Magic Johnson says Shohei Ohtani is baseball’s Kobe Bryant

Basketball legend Magic Johnson compared Dodgers’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to Kobe Bryant during a FOX Sports pregame show in Los Angeles this week, citing the Japanese star’s unmatched global reach.

“It’s the same other than they didn’t own a country,” Johnson said as he reflected on how Ohtani’s move to the Dodgers has expanded Major League Baseball’s audience across Asia.His comments came as the Dodgers continue their World Series run, following a season in which Ohtani led the league in jersey sales and helped boost Dodgers viewership in Japan by double digits.

Johnson’s remarks came amid growing recognition of Ohtani’s influence beyond sports, particularly in bridging Japanese and American fan bases. Since joining the Dodgers in December 2023 on a record $700 million contract, Ohtani has drawn extensive media coverage from Japan and inspired new sponsorship deals with Japanese and Korean brands. His presence has also increased the Dodgers’ international partnerships, with the team hosting cultural exchange events and Japanese Heritage Nights that routinely sell out at Dodger Stadium.