During his appearance on Conan on Tuesday night, Magic Johnson engaged in a game of HORSE with host Conan O’Brien. While we won’t spoil the outcome, let’s just say that the final result wasn’t much of a surprise.
Despite the predictable conclusion, there were several entertaining moments during the amusing game. At one point, Conan used a pool skimmer for a shot attempt, prompting Magic to poke fun at his running style. Later on, Magic showcased his iconic sky hook shot, prompting Conan to attempt his own, albeit less successful version.
Around the 3:40 mark of the clip, Conan tried to gain an advantage by invoking memories of the legendary Magic vs. Larry Bird rivalry. He wore a Bird mask for one of his shots and remarkably made it, forcing Magic to wear the mask as well. This unexpected twist amused many viewers.
Magic was taken aback by wearing the mask, humorously remarking, “Man, this is the first time I’m wearing a white face here.” Conan responded, “This is a strange nightmare I’m having right now.”
The situation left Magic bemused, commenting, “This is gonna be something. I got Larry Bird’s face on as a black man. Wow.”
Despite the oddity of the moment, the mask didn’t hinder Magic from scoring. The entire game of HORSE between Conan and Magic can be viewed in the clip above.
