NBA legend Magic Johnson thinks Michael Carter-Williams could be NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

MCW impresses in rookie debut

If the Sixers legitimately want to tank the season, they might have a problem.

Apparently, that memo — at least the one on official team letterhead — never reached Michael Carter-Williams. The rookie out of Syracuse was electrifying in his debut Wednesday night and helped lead a shocking 114-110 upset over defending champion Miami.

Carter-Williams, who scored in the first 23 seconds on a steal and two-handed dunk, finished with 22 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and nine steals. He also iced the game with two free throws with eight seconds remaining. It was the most points scored by a Sixers player making his debut since Allen Iverson in 1996.

After the game, Magic Johnson wrote, via Twitter, that Carter-Williams would be Rookie of the Year.

“He is one of the all-time greats.” Carter-Williams said. “I have a lot of respect for Magic and what he did for the game. You look up to guys like him.”