Magic Johnson

The king of the showtime

Leader of play except standard (with a size of 2,05 meters) he is the best player at his station than knew the NBA. Genuine star on and apart from the ground, Magic Johnson belongs to these rare exceptional players who changed their sport. Earvin Johnson gains her nickname of Magic when it is 15 years old, for its style of blazing play and its capacity to make master keys that nobody waits. It will be besides four times better frontier runner of the league, in 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. It disputes regularly this title with John Stockton, of the Utah Jazz, and with Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons. It will become the best frontier runner of the history of the NBA with 10 141 decisive master keys, in front of Oscar Robertson and Nate Archibald, but John Stockton will precede it later a few years. There remains incomparable in the blind master keys and the multiple pretenses which preceded each master key. Beyond these statistics, Magic was also the third player of the history to have succeeded more than 20 points and 10 decisive master keys per match over one season, after Oscar Robertson (it was joined inter alia since by Isiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway, and Kevin Johnson).

Magic will remain in the history for its legendary smile and the love of life which it communicated to each match. Its first match will remain famous; after a decisive basket of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it was thrown in its arms and those of its fellow-members as if they had gained the championship. It will be also for always the symbol of the Showtime , with a constant will to make the spectacle and to ignite the public.

University and professional career

Its career starts immediately with victories. It gains the university tournament NCAA in 1979 with the team of Michigan State, and is elected better player of the final tournament. It gains vis-a-vis that which will become its rival of always: Larry Bird, one of the most skilful wingers whom the NBA knew. Larry Bird and Magic will become large friends out of the courts, but will give place to the greatest competition than knew the NBA on the ground. The Boston Celtics of Larry Bird, and Lakers de Magic divide eight titles in the the Eighties.

The following year, Magic Johnson is repêch E in first position by the already mythical frankness from the Los Angeles Lakers. And as of its first year, he writes the legend. He is the first rookie since Elvin Hayes, 11 years earlier, with being named with the All-Star Range. At the time of finales NBA, Lakers are opposed to the Philadelphia 76ers of Julius Erving. Lakers carry out 3-2, but they have just lost on wound their best player: the mythical pivot Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, better marker of all times. For the 6th match, Magic plays pivot in the place of Abdul-Jabbar, and leaves a match anthology: 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 master key decisive, and 3 interceptions. It leads Lakers to the victory in this ultimate match of the finale. He is elected better player of the finales whereas he is yet only initial. It is the first time (and for the moment only) that a rookie obtains this title. Paradoxically, it is Larry Bird who is elected rookie year, and is named in the All NBA first TEAM (Magic will wait its third year to have this distinction).

The following year is not that of Lakers. Magic is wounded with the left knee and lack 45 matches. It returns for the playoffs, but does not manage to qualify its team. It rebounds the following season in 1982, or it gains a second title vis-a-vis the 76ers, while being once again MVP finales. It is however not selected, for the single time of its career (except wound), in the major Five of the AlStar Range. Indeed, Magic while affirming publicly that it wishes to leave Lakers because of a disagreement with its coach Paul Westhead obtains the head of this last: the fans will be upset with him during a long part of the season. This episode underlines the character egocentric person of Magic Johnson. The two seasons are years without collective titles, but it gains its first title of better frontier runner and its second of better interceptor.

In 1985, Lakers gain a new championship, by taking their revenge on Boston Celtics which had beaten them in finales the previous year. The year 1986 is one year without collective title for Magic, but it is better frontier runner of the season for the third time.

Magic waits season 86-87 to be elected MVP of the regular season. During this time, its large Larry Bird rival was to it already 3 times consecutively. It is this season that it with the best average of points of its career: 23,9 pts per match. Magic obtains also its third title of MVP of finales NBA, and its second success in 3 years in finales vis-a-vis Celtics de Bird. The following year, 1988, that of is doubled. They gain finally vis-a-vis the Pistons of Strait of Isiah Thomas, friendly near to Magic, and the other leader showman of the NBA. These two seasons are certainly most beautiful of Magic which is at the top of its glory. They are also those of its last titles NBA.

Magic gains two new titles of MVP of the season in 1989 and 1990. But between its wound during the playoffs, and reprocesses it of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, saions them 88-89 and 89-90 is hard for Lakers. In 1989 they are swept by the Detroit Pistons in finales, and in 1990, they do not even reach the finales. On the other hand, in 1990 it obtains its first title of better AlStar Range player, one of the rare trophies which it missed. Magic finds finales NBA in 1991 vis-a-vis bulldozers of Michael Jordan, and is inclined in 5 matches vis-a-vis the team which will dominate the Années 1990.

Before starting the season 1991-1992, Magic announces publicly its seropositivity, honesty that few celebrities have at that time. It is nevertheless named with the AlStar Range, and better player is elected by it. This AlStar Range, in form of good-bye in Magic, is very extremely émotionnellement. At the end of the match, in turn Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan cause Magic Johnson into 1 against 1, before this one does not mark a last basket at three points. The 14 last seconds will not be played, the whole of the players present on the parquet floor celebrating the magician. Lastly, in 1992, it belongs to the Dream TEAM with OJ of Barcelona, where it takes down the gold medal.

The main thing of the career of Magic stops here. It takes the reins of Lakers during 16 matches at the end of the season 1994 before hanging up again. Then will make a short return at the end of season 96. But after an early elimination in play-offs, it takes its retirement again.

Prize list

5 titles NBA: 1980,1982,1985,1987 and 1988
3 titles of MVP of the season: 1987,1989 and 1990
3 titles of better player of finales NBA: 1980,1982 and 1987
2 titles of MVP of the AllStar Range: 1990 and 1992
4 titles of better frontier runners: 1983,1984,1986 and 1987
2 titles of better interceptor: 1981 and 1982
1 title of better gunner of charity tosses: 1989
9 times named in the All NBA First TEAM into 1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990 and 1991.
12 times named at All Star Range
Member of the Hall off Famed since 2002
Olympic champion: 1992
Member of the Dream TEAM

See too

National Basketball Association
List of the players most titrated in NBA
Los Angeles Lakers

External bonds

Foundation Magic Johnson
Biography on nba.com

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