Magic Johnson has five NBA championship rings to his name and a hallowed place in the history of the sport. Needless to say, his opinions on games hold quite a bit of weight.
On Nov. 6, the South Carolina and Notre Dame women's basketball teams made history by playing the first-ever regular season NCAA game in Paris. Johnson was tuned in to the game and was shocked by what he saw, claiming he'd never seen anything like it.
"I’m watching the women’s basketball game between South Carolina and Notre Dame right now and I just saw the best move in all of basketball including the pros like LeBron [James], Steph [Curry], [Kevin Durant], Victor [Wembanyama], and [Nikola] Jokić," he wrote on social media. "Everyone must see the coast-to-coast, behind-the-back move by freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley from South Carolina. WOW!!"
I’m watching the women’s basketball game between South Carolina and Notre Dame right now and I just saw the best move in all of basketball including the pros like LeBron, Steph, KD, Victor, and Jokic. Everyone must see the coast-to-coast, behind-the-back move by freshman guard…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 6, 2023
Fulwiley made quick work of her opponents as she easily blew past Fighting Irish players to score a lay-up toward the end of the second quarter. What's even more astounding is that it was Fulwiley's first-ever college game and she ended up making what commentators called "a show-stopping highlight" that they said would be on repeat all season. In the end, the South Carolina Gamecocks emerged victorious.
Magic Johnson shows love to Milaysia Fulwiley ???? @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/aHqluYVHpQ
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 6, 2023
Johnson wasn't the only one to recognize Fulwiley's mastery so early in her career. Kevin Durant similarly gave her her flowers, saying she and Fighting Irish player Hannah Hidalgo were "moving DIFFERENT out here."
Hidalgo and Fulwiley moving DIFFERENT out here, turn on ESPN
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) November 6, 2023
Fulwiley caught wind of the kind words and shared both Johnson and Durant's posts on her Instagram stories. Speaking with ESPN after the game, she emphasized the importance of working with her teammates to secure the W. "Togetherness is one of the main words we've been using all practice," she said, per CBS Sports. "We just play with each other, we love each other. We've been putting in the work since summer, so I think it was pretty easy for us once we got on the court."
It's safe to say Fulwiley is bound for a successful career in college and beyond, especially with the blessing of not one but two NBA champs.
