Billionaire Magic Johnson says the NBA's future is bright and the Knicks are leading the way

Magic Johnson says he was once genuinely worried about what the NBA would look like when LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry retired. He is not worried anymore.

"I didn't know what was going to happen," Johnson said in comments published Saturday. "I was scared."

The Hall of Fame point guard and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player said the 2026 NBA Finals has changed his view. The New York Knicks, who lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Saturday night, have reminded Johnson of what the league looked like at its best.

"When Steph, LeBron, and KD go, we're in good hands," Johnson said. "Now, with these superstars that we have, and with the way the Knicks are playing now, we've gotten back to team basketball."

Johnson specifically cited Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle of the Spurs as young players whose development has reassured him about the league's future. Wembanyama, in his third NBA season, has established himself as one of the most dominant players in the league. Castle, his rookie backcourt partner, has drawn comparisons to elite point guards from previous generations.

For Johnson, however, the bigger story of the 2026 Finals is not any individual player. It is the Knicks' collective approach. New York has reached the brink of an NBA championship using a system built around depth, unselfishness and shared sacrifice rather than any single star performance.

"It's not about individuals," Johnson said. "The Knicks have really helped us understand that when you play team basketball, you can achieve great things. And they're showing us. So I'm excited, man. This is great. This is awesome for everybody."

The Knicks' title run has been built on contributions from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns at the top of the roster, but also from OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson and Jose Alvarado in supporting roles. In Game 4, the Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit to win, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Anunoby made the decisive tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.

Johnson's observation about the return of team basketball carries commercial significance beyond basketball history. The NBA's television ratings and arena attendance figures have historically tracked the appeal of its stars. A league that produces compelling team storylines alongside individual star power is better positioned commercially than one reliant on a handful of marquee names at the expense of the broader product.

Magic Johnson's net worth is estimated at $1.6 billion, built through his SodexoMagic food service enterprise, his Magic Johnson Enterprises investment portfolio and his minority ownership position in the Los Angeles Dodgers and other sports franchises. He is among the wealthiest former athletes in American sports history.