Magic Johnson believes the Western Conference may already have its next long-term power struggle.
His view came after Game 1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, a double-overtime thriller that immediately raised the level of the series.
San Antonio won 122-115, but the bigger picture was the quality of both teams and how difficult they could be to catch.
Magic Johnson warns Western Conference after Spurs beat Thunder
The five-time NBA champion wrote on X after the match: “I hate to break the news to the rest of the Western Conference, but they may not have a chance to win the Western Conference Finals for the next 5-7 years.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are just that good! They are talented, deep, athletic and both teams are well coached.”
The claim was bold, but Game 1 supported the wider point.
The Spurs won without De’Aaron Fox, who missed Game 1 with an ankle sprain, a detail which only strengthens Johnson’s argument.
Fox is San Antonio’s second-best scorer and playmaker, so his return would make an already dangerous team even harder to defend.
Young superstar Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks, while Dylan Harper also delivered in Fox’s absence. He finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals while stepping into a bigger role.
Oklahoma City still had enough to push the game to the limit, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso keeping the Thunder alive.
That is why Johnson’s post landed. Both teams look built for now and later, which is a worrying message for the rest of the West.
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