Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were initially linked as rivals after Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans team defeated Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores team in the 1979 NCAA finals. The rivalry continued in the NBA, reaching its climax when Boston and Los Angeles met in three out of four NBA Finals from 1984 to 1987. On May 16, 1980, Los Angeles Lakers point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson stepped in for injured center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and scored 42 points, leading the Lakers to their championship.
Johnson’s first championship came in his rookie season, and in the sixth and title-clinching game of the 1979–80 NBA finals, he remarkably played all five positions to secure the Lakers’ championship. His all-around play inspired the addition of the term “triple-double” to basketball’s lexicon. With the Lakers up only two points and five minutes away from a Game 7, the 20-year-old scored nine points during this stretch to lead them to a 123-107 win on May 16, 1980.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird took the NBA by storm when they both entered the league during the 1979-80 season. Bird won Rookie of the Year with the Boston Celtics. Johnson’s historic performance in Game 6 of the 1980 Finals earned him the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Magic Johnson was 20 years old when winning >0 championships in his rookie season in 1979-80. In 1983, he would be named to his first All-NBA First Team, averaging 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.5 assists. The Lakers would win their championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
📹 Rookie Magic Johnson Full Game 6 Highlights vs 76ers (1980 NBA Finals) – 42 Pts, 15 Reb, FINALS MVP!
Rookie Magic Johnson 42 Pts 15 reb 7 ast Full Game Highlights | Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers – Game 6 | 1980 NBA …
📹 Magic Johnson EPIC Game 4 Comeback Highlights vs Celtics 1987 NBA Finals – 29 Pts, FAMOUS HOOK SHOT
Magic Johnson Full Game Highlights 29 Pts 8 Reb 5 Ast + Clutch Game-Winner Shot | Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers …
This is why ranking players of by all time is ridiculous. players should be ranked as per DECADES. it would not be fair if you put a player of today vs old heads. There is no way in hell Magic is better than Curry, Magic would not be that impactful. these guys are barely playing DEFENSE, magic is getting open looks they just put their hands up without contesting the shot lol.. Curry would have burned that type of defense in the 1st quarter.
you’d be ignorant to say that magic is as skilled as curry. curry is the better dribbler, the best shooter of all time, and a more complete player in general. the only things magic has on curry is his passing and his defense. but please, like seriously, watch last years curry highlights in the finals and then watch this exact article and compare the competition. you’d be ignorant if you said magics competition is tougher. its not.