Magic Johnson confessed major rookie-era blunder in underestimating Michael Jordan while chasing Larry Bird rivalry

When Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson reflects on his rookie years, two names dominate the conversation: Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Both rivals helped define his era, yet Johnson now admits his own missteps, particularly when business decisions off the court and on-court rivalries shaped his career.

Speaking candidly, Johnson revealed he underestimated Jordan’s rise while focusing on Bird, and also passed up on a shoe deal that could have changed his financial legacy forever.

Magic Johnson recalls costly rookie mistake with Converse over Nike

Magic Johnson’s rivalry with Larry Bird began before either entered the NBA, with their iconic 1979 NCAA title clash. By the time the Lakers selected him first overall, shoe companies lined up with offers. Johnson chose Converse for its cash-heavy deal, a decision he now views as shortsighted.“Converse offered me the most money. And so, when you’re Black and you’re broke, you take the most money, right? So I decided to go with Converse,” Johnson said on the Earn Your Leisure podcast. The NBA Hall of Famer added, “But Phil Knight came in and said, ‘I can’t offer you the same amount of money as Converse, but I can give you something called stock.’ And I passed on the stock, not knowing anything about it at 19. You know how much that stock would be worth today, 46 years later? A billion-five.”

That choice cost him the chance to mirror what Jordan later achieved with Nike. In 1984, the Chicago Bulls guard signed an unprecedented five-year, $2.5 million contract that included a 5% royalty on sales. The Air Jordan line didn’t just make Jordan wealthy; it reshaped the entire sneaker industry.

Magic Johnson crowns Michael Jordan as the greatest ever

Beyond endorsements, Johnson is also clear-eyed about Jordan’s dominance as a player. The two met in the 1991 NBA Finals, where Jordan’s Bulls toppled the Lakers and signaled a new era.

One play in particular, Jordan’s mid-air hand switch, still lingers in Johnson’s memory.“I’m always going to be honest with myself. The only thing I beat Michael in is them no-look passes and leadership,” Johnson admitted. “Ain’t no question. Just like it ain’t no question what he’s going to do to me. Dunks and all that, but that’s what makes him a bad boy. The best that’s ever done it.”Johnson still praises LeBron James, calling him a “bad boy” in his own right, but he makes it clear Jordan stands apart. “Don’t get it twisted; I love LeBron, but when Michael Jordan took off with that tongue out? Man. Listen, a lot of you weren’t born then. 1991, against my Lakers, right hand, we thought we had him. Then he looked at us mid-air, switched it to the left. Tongue out. Glass. Bucket. Nobody alive has been able to do that.

”Also Read: Breanna Stewart injury update: New York Liberty star exits game 1 against Phoenix Mercury after apparent left knee troubleThe James-Jordan debate is never-ending, and it will continue as both legends created stunning legacies for themselves with their brilliant run in the NBA.