I was a teen living in Boston when one of the greatest NBA basketball rivalries of all time broke out. The star-packed Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul Jabbar and his electric 6’ 9” point guard, Magic Johnson, went up against the blue-collar boys in green, the Boston Celtics, helmed by that unathletic-looking assassin, Larry Bird.
Between 1979 and 1991, the Lakers won five championships, and the Celtics took home three. It was one of the finest times in the league’s history.
To me, an East Coaster, the Lakers were exotic and mysterious, and Magic was otherworldly with his irrepressible smile and no-look passes. I was in awe. Now that I’ve lived in the Golden State for many a year, I know that it’s true: Los Angeles is exotic and mysterious, just not in the ways it was when I first moved here.
Nowadays, the mystery is why so many leftist politicians are hell-bent on destroying the place, and it’s exotic, because I never know what fresh hell I’ll find myself in when I drive through an underpass or go downtown.
Magic has survived his share of drama and scandal in his post-NBA years, yet he always seems to bounce back and is considered a living legend here — but he may alienate a lot of fans around the country with this head-spinning move. He’s throwing his support behind a “leader” who has pushed the city further into decline and was disastrously ineffective during the January 25 fires, which wiped out at least 16,000 structures and killed at least 30 people.
Somehow, Mayor Karen Bass’ performance has been magical for Johnson:
Magic Johnson endorses Karen Bass for re-election as LA Mayor; claims she has decreased homelessness and crime.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 11, 2026
“She’s doing a tremendous job.” pic.twitter.com/JcZ8FP6UEe
Magic was famous for his court vision, but he shows a profound lack of it here with his message to the incumbent mayor as she fights off surging independent Spencer Pratt and democrat socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Rama. He seemingly makes up a list of accomplishments out of whole cloth:
Johnson said his 30-year friendship with Bass and her actions on homelessness and lowering the homicide rates were part of the reasons why he endorsed her.
"She’s doing a tremendous job. Mayor Bass has to have a second term and I’m excited to say that," Johnson said. "Listen, you took on a tough job here and you’ve done a fabulous job and all of us appreciate your effort and what you’re doing and we look forward to helping you continue your mission and the things that you have in store – your vision for the city."
“She’s doing a tremendous job,” he gushed. Does he even live here?
Pratt: Is Karen Bass Trolling Palisades Fire Victims With the 'Deranged' Theme of This Playground?
Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz summed it up nicely:
I guess his house didn’t burn down. https://t.co/50MuJUlFxR
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 11, 2026
Look, I’ve always liked Magic Johnson; he was incredible to watch and has gone on to create a successful business career. He’s entitled to his opinion — but I’m entitled to mine, and it’s that he is wrong on this issue, dead wrong. For many who are enduring the misery of Los Angeles and California's progressive policies, his luster has just lost a lot of its shine.
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You down with this, Magic? Because it's what you’re endorsing:
Magic Johnson endorses Karen Bass for all the great work she has done in LA.
— C3 (@C_3C_3) May 11, 2026
Apparently Magic wants more of this… pic.twitter.com/a8hQyKFkEr
Editor’s Note: Gavin Newsom, Karen Bass, and the “progressives” are ruining California.
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