Magic Johnson Sends Clear Tom Thibodeau Message Amid Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 17, 2025 9:48 AM ET

For the first time since 2000, the New York Knicks are going to the Eastern Conference Finals after knocking out the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics from the playoffs.

Their 119-81 win on Friday in Game 6 of the second round of the playoffs was the franchise's biggest win in many years. They will now face the Indiana Pacers with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

NBA great Magic Johnson, a man who has been to the championship series nine times and won it all on five occasions, congratulated the Knicks and head coach Tim Thibodeau for advancing.

"Congratulations to New York Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks players, and the entire organization for advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals!" Johnson wrote on X.

Congratulations to New York Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks players, and the entire organization for advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 17, 2025

The Knicks were considered by plenty of people to be championship contenders coming into this season. They had augmented an already strong team with trades for two-way wing Mikal Bridges and All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns over the summer after coming to within one win of the East Finals in 2024.

But they were a festering disappointment throughout the regular season. Although they finished third in the conference, they won a modest 51 games, and their defense, which was so stingy last season, seemed greatly weakened.

New York was 0-4 versus the Celtics during the regular season. But it got out to a 3-1 series lead by overcoming double-digit deficits to win Game 1, Game 2 and Game 4. The first two of those victories came at TD Garden in Boston.

Jayson Tatum's ruptured Achilles near the end of Game 4 was a prelude to the brutal death Boston suffered in Game 6 on Friday.

The Knicks haven't reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven't won the world championship since 1973. They now seem to have a legitimate shot at bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy home to the Tri-state area next month.

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

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