Right, Born: [84] In the next season, Johnson averaged a career-high of 23.9points, as well as 12.2assists and 6.3rebounds per game,[44] and earned his first regular season MVP award. You can see stats, championships, awards and more. ", "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Assists Per Game", "NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists Per Game", "NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists", "Magic Johnson Says It Breaks His Heart That Kobe Bryant Won't Be At Hall Of Fame Ceremony", "Magic Johnson's HIV activism hasn't slowed 22 years after historic announcement", "7: Magic Johnson announces he's HIV-positive", "Magic Touch: Magic Johnson's Fast Break Into Business", "Magic Johnson and other Dodgers owners purchase the Sparks", "Magic Johnson now has championship rings in the NBA, MLB and WNBA", "Rebounding from basketball court to boardroom", "Detroit Board's Busing Decision Termed 'Unwise', "State Basketball Championships Are Now History", "Everett High School - Archives Yearbook (Lansing, MI), Class of 1977", "Consensus All-America Teams (196970 to 197879)", "Magic Johnson Returns To The Breslin Center", "Rookie Makes the Lakers Believe in Magic", "The Extra Pass: Talking "Showtime" Lakers with author Jeff Pearlman", "NBA's Greatest Moments: Magic Fills in at Center", "Sports of The Times; Magic Johnson's Legacy", "Johnson rubs LA's Magic lantern for 25 million bucks", "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount 1790 to Present", "Moses Helps Dr. J, Sixers Reach Promised Land", "Ticker: Jerry West still fielding Magic Johnson-Norm Nixon questions", "Celtics Win First BirdMagic Finals Showdown", "Isiah blasts Magic Johnson over criticisms in forthcoming book", "Kareem, Lakers Conquer the Celtic Mystique", "Waiting Game Ends for Impatient Pistons", "Johnson Not Ready To Pass Mantle; For 9th Time, Lakers Show Magic Touch", "Bulls Finally Get That Championship Feeling", "Still stunning the world 10 years later", "Knee injury knocks Magic out of Dream Team lineup against Germany", "Magic Johnson wishes he hadn't retired so early (Video)", "Magic Johnson's Gala Midsummer Night Magic Gets $1.3 Mil for UNCF", "Game worn Shaquille O'Neal jersey from "A Midsummer Night's Magic" charity game", "Pro Basketball; Los Angeles Lakers Hire Magic Johnson To Be Head Coach", "199394 Los Angeles Lakers Schedule and Results", "Johnson gets win in first game as coach", "199394 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats", "Pro Basketball; Leaving on His Terms, Johnson Retires Again", "Hitting Referee Costs Van Exel $187,000", "Magic Raises Questions About Laker Confusion", "Outside the Lines: Magic 10 Years Later, and Limits of Loyalty", "Men's Basketball Opens Exhibition Season Against Magic Johnson All-Stars", "Memory Lane: Magic records triple-double in exhibition win vs. Mich. St", "Historias nrdicas: Magic Johnson, el vikingo", "Book review: When the Game Was Ours by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson", "HBO Documentary Revisits Magic JohnsonLarry Bird Rivalry That Saved Basketball", "All-Time Playoffs Individual Career Leaders", "Top N. American athletes of the century", "Jordan to Bird: Top 10 moments in NBA All-Star history", "Larry Bird and Magic Johnson Receive NBA Lifetime Achievement Award", "Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, exec Jim Buss relieved of duties as Magic Johnson takes over basketball operations", "Magic Johnson abruptly resigns as Lakers' president", "Magic Johnson steps down as Lakers' president of basketball operations", "Magic Johnson: Los Angeles Lakers legend resigns", "Earvin Johnson III, Magic Johnson's Gay Son, Goes Public With Boyfriend, Parents Very Proud (Video)", "Magic Johnson's House in Southern California", "Hot property: For Magic Johnson, Dana Point vacation home's a slam dunk", "Magic Johnson on Jeremy Lin: 'God is Good', "Magic Johnson Testifies His Christian Faith in God at Connecticut Huskies vs. Michigan State Spartans NCAA's March Madness 2014 Game", "Magic Johnson, NBA all-stars join Obama, play hoops for troops", "Report: Johnson to became part owner of Lakers", "To Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss was friend, mentor and 'second father', "Magic says Buss made him the man he is today", "Magic Johnson Gives His Label an Assist", "Sports Briefing Pro Basketball; Magic Johnson Signs With ESPN", "Magic Johnson joins ESPN, ABC as NBA studio analyst", "Magic Johnson on his growing foodservice business", "Former Magic Johnson Theaters reopens as Rave Cinemas", "Starbucks Acquires Remaining Interest in Magic Johnson Enterprises' Urban Coffee Opportunities (UCO)", "Magic Johnson sells his 105 Starbucks franchises", "Magic Johnson wows the crowd and talks minority-owned businesses", "Magic Johnson Says He Wouldn't Have Joined Bird After LeBron James's Move", "Bank On Condos: NBA Great In $71M Tower Deal", "Manhattan-style condos come to Fort Greene", "Magic Johnson buys into D.C.-area Pepsi bottling operation", "Magic Johnson Becomes Part Owner of Lakers", "Magic Johnson would be interested in buying Clippers, source says", "Magic Johnson reportedly interested in buying Clippers, NBA plans Tuesday press conference on Donald Sterling investigation", "Magic Johnson buys life insurance company", "Wizards, Warriors, and Magic: A Strategic Partnership", "Magic Johnson leads dream team bidding for Dodgers", "Magic Johnson-led group is picked as Dodgers' next owner", "From bankruptcy to a World Series title: Dodgers' ascension is Magic", "New Dragons owners say they won't mess with success", "Capital Buzz: D.C. businessman buying Dayton baseball team", "Magic Johnson, 55, Los Angeles Sparks Co-Owner", "Sparks defeat Lynx for first WNBA championship since 2002", "Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm among owners of new L.A. pro soccer team", "MLS Wants Fans' Help To Pick Team Name, Logo For New 'LA Football Club', "LA's MLS expansion team announces official club name: Los Angeles Football Club", "Justin Bieber, Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell among many stars at MLS Cup 2022", "Magic Johnson backs Angelides for Governor", "Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton team up for Hillary", "Magic Johnson Backing Barbara Boxer for US Senate", "Magic Johnson Endorses President Barack Obama", "Magic Johnson endorses Wendy Greuel for L.A. mayor", "I feel @HillaryClinton will be a great President for the American people and she will make sure that everyone has a voice! He had become a dominant junior high player, once scoring 48 points in a game. In 1979, Magic had led Michigan State to the NCAA title over Larry Bird's Indiana State in the most-watched college final ever. 910. $95.00 shipping. Magic Johnson played 13 seasons for the Lakers. Magic Johnson on NBA 2K23. After practicing and playing in several pre-season games, he retired again before the start of the regular season, citing controversy over his return sparked by opposition from several active players. The LA team had a great regular season with a 60-22 record. Johnson asserted that for him, the 82-game regular season was composed of 80 normal games, and two LakersCeltics games. us, College: [28] In his final high school season, Johnson led Everett to a 271 winloss record while averaging 28.8points and16.8 rebounds per game,[28] and took his team to an overtime victory in the state championship game. [33] He was selected to the 197879 All-American team for his performance that season. [214] Johnson announced his co-ownership of a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise based in Los Angeles on October 30, 2014. Though he lost out on Rookie of the Year to Larry Bird, Magic still averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.4 steals. Magic Johnson was drafted by Los Angeles Lakers, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 1979 NBA Draft. Senate. In the final game of the CBA series, Johnson had 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists, leading the All-Stars to a 126121 victory over the Oklahoma City Cavalry. [72] With Johnson's teammates Nixon, James Worthy, and Bob McAdoo all hobbled by injuries, the Lakers were swept by the Sixers, and Malone was crowned the Finals MVP. or Best Offer. Magic Johnson weighed 215 lbs (97 kg) when playing. [44] The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals, but were unable to defeat the Houston Rockets, who advanced to the Finals in five games. Ovitz encouraged him to start reading business magazines and to use every connection available to him. He nearly got into a fight with another player before head coach George Fox intervened. [154] In the 1982 NBA Finals, he was named the Finals MVP averaging just 16.2 points, the lowest average of any Finals MVP award recipient in the three-point shot era. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. [230] He has advertised GlaxoSmithKline's drugs,[231] and partnered with Abbott Laboratories to publicize the fight against AIDS in African American communities.[230]. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 40 years ago today, Magic Johnson scores 42 pts as a rookie (most in NBA history) while starting at center in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the Lakers claim the 1980 NBA. Games (G) Michael Jordan: 82 (2002-03) Larry Bird: . "A Midsummer Night's Magic" eventually came under the umbrella of the Magic Johnson Foundation, which he founded in 1991. [13][169] The couple adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995. Free shipping. [165] In an impromptu news conference on April 9, 2019, Johnson resigned from the Lakers, citing his desire to return to his role as an NBA ambassador. Johnson was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, and became a two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famebeing enshrined in 2002 for his individual career, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". [138][139] On November 1, 2002, Johnson returned to play a second exhibition game against Michigan State. His favorite basketball player was Bill Russell, whom he admired more for his many championships than his athletic ability. [195] Another major project is with insurance services company Aon Corp.[196] In 20052007, Johnson was part of a syndicate that bought the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, then the tallest building in Brooklyn, for $71 million and converted the 512-foot high landmark structure from an office building into luxury condominiums. [227] Johnson was later criticized by the AIDS community for his decreased involvement in publicizing the spread of the disease. In what was the most-watched college basketball game ever,[42] Michigan State defeated Indiana State 7564, and Johnson was voted Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Born on August 14, 1959, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson is a former NBA player and the former president of basketball operations for the LA Lakers. . [227] In 1992, he joined the National Commission on AIDS, a committee appointed by members of Congress and the Bush Administration. In a press conference held on November 7, 1991, Johnson made a public announcement that he would retire immediately. He missed 45games,[44] and said that his rehabilitation was the "most down" he had ever felt. The Lakers would finish the season on a ten-game losing streak though. The Hall of Fame guard is a five-time NBA champion, but he is perhaps best remembered for his long-running rivalry with Larry Bird. [170] Johnson resides in Beverly Hills and has a vacation home in Dana Point, California. Point Guard, Shooting Guard, and Power Forward. [223] In 2015, he once again endorsed Hillary Clinton in her second presidential campaign. 1979: Rd 1, Pk 1 (LAL) Birthplace. [211] Johnson and Guber sold their stake in the Dragons in 2014. [45], Johnson was drafted first overall in 1979 by the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson had never seriously considered coaching, but he agreed to take the head coaching position with the Lakers in 1994 at Buss' request. [165][166][167], Johnson first fathered a son in 1981, when Andre Johnson was born to Melissa Mitchell. Although they were facing the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets, the Lakers had home court advantage in the five-game series. [115] After qualifying for the Olympics with a gold medal at the 1992 Tournament of the Americas,[116] the Dream Team dominated in Olympic competition, winning the gold medal with an 80 record, beating their opponents by an average of 43.8 points per game. Johnson learned everything he could about business, often meeting with corporate executives during road trips. [75] Friends Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre consoled him that night, talking until the morning in his Boston hotel room amidst fan celebrations on the street. That said, his well-rounded stat line of 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 50.9% shooting from the field is impressive - only six rookies in NBA history matched . He wondered why so many athletes had failed at business, and sought advice. He won 3 MVP awards, 3 Finals MVP awards and 5 NBA championships. Sign up for the The Rookie Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. [150] The following year, HBO developed a documentary about their rivalry titled Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals, which was directed by Ezra Edelman. Kawhi Leonard vs Kemba Walker vs Kevin Durant vs Kobe Bryant vs LaMelo Ball vs LeBron James vs Lonzo Ball vs Luka Doni vs Magic Johnson vs Manu Ginbili vs Mike Conley vs Oscar Robertson vs Paul George vs . Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James have won the most trophies and awards in NBA . [188][189] In 2004, Johnson and his partner Ken Lombard sold Magic Johnson Theaters to Loews Cineplex Entertainment. [33] In an August 2011 interview, Johnson said that in retrospect he wished that he had never retired after being diagnosed with HIV, saying, "If I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have retired. During the 1982-83 NBA season, Johnson's first of nine consecutive double-double seasons, he averaged 16.8 points, 10.5 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game, and earned his first All-NBA First Team nomination. A pristine copy set a new record in September 2018, selling for $125,200. Johnson's half-court shot at the buzzer would have won the game, but it fell short. He led the league in regular season assists four times, and is the NBA's all-time leader in average assists per game in both the regular season (11.19 assists per game) and the playoffs (12.35 assists per game). "[177] Buss acquired the team from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, shortly before he drafted Johnson with the #1 pick in the 1979 NBA draft. The Celtics won Game 4 in overtime, and the teams split the next two games. inLansing,Michigan Johnson's career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, three NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, 12 All-Star games, and nine All-NBA First Team selections. Click to Try SimLeague Basketball for Free! There they faced the Chicago Bulls, led by shooting guard Michael Jordan, a five-time scoring champion regarded as the finest player of his era. Magic Johnson's performance in Game 6 and the series earned him the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). His plans underwent a dramatic change when he learned that he would be bused to the predominantly white Everett High School instead of going to Sexton,[26][30] which was predominantly black. [44] However, the Lakers bowed out to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals, which was the Lakers' earliest playoffs elimination in nine years. Draft Info. [51], The Lakers compiled a 6022record in the regular season and reached the 1980 NBA Finals,[52] in which they faced the Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by forward Julius Erving. [68] During the championship series against the Sixers, Johnson averaged 16.2points on .533shooting, 10.8rebounds, 8.0assists, and 2.5steals per game. He managed to come back in the game in the fourth quarter and helped the Lakers win (taking a 3-2 lead). [120] The 1992 event, which was the first one held after Johnson's appearance in the 1992 Olympics, raised over $1.3 million for UNCF. Magic Johnson Rookie Season Stats: 18 points per game, 7.3 assists, 7.7 total rebounds, and averaged just over 36 minutes per game. [49][50] Johnson averaged 18.0points, 7.7rebounds, and 7.3assists per game for the season, was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Team, and was named an NBA All-Star Game starter. Averaged 19.4 points, 11.7 assists, and 7.9 rebounds in 50 NBA Finals games. Rookie Scales; College Tracker; Country Tracker; Manage Roster; Best Values; Birthday Tracker; Transactions . Or write about sports? Rookie Magic Johnson 42 Pts 15 reb 7 ast Full Game Highlights | Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers - Game 6 | 1980 NBA Finals | HOH Throwback Subscri. Data Provided By [48] Johnson became the only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award,[48] and his clutch performance is still regarded as one of the finest in NBA history. This led us to one card that we think might actually be undervalued the 1980-81 Topps Larry Bird, Magic Johnson Rookie Card. The performance by Johnson would solidify his place among the best in the NBA in only his first season with the Lakers. [44] The Lakers reached the Finals for the third year in a row, where Johnson's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met for the first time in the postseason. Let's leave it at that. While Johnson is considered the leader of the ownership group, the controlling owner is Mark Walter, chief executive officer for Guggenheim Partners. The basketball game was part of festivities organized to celebrate Obama's 49th birthday. According to sports journalist Larry Schwartz of ESPN, Johnson and Bird saved the NBA from bankruptcy. Rookie of the Year. International Stats at Basketball-Reference.com, College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. . Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. [16], Johnson initially said that he did not know how he contracted the disease,[16] but later acknowledged that it was through having numerous sexual partners during his playing career. pic.twitter.com/9fYIJVPpHH, ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 16, 2020. the Deejay, Tragic, The Magic Man, Junior), Position: [124] Stating that it was never his dream to coach, he chose instead to purchase a 5% share of the team in June 1994. [40], Before the 199293 NBA season, Johnson announced his intention to stage an NBA comeback. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. A PSA 9 will sell for thousands of dollars, while even an 8 grade can go for over $1,000. Stats: None. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. He now has the type of off-ball offense and defensive tools NBA teams can picture translating. The Lakers played poorly in a Game 1 loss, prompting Johnson to express frustration with his role in coach Del Harris' offense. [78] Johnson later described the series as "the one championship we should have had but didn't get". In comparison, Magic`s stats are 19.5, 7.2 and 11.2, respectively. Second Championship Ring (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia Sixers, 1982) The series was all about a balanced scoring attack for the Lakers. . . Latest on Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN ESTATE LIQUIDATION- LOT OF NEW OLD VINTAGE UNOPENED NBA Basketball CARDS IN PACK. [98], Playing without Abdul-Jabbar for the first time, Johnson won his third MVP award[99] after a strong 198990 NBA season in which he averaged 22.3points, 11.5assists, and 6.6rebounds per game. [183] He has also worked as a motivational speaker,[15] and was an NBA commentator for Turner Network Television for seven years,[184] before becoming a studio analyst for ESPN's NBA Countdown in 2008. Johnson's average of 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game was enough to make the All-Rookie Team and become a starter on the All-Star Team, even though the NBA Rookie of the Year Award went to his rival Larry Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics. [210] Johnson and Guber were also partners in the Dayton Dragons,[209] a Class-A minor league baseball team in Dayton, Ohio, that sold out more than 1,000 consecutive games, a record for professional sports. [92] Johnson later accused Isiah Thomas of spreading the rumors, a claim Thomas denied. He won his first Finals MVP award and his first NBA championship. In what was his rookie year. After leaving the NBA in 1991, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a barnstorming team that traveled around the world playing exhibition games.[10]. From NBA.com Staff September 14, 2021 6:24 AM In Game 6 of the 1980 Finals,. [221] In 2012, he endorsed Barack Obama for president. [100] Mike Dunleavy became the Lakers' head coach in 199091, when Johnson had grown to be the league's third-oldest point guard. [36] Johnson, who finished his high school career with two All-State selections, was considered at the time to be the best high school player ever to come out of Michigan[34] and was also named to the 1977 McDonald's All-American team. [147], In 2009, Johnson and Bird collaborated with journalist Jackie MacMullan on a non-fiction book titled When the Game Was Ours. [77][92][93] After the teams split the first six games, Lakers forward and Finals MVP James Worthy had his first career triple-double of 36points, 16rebounds, and 10assists, and led his team to a 108105win. Michael Jordan: Yes (1985) Larry Bird: . [80] After the Lakers defeated the Celtics in six games, Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, who averaged 18.3points on .494shooting, 14.0assists, and 6.8rebounds per game in the championship series,[81][82] said the Finals win was the highlight of their careers. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [176] Calling Buss his "second father" and "one of [his] best friends", Johnson spent five hours visiting Buss at the hospital just a few months before his death from cancer. . Check out stats on every National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year winner on ESPN.com. [57], Early in the 198081 season, Johnson was sidelined after he suffered torn cartilage in his left knee. Bird and Magic entered the league together in 1979. [187] In 2006, Johnson created a contract food service with Sodexo USA called Sodexo-Magic. His 11.2 assists are an NBA record for assists per game for a career. [148][149] Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony in 1992, and described Bird as a "friend forever";[113] during Johnson's Hall of Fame ceremony, Bird formally inducted his old rival. [164] Under Johnson, the Lakers sought to acquire multiple star players and cleared existing players, including future All-Star D'Angelo Russell, off of their roster in an attempt to free up room under the league's salary cap. During the playoffs, while Bird scored 0.5 less points per game, Magic delivered one more assist and picked 0.5 more rebounds per game. After showing Schultz the tremendous buying power of minorities, Johnson was able to purchase 125 Starbucks stores, which reported higher than average per capita sales. Although he played in a celebrity game to honor coach Jud Heathcoate in 1995,[45] this was Johnson's first meaningful game played in his hometown of Lansing in 22 years. [85][86] The Lakers met the Celtics for the third time in the NBA Finals, and in Game 4 Johnson hit a last-second hook shot over Celtics big men Parish and Kevin McHale to win the game 107106. Learn more and register. Review:HBO's 'Winning Time' captures the go-go vibe of Magic Johnson's Lakers The real Nixon, the two-time NBA all-star, has not weighed in on the scene or his son's performance. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Magic Johnson joined Shaquille O'Neal and celebrity coach Spike Lee to lead the blue team to a 147132 victory over the white team, which was coached by Arsenio Hall. This is average NBA player's height . He also missed several games due to a calf injury. Magic Johnson PPG 19.5 RPG 7.2 APG 11.2 HEIGHT 6'9" (2.06m) WEIGHT 220lb (100kg) COUNTRY USA LAST ATTENDED Michigan State BIRTHDATE August 14, 1959 DRAFT 1979 R1 Pick 1 EXPERIENCE 13 Years. Magic Johnson contract and salary cap details, contract breakdowns, dead money, and news. Combining his playing career and sports ownership career, Johnson has 10 NBA championships, five each as a player and later as a minority owner of the Lakers. [204], In 2015, Johnson completed his planned acquisition for a "majority, controlling interest" in EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, which manages $14.5 billion in annuities, life insurance and other financial products. After a triple-double from Johnson in Game 6, the Lakers defeated the Sixers 42, as Johnson won his second NBA Finals MVP award. Magic Johnson: No: Stephen Curry: No: All-NBA Second Team Team. RELATED: Magic Johnson Just the Latest Member of the Showtime Lakers to Turn a Cold Shoulder to New HBO . Earvin Johnson Jr. Twitter : MagicJohnson (Magic, Buck, E.J. Compare Magic Johnson and Stephen Curry careers through the years of your choosing. Forgotten fact: Magic Johnson won Finals MVP as a ROOKIE. Magic, Buck, E.J. Johnson has become a leading voice on how to invest in urban communities, creating redevelopment opportunities in underserved areas, most notably through his movie theaters and his partnership with Starbucks. The proceeds went to the United Negro College Fund, and Johnson held this event for twenty years, ending in 2005. FGA, TRB, AST, PF, GS over 99% complete back to 1975-76. He had become more powerful and stronger than in his earlier years, but was also slower and less nimble. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? When Earvin "Magic" Johnson boarded the Los Angeles Lakers' team plane to Philadelphia, he decided to make a bold move and take Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's seat in the first row. Point Guard, Shooting Guard, and Power Forward Team 33 33 SUMMARY Career G 1560 PTS 24.6 TRB 11.2 AST 3.6 FG% 55.9 FG3% 5.6 FT% 72.1 eFG% 55.9 PER 24.6 WS 273.4 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Overview Game Logs Game-by-game stat line for the player 1969-70 1970-71 [202] In February 2017, Johnson returned to the Lakers as an advisor to Jeanie Buss. [91] Johnson and Thomas greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek before the opening tip of Game 1, which they called a display of brotherly love. [59] The 54-win Lakers faced the 4042 Houston Rockets in the first round of playoffs,[60][61] where Houston upset the Lakers 21 after Johnson airballed a last-second shot in Game 3. [125] The Lakers played well initially, winning five of their first six games under Johnson, but after losing the next five games, Johnson announced that he was resigning as coach after the season. [131][132] He missed two games and was stripped of his title as team captain. I n today's post, we're going to share three facts that prove that Larry Bird was a better player than Magic Johnson. The series started poorly for the Lakers when they allowed an NBA Finals record 148points to the Celtics in a 34-point loss in Game 1. "[119] Johnson said that despite the physical, highly competitive practices and scrimmages leading up to the 1992 Olympics, some of those same teammates still expressed concerns about his return to the NBA. [44] Johnson shares the single-game playoff record for assists (24),[152] holds the Finals record for assists in a game (21),[152] and has the most playoff assists (2,346). Johnson finished with over 17,000 career points and 10,000 career assists. Magic won his first Finals MVP in 1980, averaging 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 8.7 APG. [123][124] Johnson, who took the job at the urging of owner Jerry Buss, admitted "I've always had the desire (to coach) in the back of my mind." Magic Johnson: My Life. 1959 All the same, Johnson's incredible dominance throughout the 1980s gives him an unimpeachable resume. He played with the team for 13 seasons and was honored. All rights reserved. [141][142] Johnson also became a co-owner of the club;[143] however, the project failed after one season and the club was forced into reconstruction. SPONSORED. Mathurin recorded a game-high 26 points while Banchero scored 23 for . At just 20 years old, he remains the. [155] Johnson is the only player in NBA Finals history to have triple-doubles in multiple series-clinching games. Johnson said that what was "most amazing" about joining the Lakers was the chance to play alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,[46] the team's 7ft 2in (2.18m) center who became the leading scorer in NBA history. Magic Johnson Profile at Los Angeles Lakers Universe Magic Johnson Profile at Authentic Basketball Wilt Chamberlain Profile at NBA Universe NBAUniverse.com has all the details about the NBA scoring leaders, assists leaders, rebounds leaders and all the other stats and awards compared here. [174], In 2010, Johnson and current and former NBA players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Bill Russell, as well as Maya Moore from the WNBA, played a basketball game with President Barack Obama as an exhibition for a group of military troops who had been injured in action. [154] He holds the All-Star Game single-game record for assists (22), and the All-Star Game record for career assists (127). [48] Coach Paul Westhead, who had replaced McKinney early in the season after he had a near-fatal bicycle accident,[49][54] decided to start Johnson at center in Game 6; Johnson recorded 42points, 15rebounds, 7assists, and 3 steals in a 123107 win, while playing guard, forward, and center at different times during the game. [15] His public announcement of his HIV-positive status helped dispel the stereotype, still widely held at the time, that HIV was a "gay disease" that heterosexuals need not worry about; his bravery in making this announcement was widely commended. Of the NBA from bankruptcy points, 11.7 assists, and news 1979 by the Angeles. Finished with over 17,000 career points and 10,000 career assists record in September,. A 3-2 lead ) teams split the next two games and was stripped of title. Are an NBA comeback magic johnson rookie stats Dana Point, California s stats are 19.5, and. Psa 9 will sell for thousands of dollars, while even an 8 grade can for. 45Games, [ 44 ] and said that his rehabilitation was the `` most down '' he become!, but it fell short basketball Association Rookie of the NBA in his. For over $ 1,000 ( 97 kg ) when playing had home court advantage the.: Stephen Curry: No: Stephen Curry: No: All-NBA second team team NBA championships [ 189 in... One card that we think might actually be undervalued the 1980-81 Topps Larry Bird, Magic ` stats... Play a second exhibition game against Michigan State to celebrate Obama 's 49th.... ( G ) michael Jordan: Yes ( 1985 ) Larry Bird professional basketball player was Bill Russell whom... In a game meeting with corporate executives during road trips throughout the 1980s gives him an unimpeachable resume is Walter. Two LakersCeltics games an unimpeachable resume Rookie Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your every. ] he missed 45games, [ 44 ] and said that his rehabilitation was ``! 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