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Nov 25, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Former professional basketball player and Michigan State alumni, Earving “Magic” Johnson, center, watches the Colorado Buffaloes take on the Michigan State Spartans in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

Magic Johnson Gives Bold Praiseful Takes on Spartan Forward

Originally posted on Michigan State Spartans on SI
By Aidan Champion | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 10:16 PM ET

Michigan State legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson is the greatest player to ever come through the Spartans' basketball program, and he's arguably the greatest point guard to ever play the game.

Any take or opinion he has carries tremendous weight.

That's why Spartan junior forward should take it as an enormous honor to have heard what Johnson recently had to say about him.

"If he gets that 15-foot jumpshot down, he could be the best player in the nation -- or one of the top five or six guys in the nation," Johnson told Ian Kress of WLNS. "Because there's no better athlete in the country, first. Then, he's big. See, people don't realize he's big and strong, too. So, he has everything, and if he gets that shot down, he'll be an unstoppable force."

"There's no better athlete in the country."

Talked with Magic Johnson on Monday and he is very high on MSU basketball standout Coen Carr.

He loves the growth of Carr's game and shared why this upcoming season could be Carr's breakout campaign. pic.twitter.com/fDPNZeriZj
— Ian Kress (@ian_kress) August 5, 2025

Johnson, of course, paved the way for an era that would feature arguably the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, whom he battled with during His Airness' rise and played with on arguably the greatest basketball team ever assembled, the 1992 Dream Team.

Jordan was also one of the best dunkers the game has ever seen, as is Julis Erving (Dr. J), each of whom Johnson faced in the NBA Finals. He knows a one-of-a-kind high-flyer when he sees one.

"Very few in the NBA can even dunk on that (Carr's) level," Johnson said. "It's only a few guys in the NBA (that) probably dunk better -- probably Anthony Edwards and maybe one or two other guys, but that's it. He can win the dunk contest in the NBA as a college player. That's how awesome he is.

"But he's learning the game, too. What I like about him now is that he's being smarter at the game. Before, when he came in, he was just an athlete. Not anymore. He's playing great defense, he's playing great help defense.

"The more minutes and the more time that coach (Tom) Izzo gave him, the better he got. And so, I think this is going to be his coming out year this year. And so, I'm really looking forward to seeing him probably in the starting lineup and really just playing every single night. And not just offensively what he's going to do, but also defensively what is he going to do. And it's going to be exciting times at Michigan State."

Be on the watch for a big year for Coen Carr.

Keep up with all our Michigan State basketball content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on Johnson's takes when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Don't forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.