Magic JohnsonMagic Johnson (Photo via Imagn Images)
The NBA Finals are heating up, and the NBA media has one big question to ask Magic Johnson. Who truly deserves a superstar status?

Right now, we’ve got the Indiana Pacers leading the series 2-1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder after a thrilling win in Game 3.

And only this series can give us more than one name for the superstar, but that would still have to fit Johnson’s definition of a superstar.

During ESPN’s First Take segment, Stephen A. Smith asked Magic to define a superstar. Not one to think too much about the definition, Johnson had his answer ready.

“A person who can go on the road and sell the building out,” Johnson said.

While the definition sounds less flashy, this is probably the best way to define a superstar in the league.

Coming from Magic who reached great heights during his time at the Los Angeles Lakers, the words add depth to the discussion. He won five championships at the camp and has 12 All-Star selections in his NBA career.

Magic Johnson Sends Championship Message To Luka Doncic

Magic Johnson delivers strong message to Luka Doncic as rising championship expectations surround him in Los AngelesMagic Johnson (Photo by Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) and Luka Doncic (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
There have been a lot of expectations from Luka Doncic since the Lakers traded for him. And as Magic Johnson explains, the only apt outcome for him is to win a championship for LA.

Doncic’s performance since joining the Lakers has been impressive. He has been contributing to the team’s success with an 18-10 record post-trade and a No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

However, the premature playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves has left fans guessing what more can be done for sustainable success.

“Great job by Coach JJ Redick to put everybody on notice on the Lakers team that they have to be in better conditioning for them to win an NBA championship. And I’m glad that Luka listed to JJ,” Johnson said.

“Luka, it’s great what you did in Dallas, but the difference is in Los Angeles, we expect championships. And we expect our superstars to lead us to a championship. LeBron has already did that, now we want Luka to do the same thing,” he added.

With Doncic now carrying this responsibility, conditioning and team synergy become crucial.

Moreover, the Lakers’ front office, led by Rob Pelinka, faces the critical task of building a competitive roster around Doncic.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’