What can be said about Magic Johnson that hasn't already been said? His rivalry with Larry Bird and Dr. J and MJ saved the NBA in a time where it flirted with collapse, and his knack for the outrageous not only landed him - and the Lakers- the title of "Showtime" but also cemented his place amongst some of the greatest players of all time.
It wasn't just his rivalry with Bird that saved the NBA, but also their friendship
While Magic and Jordan faced off later in his career, their was always a battle. Old vs. New, Alpha vs. Alpha
Magic defeated Dr. J's Sixers 4-2 to earn his first NBA Championship...as a rookie. He would face Erving again in the 1982 Finals (won 4-2)
He was a 5-time NBA Champion, a 3-time NBA Finals MVP, a 3-time NBA MVP, a 12-time All-Star and the list goes on and on. And it was on August 14th, 1959 that he was born in Lansing Michigan.
He went on to play basketball for Michigan State, where he was an NCAA Champion is 1979, then entered the draft where he was selected first overall by the Lakers. He currently is still with the Lakers as the President of basketball operations, and was fundamental in the acquisition of LeBron James.
He retired from basketball in 1991, made a comeback and retired for good in 1996 with career averages of 19.5 points, 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game. Besides working for the lakers, he is also part of a group that owns the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as the Los Angeles Sparks.
Does Magic earn a spot on the Mt. Rushmore of basketball? Let me know in the comments below!
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