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Magic Johnson Sends Message to Clayton Kershaw After Career Feat With Dodgers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 2:19 AM ET

When it comes to sports legends, few names light up Los Angeles quite like Magic Johnson and Clayton Kershaw. One’s a Lakers icon who dazzled crowds with no-look passes and championship rings; the other’s a Dodgers ace who’s been striking out batters and rewriting record books for years.

So when Kershaw recently pulled off something only a handful of players in Major League Baseball history have ever done, you just knew Magic had to say something. And of course, he did it with a message on social media.

The five-time NBA champion took to X to reply to a tweet put by the Dodgers congratulating Kershaw. In his reply, Magic said, "Congratulations to @ClaytonKersh22 for reaching 3,000 career strikeouts with our @Dodgers!"

Congratulations to @ClaytonKersh22 for reaching 3,000 career strikeouts with our @Dodgers! https://t.co/v6ur26iksv
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 3, 2025

By now, Clayton Kershaw has pretty much done it all: Cy Youngs, an MVP, World Series rings and a legacy that’s a lock for Cooperstown. Still, there was one towering milestone left for him to grab, 3,000 strikeouts, which he recently achieved in his 18th season.

Heading into his start against the White Sox, the 37-year-old ace was just three Ks away from joining one of the most exclusive clubs in baseball history. And leave it to Kershaw to make it look effortless. He froze White Sox third baseman Vinny Capra with a wicked slider to hit that magic number.

Dodger Stadium erupted, giving him a standing ovation as he tipped his cap and shared hugs all around. It was a moment that perfectly summed up his loyalty, too. He became just the fourth lefty ever to do it, and he did it all in front of the only home crowd he’s ever known.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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