Jordan credits Magic Johnson for changing NBA

Michael Jordan believes it's Magic Johnson, not himself, who deserves credit for changing the NBA.

Jordan heaped praise upon his former rival and Dream Team teammate in the first episode of Johnson's new documentary series, "They Call Me Magic," which recently premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

"Everybody wants to credit Michael Jordan for changing the NBA, but when Magic Johnson came in, that's where the game changed," Jordan said in the episode, according to Variety's Selome Hailu.

Johnson told the audience at the premiere that Jordan's documentary series "The Last Dance" inspired him to tell his own story. Hearing Jordan and others speak in "They Call Me Magic" made him emotional.

"I was up there laughing and almost crying at the same time, hearing my family talk, hearing Larry Bird, and when Michael said what he said, which was really amazing," Johnson said. "We had never heard that from Michael, for him to say that everybody thought he had turned the league around but that I was a big part of that."

"They Call Me Magic" premieres on Apple TV+ on April 22.