By James Jackson, NBA International
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson crafted basketball into an artform.
In its 69-year history, the NBA has gifted fans with an incredible evolution, growing the game from its ground-bound pace of the 1940’s and 50’s, to its present-day display of improvisational wizardry. Over time, no player has matched the basketball brilliance Magic Johnson added to NBA lore.
Indeed, Michael Jordan is the best hooper we’ve all seen, leading the NBA’s globalization by combining volume-scoring, gravity-defying dunks, and unmatched competitive fire. But His Airness also followed the footsteps of Julius Erving, who joined David Thompson and George Gervin in bringing basketball above the rim, paving the way for future generations led by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Positional debates in NBA history often involve five or so candidates. When discussing all-time great centers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon anchor the debate, just as James, Erving and Larry Bird do for small forwards, or Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Dirk Nowitzki do for power forwards.
When discussing point guards, you need only one word: magic. ‘Magic’ both settles the greatest point guard debate and encapsulates an era. Johnson perfectly combined flash with style, sight and soul.
Drafted by the Lakers first overall in 1979, he molded basketball into entertainment, growing ‘Showtime’ from pitch to masterpiece in front of Hollywood’s brightest stars. Johnson and six-time NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar immediately carried the Lakers to their first title since 1972, when Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich led L.A.’s dream season, highlighted by an NBA-record 33-game winning streak.
When Abdul-Jabbar, the 1980 regular-season MVP, injured his ankle during Game 5 of that year’s Finals, the Lakers looked to their ambitious rookie for leadership. 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists later, the Lakers not only reclaimed basketball glory, they were the platform for Johnson’s career-long hoops magic.
Standing 6-foot-9, Magic Johnson changed the point guard paradigm. Though sized similar to power forwards, the three-time NBA MVP’s court vision remains unmatched, his height and instinct being key ingredients to his never-ending catalog of passes: no-look, bounce, behind-the-back, through-the-legs, cross-court, and anything else Magic’s moxy could muster. But what truly distinguished his career is the soul he played with. No player enjoyed basketball more than he did. During his first NBA game, following Abdul-Jabbar’s game-winning sky hook vs. the San Diego Clippers, Johnson jumped for joy, celebrating the way he did after leading Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA title over Larry Bird’s Indiana State.
Jabbar told the excited rookie, “Don’t do that again, we have 81 more games to go.”
But as Johnson recalls, “people soon realized that’s how I was, and that’s how I was going to be.”
Eventually, his jubilation grew from first-game elation to Hall of Fame career. His resume is highlighted by five championships, three Finals MVP awards, 12 All-Star Game selections (two MVPs), a 1992 Dream Team selection, and his place among the NBA’s all-time assists leaders (currently fifth, first when he retired). But Johnson’s assist ranking hardly does his style justice. No player felt and improvised the game better than he did. The face of Showtime had special fun with basketball, bringing eclectic creativity to a growing game, paving the way for generations ahead, gifting us the game fans love today.
There’s always time for magic, so let’s count down the five greatest games of Magic Johnson’s storied career:
5) Game 2 (second round) of 1991 NBA Playoffs vs. Golden State Warriors: 44 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists – With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and coach Pat Riley away from Showtime, Johnson remained the leader of the Lakers. The Lakers would operate under Mike Dunleavy’s half-court offense, a more deliberate approach than years past. Nonetheless, Johnson found more magic en route to his ninth Finals appearance, highlighted by another playoff gem.
4) 2 January 1987 vs. Phoenix Suns: 32 points, 14 assists in 26 minutes – In the 29 years since Johnson made efficient work of Phoenix, only Stephen Curry has joined him on the list of NBA players with at least 32 points and 14 assists in under 30 minutes.
3) 28 November 1988 vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 32 points, 20 assists, 11 rebounds, two steals – This club is exclusive to Johnson. He remains the only player ever with at least 30 points, 20 assists, and 10 rebounds in a single game.
2) Game 4 1987 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics: 29 points, eight rebounds, five assists, ‘Junior, Junior, Junior Sky Hook’ – With the Lakers trailing the Celtics late, Johnson channeled his inner Kareem, shooting over Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to help lift L.A. over Boston for the second time in three Finals. For the series, he averaged 26.2 points on 54.1 percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, and 13.0 assists.
1) Game 6 1980 NBA Finals vs. Philadelphia 76ers: 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists – Isn’t it obvious? No 20-year old left a stronger mark on the NBA. The rookie Johnson, without MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, led the Lakers to their first title since 1972. Taking on the great Juilus Erving, Johnson jumped center in Abdul-Jabbar’s place, a masterpiece he still deems his ‘greatest game probably in the NBA.’
