Magic Johnson Named His 5 Toughest NBA Defenders Ever

When it comes to the greatest point guards in NBA history, one man is generally considered as the undisputed number one: Magic Johnson. The man who led the

Los Angeles Lakers to multiple titles during the 1980s had everything you could possibly want from a lead guard, combining his unique height, passing skills and vision to help facilitate for

one of the best teams of all-time.

But despite how great he was, Johnson also faced some significant challenges across his NBA career, with multiple players doing their best to try and slow him down. From his legendary battles with the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons, to having to deal with a

Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, Magic had some tough assignments.

Johnson named the five players who defended him the best, and although he included Jordan on his list, he didn't give the Bulls legend the number one spot.

Below are who Magic picked, including further quotes from the man himself on the respective players he chose.

Michael Jordan

Unsurprisingly, Magic Johnson did include Michael Jordan as one of his hardest assignments in his career. The man who many consider to be the

greatest of all-time, battled against Magic and his Los Angeles Lakers predominantly during the 1980s, where Jordan and the Bulls weren't at their peak and still gaining play-off experience.

Nevertheless, Jordan's relentless work ethic and defensive IQ stood out, and though he couldn't match Magic from a size point of view, his hustle and ability to use his hands in the passing lanes made him a nightmare to get past.

His strength is like a big man. He’s the strongest guard, I’m talking body-wise, to ever play.

Scottie Pippen

One of the greatest defenders in NBA history

, Scottie Pippen's size and defensive IQ made him a perennial member of the All-Defensive First Team during his career in the league. The Bulls star's ability to genuinely defend one through five made him one of the toughest propositions in the NBA, showcasing lateral quickness to defend smaller point guards, and the strength to deal with towering centers.

While Pippen would never win the Defensive Player of the Year award outright, he was recognised for his defensive efforts by being named to the All-Defensive First Team for eight years in a row from between 1992-1999 - not to mention that in 1991 and 2000 he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team too.

Speaking after the Lakers were trounced in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals, Magic paid his dues to Pippen and the way he defended him in the game.

Pippen did a great job on me. Once Michael got into early foul trouble, you had to expect they would make that switch. They were trying wear me out or take the ball out of my hands, take your pick. Scottie is more physical than Michael so the matchup was a little different.

Nate McMillan

Perhaps surprisingly, Nate McMillan makes it onto this list of the toughest defenders Magic Johnson ever faced in the NBA. Given his more prominent role as a head coach in recent - most notably at the Atlanta Hawks - newer NBA fans may have forgotten that McMillan was a tough and rugged defender who embraced the physical side of things really well.

McMillan spent his entire playing career with the Seattle SuperSonics, where the 6 foot 5 guard teamed up with the likes of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp to form a side that prided itself on its defensive hustle. McMillan would twice make the All-Defensive Second team in back-to-back years in 1994 and 1995, while he also led the league in steals in 94. It was no surprise that his no.10 jersey was eventually retired by the Sonics.

Joe Dumars

Johnson talked about how Dumars, along with his Pistons backcourt partner of Isiah Thomas played physical with Johnson and weren't scared to leave their mark on him to try and stop him in his tracks. Dumars was a defensive bulldog who was an elite lockdown defender on the wing, combining his high IQ and physical gifts to make it a nightmare for opposition guards.

Indeed, not only did Magic Johnson praise Dumars for his defensive work, but even the legendary Michael Jordan named the Pistons legend as his hardest ever defender. A four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, Dumars and Thomas formed

one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history. The Pistons were such a test that even Johnson has spoken publicly about their greatness.

I say this to Isiah, his 'Bad Boy' Pistons, I don't think there has ever been a more physical team than them. They imposed their will on you, right, they beat you up, man, and if you flinched, it was over for you. They would be physical, and then they had that three-headed monster in Isiah, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson, you couldn't do nothing with them.

Dennis Johnson

Now onto the man who Magic Johnson outright said was the hardest defender he ever faced in the NBA, Dennis Johnson. A legend of the Boston Celtics

- the point guard spent 1983-1990 there - Johnson would win three NBA titles as he helped battle Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the greatest rivalries in NBA history.

Despite standing at 6 foot 4 and giving up a few inches in height to Magic, DJ battled harder than anyone, and made a reputation as being one of the best defensive stoppers in the game at that time. All in all, he made the All-Defensive First Team on six occasions as well as making the All-Defensive Second Team for three years in a row between 1984 and 1986.

Speaking at DJ's Hall of Fame induction in 2010, Magic paid the ultimate tribute to the former Celtics guard.

As far as I'm concerned, D.J. was the greatest defensive player I've ever played against. D.J. was one of the smartest men to ever play basketball. He kept you off balance. He kept you thinking. You didn't know what he was going to do, and that's what made me so mad playing against him because I could never make a mistake because he was already anticipating my move before I made my move.

Why Absence of Starting Cornerback Could Be Bad News for Bears vs. Lions

Back in April, shortly after Kyler Gordon was rewarded with a contract extension that made him the highest paid slot corner in the NFL, new Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen made it clear that he had more in mind for Gordon than remaining in the slot.

“Does he go outside and compete at outside corner? Does he compete some at safety? I’ve told him that he needs to be learning both of those spots,” Allen said of Gordon back in April. “We’ll figure out where that second position is where he can go and compete. Hopefully we can find some more playing time for him.”

Unfortunately for Dennis Allen, the Chicago Bears and Kyler Gordon himself, we’ve yet to see this ambitious plan in action, because Gordon missed the Bears season opener against the Minnesota Vikings this past Monday, and now he’s been ruled out for the second consecutive week as the Bears prepare for another tough test within the division, this time versus the Detroit Lions.

Kyler Gordon’s Absence Could Mean Big Things for Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions Offense

There’s obviously no good time for a starter — and a highly-paid one at that — to miss any amount of game action, but Gordon’s absence this week is particularly impactful for a Bears defense that is fresh off of a 4th quarter in which they gave up 21 points. Not only were the Detroit Lions the highest scoring team in the NFL in 2024, but they have arguably the league’s most prolific slot receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown.

If ever there were a matchup you’d want Kyler Gordon on the field for, it would be against Amon-Ra St. Brown, a slot merchant — George Pickens’ words, not mine — who has put up absolutely huge numbers in his career since the Lions used a 4th Round draft pick on him in 2021.

St. Brown has averaged 6.9 receptions and 80.3 yards per game throughout his career, but in six matchups with the Chicago Bears with Kyler Gordon on the field, St. Brown’s averages dip slightly to 6.0 receptions for 70.3 yards per game. It’s a minor difference, but football is a game of inches, and on Sunday, any bit of resistance would’ve been crucial as the Bears look to avoid a dreaded 0-2 hole.

To make matters even worse, the Lions have also been one of the league’s best and most consistent rushing offenses over the last three years, and that’s another area defensively where Kyler Gordon has shined. In 2024, Gordon was ranked 32nd among 222 qualified cornerbacks as a run defender by Pro Football Focus. And last week against Minnesota, it was the Vikings ability to get the run game going that opened things up in the 2nd half for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Jaylon Johnson, TJ Edwards Set to Make 2025 Debuts

To offset the fact that Kyler Gordon is out once again and it’s not looking good for Grady Jarrett, the Bears will

have Jaylon Johnson and TJ Edwards back against the Lions after both standout starters missed Week 1. Noah Sewell was able to pick up some of the slack in Edwards’ absence last week, but there may not be a more important player on the Bears defense than Johnson.

At his best, Jaylon Johnson is one of the best cover corners in the entire league, and from the sounds of it, Johnson has looked like he’s close to at his best as he returned to Bears practice this week.

“I’m very happy with him,” coach Ben Johnson said of Jaylon Johnson’s progress on Friday before practice. “He comes out, he’s got a swagger to him. Confidence, he’s not afraid to talk a little bit. That’s what I feel immediately is just the presence out there. When you watch the tape yesterday [from practice], he’s very sticky. We like to eliminate the space in our coverages, and so I think he’s going to be a really good fit for us this week.”

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Magic Johnson Named His 5 Toughest NBA Defenders Ever - Michael Jordan Not 1st