Magic Johnson’s Reaction to Ja Morant’s Iconic 360 Layups Could Ruffle NBA Rivals’ Feathers

Though the Memphis Grizzlies came back with a close 104-106 defeat over the Brooklyn Nets, Ja Morant is back to being one of the NBA's biggest highlight machines. After dealing with injuries and suspensions over the last couple of seasons, Morant has stormed back into the spotlight, averaging a solid 20.7 points and 9.7 assists in just 28.3 minutes per game. But what really stole the show were his jaw-dropping 360-degree layups, which caught the attention of fans and NBA legend Magic Johnson alike.

Morant is known for his flashy moves, from his no-look passes to high-flying blocks. But his latest acrobatics took things to a whole new level. On two separate occasions, he leaped into the air, spun mid-flight, and finished with an effortless layup, leaving Nets defenders scrambling. The crowd was on its feet, and the internet was flooded with replays.

It didn't take long for Magic Johnson to notice. Sharing the clip on his X account, he wrote, "Wow – I've never seen anyone make two 360 layups like that in the same game! " And that's saying something. For an NBA icon like Johnson to acknowledge something as a first, you know it's special.

But his words might just light a fire under the rest of the league. After all, as Shaquille O'Neal once said, "I use jealousy to motivate me." With Magic's praise in the mix, it wouldn't be surprising if rivals start pushing themselves harder, looking for their own moments to shine.

And if not enough, even Kevin Durant had flowers to hand to the 25-year-old. "The most athletic person I've seen. I don't want to give him that because he's young and there's been a lot of great athletes in the history of sports. But come on now, to pull that off, that smooth, that easy, it's ridiculous. He's a top-level athlete," he said on Up & Adams show.

Interestingly, those two layups have already generated over 161 million views across NBA social media platforms, ranking as the most-watched videos of the season. In fact, his first 360 layup over Nic Claxton has already become the NBA's most-watched Facebook reel, racking up more than 78 million views in under 24 hours.

But this isn't the first time Magic Johnson has been in awe of Morant's electrifying style.

Magic Johnson praises Ja Morant Back in 2022, Magic Johnson made a bold statement after an LA Lakers-Grizzlies game, suggesting that Ja Morant should be right up there in the MVP conversation alongside LeBron James . He even tweeted, "Last night I watched two guys that should be considered in the MVP race, LeBron James and Grizzlies guard Ja Morant." This wasn't just a passing comment from Magic; it was a clear nod to Morant's impact on the game and his rapidly growing presence in the league.

Following that game, Johnson went a step further, calling Ja Morant one of the most "exciting" players in the NBA. "Ja Morant is must-see-TV and has taken over as the most exciting player in the league averaging 24 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds!" he shared on X.

Yet, despite the hype from Johnson, neither Morant nor James clinched the MVP title that year. Instead, it was Denver's Nikola Jokic who took home the award, leaving fans and critics alike wondering what might have been if Morant's exceptional season got him the reward.