but thrived, achieving an undefeated 9-0 record in conference play. This victory at Penn State’s Big Five Meet has furthered their position as champions. Though the team faced tough competition from No. 14 Ohio State, No. 15 Minnesota, No. 23 Nebraska, and Rutgers, the Spartans remained undeterred. They delivered a stellar performance, scoring 197.275 points and securing the coveted title.

With this, the Spartans have become the third only team in Big Ten history to secure consecutive titles ever since the conference began awarding regular season titles in 2013. This feeling of the historic moment, mixed with memories of his own days in the Spartans, is enough explanation for the ex-Los Angeles Lakers‘ star not being able to contain his excitement.

NBA icon’s deeply rooted connection with MSU

The 5x NBA champion’s college basketball journey started from the MSU Spartans’ basketball program. Johnson went on to win the NCAA championship with the Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team. This victory held its own significance as it came against Indiana State, one of Spartans’ primary rival teams.

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Read More: Magic Johnson’s Latest Black History Month Ode Pays Tribute to Historic Politician

After the NCAA championship win, Johnson entered the 1979 NBA draft, where he was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. And it was at MSU only that Johnson found the love of his life in his future wife, Cookie Johnson. His father’s fondness of the University also added to Johnson holding high regards for the university.

So much so that after his father passed away, Johnson and his siblings created a scholarship fund in the name of their father to benefit the youth of the university. The Lakers legend said, “My father had a passion and love for Michigan State University, young people, and education,” explaining his father’s love for their hometown.

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