Magic Johnson: 'The Clippers can win the NBA championship'

1/38

Lakers star Earvin “Magic” Johnson dribbles the ball during a game at the Forum in 1987. Widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history, Johnson won five NBA titles with the Lakers. (Rick Stewart / Getty Images)

2/38

Lakers rookie Magic Johnson looks to pass while being guarded by Philadelphia 76ers star Julius Erving during Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)

3/38

Jim Brewer greets Johnson upon his return to the Lakers’ lineup on Feb. 27, 1981, at the Forum against the New Jersey Nets. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

4/38

Magic Johnson fires a no-look pass against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 1, 1985. The “Showtime” Lakers were characterized by a fast-tempo offense led by Magic’s electric passing ability. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

5/38

Houston Rockets guard Mitchell Wiggins tries to shoot over Lakers star Magic Johnson during a playoff game on May 10, 1986. (Jayne Kamin / Los Angeles Times)

6/38

Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA titles before his shocking retirement due to HIV. After his retirement, Johnson continued to have an active role in L.A. sports and beyond. (Tammy Lechner / Los Angeles Times)

7/38

The Lakers’ Kurt Rambis, left, Coach Pat Riley, center, and Magic Johnson, right, celebrate with the rest of the team in the locker room after beating the Boston Celtics in Game 6 to win the 1985 NBA Finals. (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)

8/38

LOS ANGELES - JUN 11, 1985 - No one seems to be enjoying the Lakers’ championship more than Magic Johnson as he clowns with the crowd at the Forum. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

9/38

Magic Johnson starts a fast break during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 3, 1985. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

10/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson dribbles the ball during a game at the Forum in 1987. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

11/38

Johnson and the Lakers celebrate another NBA championship at the Forum after defeating Boston in six games in 1987. (Michael Edwards / Los Angeles Times)

12/38

Lakers teammate Magic Johnson, left, and Orlando Woolridge look on during a game at the Forum in 1988. (Mike Powell / Getty Images)

13/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson tries to drive past Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan during the 1991 NBA Finals. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

14/38

At a news conference on Nov. 7, 1991, Lakers great Magic Johnson announces he has tested positive for HIV and will retire immediately after 12 seasons with the Lakers. (Steve Dykes / Los Angeles Times)

15/38

Magic Johnson waves the American flag while celebrating during the men’s basketball gold medal ceremony at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. (Susan Ragan / Associated Press)

16/38

Magic Johnson makes his Lakers coaching debut agains the Milwaukee Bucks at the Forum on March 27, 1994. (Vince Compagnone / Los Angeles Times)

17/38

Lakers great Magic Johnson speaks with reporters following a personal practice session at Loyola Marymount in January 1996. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

18/38

Magic Johnson looks over his shoulder after his last practice at the Forum on Jan. 30, 1996 before his first comeback game for the Lakers. (Michael Caulfield / Associated Press)

19/38

Magic Johnson adorns the cover of four weekly magazines after announcing in February 1996 that he plans to come out of retirement and join the Lakers. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

20/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson, left, poses for a photo with team owner Jerry Buss at the Forum in April 1996. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

21/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson points to the bench after scoring during a game against the Houston Rockets in March 1996. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

22/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson speaks with Coach Del Harris during a game at the Forum in February 1996. (Gauthier, Robert / Los Angeles Times)

23/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson speaks with a referee during a game against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 12, 1996. (Vince Compagnone / Los Angeles Times)

24/38

Lakers star Magic Johnson, right, guards the Houston Rockets’ Mark Bryant during a game at the Forum on April 25, 1996. (Eric Draper / Associated Press)

25/38

Magic Johnson sits down to announce his retirement during a news conference at the Forum on May 15, 1996. (Patrick Downs / Los Angeles Times)

26/38

Magic Johnson greets his audience at the opening of his talk show, “The Magic Hour” during a taping in Los Angeles on June 8, 1998. (Michael Caulfield / Associated Press)

27/38

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, left, shares a laugh with Lakers great Magic Johnson during a news conference in Beverly Hills in June 1999. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

28/38

Basketball Hall of Fame inductees for 2002: (from left) Magic Johnson, Lute Olson, Kay Yow, Drazen Petrovic’s mother, Larry Brown and The Harlem Globetrotters. (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times)

29/38

Lakers greats Kareem Abdul Jabbar, left, and Magic Johnson enjoy the moment following the unveiling of a statue of Johnson outside Staples Center. (Perry C. Riddle / Los Angeles Times)

30/38

It’s a star-studded affair as (from left) singer Kelly Rowland, rapper Nelly, actor Terrance Howard, singer Beyonce Knowles, Lakers great Magic Johnson and singer Michelle Williams pose backstage at the 2005 BET Awards in Hollywood. (Frank Micelotta / Getty Images)

31/38

Lakers star Kobe Bryant is greeted by former Lakers Michael Cooper, center, Magic Johnson, second right, and A.C. Green after receiving his 2009 NBA championship ring at Staples Center on Oct. 27, 2009. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

32/38

-- B581674427Z.1 LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - NOVEMBER 7, 2011: Ervin “Magic” Johnson gets emotional as he talks about the people who stood by him as Magic speaks to friends and the media at a news conference on the 20th anniversary of his departure from basketabll at Staples Center on November 7, 2011. Magic retired 20 years ago today due to contracting the HIV virus. He discussed his journey since and his foundation’s work on HIV/AIDS prevention and education and announce the launch of “Point Forward Day,” a national day of HIV/AIDS awarenes and testing in underserved communites. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times) (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

33/38

Lakers great Magic Johnson encourages mourners to flash an “L” for Lakers as he eulogizes at a memorial service for Lakers owner Jerry Buss at Nokia Theater in February 2013. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

34/38

Magic Johnson is hugged by former Lakers teammate A.C. Green during a news conference at Staples Center in November 2011 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Johnson’s announcement that he had HIV. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

35/38

Lakers great Magic Johnson laughs while being introduced at Dodger Stadium as part of an ownership group that purchased the Dodgers in May 2012. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

36/38

Lakers great Magic Johnson, left, and Sparks legend Lisa Leslie pose beneath a statue of Johnson outside Staples Center while announcing the sale of the Sparks to an investment group led by Johnson and Dodgers owner Mark Walter in February 2014. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

37/38

Lakers great and Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson watches a game between the Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium on May 27, 2014. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

38/38

Lakers Coach Byron Scott, center, poses during a news conference with former Lakers teammates (from left) Jamal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and general manager Mitch Kupchak on July 29, 2014. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

By Melissa Rohlin

May 11, 2015 11:06 AM PT

The Clippers are one win away from reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time in their 45-year franchise history.

They have a 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets in their best-of-seven, second-round series after winning Game 4 on Sunday, 128-95. One more win and they will advance to uncharted territory for any Clippers team ever.

“It’s an accomplishment, but it’s not our goal,” Griffin said Sunday evening. “I mean, it is a goal on the way to a bigger goal, the biggest goal.”

After beating the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round in an incredible seven-game series, and now breezing through the Rockets so far, the Clippers are starting to be considered real championship contenders.

“I never thought I would say this, but I think the Clippers can win the NBA Championship,” Magic Johnson tweeted Monday. “They have a little bit of everything...

”...the Clippers have outside shooting, Blake is dominating, the best leader and coach in Chris Paul & Doc Rivers and great team defense!”

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Clippers currently have the best chance to win the championship at 40.7%.

Most people and sports books never thought the Clippers would get out of the first round, something which Clippers Coach Doc Rivers made sure to hammer home to his players.

Before the Clippers played the Spurs in their first-round playoff series, Rivers handed out a sheet to his team with writers’ predictions on who would win the series. Forty six of the forty seven writers had picked the Spurs.

The Clippers went on to beat the Spurs in Game 7, 111-109, after Chris Paul made a game-winning shot over Tim Duncan with one second remaining.

“When you play a team like the Spurs in the first round and come out like that, it kind of gives you that feeling of accomplishment,” Griffin said. “I think we realize as a team what we’re capable of when we play the right way.”

Magic Johnson: ‘The Clippers can win the NBA championship’

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times