NBA Legend Drops LeBron James Playoff Prediction, Magic Johnson Comparison

NBA legend Isaiah Thomas says LeBron James will have to hope that his team avoid the Golden State Warriors in the playoff battle.

The NBA legend is convinced that the Warriors are the only squad in the Western Conference the Lakers will have trouble defeating in a seven-game series.

King James missed each and every game after Christmas Day due to a groin injury. This was an awful blow for the Lakers as they dropped to the ninth position in his absence. Of course, the whole thing is not over yet, and head coach Luke Walton hopes for the best. The Lakers are trying really hard to hit the postseason for the first time since 2013.

The NBA legend has a winning formula

According to Thomas, the Lakers can pull out a deep playoff run if they manage to avoid the Golden State.

“Depending on the seeding,” Thomas said on The Official Lakers Podcast. “I don’t think they can beat Golden State in the first round. However, if they get to the playoffs and they’re playing anybody else… I’ve watched LeBron over the last eight years to go the Finals with a lot of different players and before he got hurt, the Laker were fourth in the West.”

“So I put nothing past LeBron James and then when you combine him with playoff Rondo, anything is possible. I don’t know if they would have enough to beat Golden State, but if they made it to the playoffs I would pick them to beat just about anybody in a seven-game series.”

Young Lakers now have the chance to prove their talent and take the center spot. Thomas believes that LeBron’s presence on the field has already helped the players.

“He is the most impactful, leader in the sport. Just being in his presence on the daily, not only are you going to become a better basketball player, but the wisdom and things you can learn by the way that he’s handled himself off the court, that helps you also. You can’t underestimate the impact that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had on Magic Johnson.

“Every day that Magic Johnson walked into the locker room or practice and he got to sit and play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and be around him… that’s the same impact that a lot of the younger players will have being around LeBron James.”