Reggie Miller has weighed in on one of the most debated questions in Los Angeles Lakers history, and his answer centers on a name he believes does not get enough credit. Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show in April 2026, Miller said that Magic Johnson is often overlooked in conversations that frequently place Kobe Bryant at the top of the franchise’s all-time rankings.

Miller, a Hall of Famer who spent his entire career with the Indiana Pacers, said Johnson’s impact began immediately in his rookie season. “I would probably say again, I’m a homer… growing up in California, Magic Johnson’s rookie year and how that extended into the playoffs… probably the best rookie that I personally was of age and be like, oh my god, that’s amazing,” Miller said on the show. Johnson entered the NBA in 1979 after winning a national championship at Michigan State and went on to average 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in his rookie season.

Miller specifically pointed to Johnson’s size and style of play as something the league had not seen before. “When he was a rookie in ’79-’80, that’s probably the best rookie that I personally was of age and be like, oh my god, that’s amazing, 6’9 point guard, and he just changed basketball because we had never seen a point guard at 6’9,” Miller said. Johnson went on to lead the Lakers to a championship that same season and became the only rookie in NBA history to win Finals MVP after posting 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists in Game 6 of the 1980 Finals.

“Look, I hear a lot, obviously living in the LA area, you hear Kobe being the best Laker of all time,” Miller said. “I mean, obviously, you got Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, you got Shaquille O’Neal, you got Magic. The history there with the Lakers is amazing and rightfully so. Because yeah, you could put Kobe in there as well, but I just think Magic a lot of times gets overlooked. But that’s because people don’t understand how great, not good, how great Magic was in terms of winning games.”

Johnson and Bryant played in different eras of NBA exposure. Johnson’s career ran primarily from 1979 to 1991, while Bryant played from 1996 to 2016 during a period of rapid global growth for the league. Bryant finished with 33,643 points across 1,346 games, while Johnson totaled 17,707 points in 906 games. Johnson’s career assist average of 11.2 per game remains the highest in NBA history.

Both players won five championships with the Lakers. Johnson earned three Finals MVP awards in 1980, 1982, and 1987, while Bryant won Finals MVP honors in 2009 and 2010. Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists for his career, while Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Johnson’s playmaking defined the Lakers’ “Showtime” era, while Bryant’s legacy was built on scoring and longevity over 20 seasons.

The statistical differences reflect their roles. Johnson led offenses as a primary facilitator, finishing with 10,141 career assists, while Bryant’s impact centered on scoring, finishing as the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer. Johnson averaged more assists and rebounds per game, while Bryant averaged more points and played 440 more regular-season games.

However, if Reggie Miller had to pick a player to be on his team, he’d still choose Magic over anyone else.

Reggie Miller’s only choice is Magic Johnson

When asked to choose between LeBron James, Johnson, and Bryant, Miller’s answer remained consistent. “Who do I take out of those three? With my skill set, I’m taking Magic,” he said. When asked again from a team-building perspective, Miller added, “I’m still taking… that is so tough. That is tough. Magic. I’ll go with Magic.”

Miller has also described his early experiences facing Lakers players during offseason runs, including sharing the court with players such as Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. Those experiences, he has said in past interviews, shaped his understanding of the game and reinforced his admiration for Johnson’s style of play.

Miller’s comments add to a long-standing debate around how Lakers history is evaluated. While Bryant’s career coincided with a more global NBA audience, Johnson’s résumé includes five championships, three Finals MVPs, and the highest assists-per-game average in league history. Miller’s position, based on both observation and experience, places Johnson at the center of that legacy discussion.