Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has been named the winner of the 2023-24 Magic Johnson Award by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA). The award recognizes an NBA player who excels both on the court and in cooperation with the media and public. Magic Johnson, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, won five championships, three MVP awards, and revolutionized the game with his passing.
The Magic Johnson Award is an annual honor for a National Basketball Association (NBA) player who recognizes excellence on the court and cooperation and dignity with the media and public. The award is voted on by over 200 writers and editors who belong to the PBWA and honors the NBA player who excels both on the court and in cooperation and dignity with the media and public.
The Larry Bird Trophy is awarded to the MVP from the Eastern Conference, while the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy for the Western Conference is given to the NBA player who excels both on the court and in cooperation and dignity with the media and public. The award is voted on by more than 200 writers and editors who are part of the PBWA.
Some of the most PBWA Magic Johnson Award selections include Dirk Nowitzki, Jermaine O’Neal, Jalen Rose, and Brandon Roy.
📹 Magic Johnson & Larry Bird – Lifetime Achievement Award – 2019 NBA Awards
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📹 Larry Bird & Magic Johnson Receive the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award | 2019 NBA Awards
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson receive the 2019 NBA Lifetime achievement award. For Full Game Recaps visit: …
Magic & Larry, resurrected the game of basketball……My dad loved basketball, but stopped perusal, until the competition between Johnson & Bird was highlighted……What my Dad used to say, about Larry’s game, is that it reminded him of someone, who was not only playing basketball, but also, volleyball, dodgeball, hockey, baseball, football, soccer, & strategic chess, all at the same time, and was what made him so great 😊He certainly was one of the most unique and gifted players, I have ever watched!
Larry is and has always been an idol of mine. His work ethic was second to none. I love Magic as well, and I just missed this rivalry as I was born in 91, but you better believe I’ve watched every game of every one of their finals as well as their NCAA championship game. Without these two the NBA would have flatlined and this wonderful sport wouldn’t have seen so many of the legends we witness today,
Man I’m lucky, I got to see these two in their prime when I was a kid through my early teens. Then as a teenager and into my 20’s I got to watch Michael’s entire career. Then into my 30’s, I got to watch Kobe and Shaq. I’m not a Lebron fan but I don’t deny his greatest. Now I’m perusal Steph. And it looks Ike I’m about to enjoy 10 amazing years of Greatness in Luka Dončić. What a time to be alive.
Thank you, Magic and Larry for the memories. For 26 years I have used a cane I named Larry Bird. Larry without you taking about shooting your back brace, MS would have beat me. Your words help me deal with life everyday. One really bad days I watch you play. Magic dealing with your disease you showed me to never give up, never stop taking care of me and to laugh. Magic and Larry, thank you for the memories, the games but most of all the life lessons Both of you are not only sport legends but leaders of teams and life. Thank you so much
Magic playing every position to win an NBA Championship when Kareem got hurt, and Larry stealing that pass and handing to DJ for the win against the Pistons, which led to one of their NBA Championships. These are the two memories burned and buried deep when I look back at these Legends. What a time it was for basketball; a revival really.
Larry Bird had his weaknesses …. I just can’t seem to find, even, one 🤣. He could slip on a wet spot on the floor, toss the ball before he fell to the floor and hit a three. Absolutely nobody had better court awareness than Larry Bird. That’s from a Bulls & Lakers fan. Great to see LB and MJ show friendship and respect for each other. ⚘🏀⚘🏀⚘
The only rivalry that can compare to magic vs bird is messi vs Ronaldo but only if at some point Ronaldo and messi start to be more openly great friends Because that’s the great thing about their rivalry they hated each other on the court because they saw in the other their main obstacles and their equal in competitive players And for these exact quality they also had immense respect admiration for the other and eventually they also developed a true friendship Not all rivalry have that perfect sweet ending
I’m a Jordan guy. But these 2 guys… mount Rushmore. There wouldn’t be a Jordan without Bird and Magic. And further more, when the Dream Team happened, it was a nice peaceful transition of power, with much respect from both sides. Which I know Michael carried on when he was face to face with Kobe, and Kobe told him: I could kick your ass right now. And Michael smiled and replied, you probably could. I don’t know if Kobe gave it to LBJ and what LBJ is doing with it, but it’s certainly lost. And IT is respect. Respect for your elders. For your peers. For your youngsters. For your game. For yourself ultimately. These 2 guys right here, payed it forward in spades. They received it, and they gave it back. And that is why we love them.
The intense competitive attitudes Magic and Bird had, made them to dislike each other during their Careers, on the Court, they were the Enemy, in the off-season and at the End of their Careers they became Good Friends, and on the 92 Olympics Team USA, The ” Dream Team “, Good to See Both are Doing Well !
Mr. Larry Bird, thank you for giving us the heat of a Celtic after Hondo retired. perusal you play was a joy. When you retired, you said you shot your back brace. Years later as I was being fired for a wheelchair, I was having trouble. Then the therapist asked me whom I would like to sit with…you. Thank you for inspiring me to fight. I hold a green cane now to walk. Thank you, for inspiring me to fight. I love seeing the ads of you. Thank you.
Beautiful. The United States of America is the most diverse country in history by far. And the loving American principles are not representated by the criminal elements from within who exploit our power. We are the most sought after country in the world by far…And Bird and Magic model what the USA is all about.
I glad to see and remember MJ im a Celtic fan but back in the 90s i was a big bulls fan and anytime i got to watch the celtics and bulls play it was something special just as special. Seeing the Cs go up against. The lakers in the finials but mj would take over and as a celtic fan it hurt like that trash talk he would give but i loved mj at the same time perusal he doing his high flying dunks live was something locked into my child hood memory but sadly i only watch bird play once and wish i could of been born earlier to enjoy. His way of the game as MJ was for me
Ok my G Moms R.I.P worked at the forum for 30 years as a bathroom attendant, so I’m a Laker for life not to mention all of the wrestling matches and ice skating events we attended. With that being said as a kid meeting the Lakers didn’t mean that much to me at the time because they called her moms so it was normal… In hindsight they where walking legends🤣🤣 and yes to this day I hate Boston 🤷🏾♂️
Every single sport has the modern athletes exceed what was possible in the past because they learned and had those in the past as an example. And these two really did pioneer a style of play that paved the way for what is the modern game. We should appreciate the difficulty of being the first do something while still recognizing that what we have now is definitely a much wider spread of elite athleticism and ability.
You had Bird and Magic in the 80’s! Can’t deny that they were the greats and when they played each other it’s an unstoppable force meets and immovable object. Than you had MJ in the 90’s, dominated everyone, than in the 2000’s you had the great Kobe Bean dominating that era at the top. 2010’s I would say is up in the air for me still idk how anybody else feels.
I lways liked basketball started playing as a teen after perusal Dr J, and Charles Barkley but I feel in love with it when I saw Magic, Kareem, and Larry Bird, Shawn Kemp and others but Magic and Bird gave me a great love bc they brought the enthusiasm and excitement with their rivalry, great PR, then passed the torch to Jordan that really made me a fan even played in high school and college bc of them they were really great for bb ball and then Jordan came and kept my interest in basketball, Hats off To Larry Bird and Magic two champions I’m sorry I missed Bird Coaching days did not know. Good article.
I been Lakers fan since magic Johnson came into the league. Omg. Show time against Larry Bird and the Celtics. Then against the Detroit Pistons. It was war no matter the team. So fun to watch back in the day. Today we don’t have the rivalry. These guys had a big three today. Back then you had back ups that made the hall of fame. Even you got cheerleader and the water boy getting into the hall fame
Funny thing to me was it was the NCAA basketball over the NBA back in the late 70’s. That is why we new Magic and Bird before they got to the NBA. I watched the NCAA basketball championship Michigan State vs Indiana State what a game. First Bird went to the NBA 1978, Magic the next year 1979. And it was on .
Larry vs magic was the best rivalry in sports and their close friendship made it even better. The best basketball ever played was Larry vs magic. They both elevated their play when they went up against each other and we’re in a league of their own. Nobody else on earth could touch magic or Larry’s skill when they were going up against each other
Larry would totally rule in today’s game!!! And it’s not the players lacking skill or athletic abilities, but it’s the rules that have changed… the defense do restrained… the NBA had decided to steer the game to higher team scores and larger individual offensive performances to increase interest, etc… back in the day they would double and triple team Bird, do everything they could to stop him, but no one could!!! He had giant performances regardless!!! He would do even more so in today’s game!!! Possibly even causing the rules to go back to allowing more defense!!! Bird is my GOAT!!! I’m so glad also of the credit LeBron is finally getting! Burr himself shares my opinion saying there’s LeBron then everyone else in today’s game!!! And what an opponent Magic and Kareem always were!!! ❤️
Those two had a certain intangible quality that seemed to make them more keenly aware of everything and everybody around them, and where they would be a split second or a stride or two later. That extra level of awareness and intuition is how some of those inconceivable plays came to fruition for them over and over again in very chaotic situations. it was as if they had a third strategically placed eyeball and ear. Stuff like that you really cannot TEACH, but the ones who are born with that special sense seem to be able to hone that gift somewhat. With that and their innate intelligence they would be competitive in any era, even as the game changed. Two uber smart and gracious men…
Isn’t it funny how Larry deflects his personal career and gives love to his player’s that he coached and love to the new breed. Larry was the best pure basketball player I’ve ever seen when he was in his prime, (before he got injured). If you go back and watch the NBA playoffs, and even the NBA Finals the games were on tape delay! There was a major character problem in the NBA in the late 1970s and early 1980s (drugs and lack of dedication to the craft by some) and the NBA was barely hanging out with the exception of big market original teams (NY, Philly, L.A., etc.). Kareem and Dr. J. kept the NBA from sinking, barely, just long enough in the late 70s, until Magic and Larry could save the ship. Obviously there were tons of great players and Hall of Famers, and Jordan pushed the media and game to new financial thresholds by the time Larry was breaking down and Magic departed with HIV. But as great as Kareem was he didn’t captivate the youth. And DR. J was retiring by the mid 1980s. I truly think the NBA would have had several teams tank and fold up like the ABA started to even before their collapse in the mid 70s. Larry is spot on about the talent in today’s era, but let’s face it, the fundamentals are often lacking today, and the acceptance of turnovers and missed shots and low FG% is crazy. The NBA was much rougher in the 20th century. You just can’t compare eras in team sports. Larry was the best SF and Magic the best PG of their era. And before them Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were the best SF/PG’s of theirs.