Today marks the 55th birthday of NBA Legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. With his infectious smile and amazing on-court ability, Magic captivated the country for an entire decade before having to call it a career after announcing that he was HIV-positive.
Despite his health issues, Johnson has lived a long and fulfilling life, moving on from the NBA hardwood into ownership of multiple businesses and endeavors. In 2012, Johnson was a part of a group of investors who purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But no matter what he does off the court, fans will remember Magic’s dazzling passing displays and multiple title wins on it. Let’s take a look at five of the top moments from Magic Johnson’s career and wish the Hall of Famer a very happy 55th birthday!
Magic beats Bird in the ’79 NCAA Finals
The 1979 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game marked the first time Magic and Larry Bird crossed paths on the basketball court with a title on the line. Johnson lead his Michigan State squad into the title game against #1 ranked and undefeated Indiana State, who was lead by the unstoppable Bird.
Johnson for his part scored a superb 24 points on 8-15 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, and lead his Spartan squad to a 75-64 title-clinching win. Magic was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for his efforts, and the tilt was just the first glimpse into a future full of Magic-Bird title battles. Unfortunately for Indiana State, on this night Bird was very much pedestrian. Playing with a broken thumb and against a difficult Michigan State zone, Bird shot just 7-21 and was unable to keep up with Magic.
Starting at Center for the Los Angeles Lakers… Magic Johnson
The following year, Magic would take the NBA by storm, averaging 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists en route to being named All-First Rookie team. However Johnson was unable to capture Rookie of the Year from rival Larry Bird. Not to worry though, Johnson made his presence felt when it mattered most, in June.
After taking a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals, the Lakers lost Game 5 and headed back to Philadelphia without All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. Up to that point, the Captain had averaged 33 points per game for the series, and the Lakers were in serious trouble without their veteran.
No worries though, Magic will just start at center. And play all five positions. And score 42 points, grab 15 boards, dish 7 assists and grab 3 steals in what has often been called the most impressive game in NBA Finals history. As a rookie.
Johnson would go on to win NBA Finals MVP, and is still the only rookie and youngest player to ever do so. His Finals performance was just a peak into the greatness that would come the rest of his career.
Magic and Co. Finally Top the Celtics
When Magic and his Lakers met Bird and the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals, it was a rematch of the previous year that saw the Celtics win the series in seven game. In that series, Magic Johnson committed a series of game-costing errors. During Game 2, Magic dribbled out the clock in a tie game that the Lakers ended up losing in overtime, in Game 4 Johnson had a costly late turnover and missed two potential game tying free throws before turning it over late in the Lakers Game 7 loss. Magic entered the 1985 Finals looking for redemption and trying to shed the Tragic Johnson nickname he had earned in ’84.
On top of all of that, the Lakers had never beaten the Celtics in the NBA Finals prior to ’85, with Boston dominating the one-sided rivalry. But things finally changed for the Lake Show during that Finals series in 1985. The Lakers won two out of three games in the Garden, including the clinching Game 6, and finally won an NBA title against their biggest rivals.
Johnson finally was able to beat Bird in the NBA Finals and also re-established himself as a dominant and clutch star just hitting his prime. In the decisive Game 6, Johnson went for a triple-double (14 pts, 14 assists, 10 boards) winning the third title of his six year career to that point.
The Baby Hook
With Magic and his Lakers leading the 1987 NBA Finals 2-1, Los Angeles looked to put a stranglehold on the Celtics by taking Game 4 in the Garden and giving themselves a massive 3-1 lead in the series. The Celtics could sense the urgency of the game, jumping out to a 16-point lead and maintaining an advantage for the majority of the game. However the Lakers had finally whittled the lead down and even took a 104-103 lead before a huge Larry Bird three gave Boston a two-point advantage with 12 seconds left.
That’s when things got Magical. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed one of two free throws, the rebound went off of Boston and out of bounds with the Celtics leading 106-105. Magic took the in-bounds pass, dribbled towards the key and lofted a running sky hook over Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird as the clock ran down.
Swish.
Johnson hit one of the most difficult shots in NBA history, over three future Hall of Famers no less, and sank it on the road, in Boston, during the NBA Finals. It was an incredible shot that Magic would dub the ‘junior-junior-sky hook’ and that would put an end to the Celtics dynasty as we knew it. Boston wouldn’t make another Finals for 21 years and the Lakers would go on to wrap the series up in six and give Magic a 4-3 lead in ring count over his rival Bird.
One Last Flash of Magic
The 1991-92 NBA season turned out to be very memorable. Michael Jordan and the Bulls won their second consecutive NBA title as His Airness began to ascend to G.O.A.T. levels, and the Dream Team was right around the corner the following summer.
But nothing compared to the announcement made by Magic Johnson that he was HIV-positive and would be retiring from the league immediately. The announcement was out of nowhere and absolutely shocking, and shook the NBA to its core. Fans everywhere were jilted by the sudden loss of a Legend, and nobody really knew if Magic was going to survive the disease.
Fast forward to February. While the NBA has moved on and focused on its rising star in Chicago, the fans did not forget the Magic Man. When the All-Star game rolls around, Johnson has been voted in as a starter despite only playing in a handful of games before his abrupt retirement. After some reluctance, Magic laces them up again for the exhibition game in Orlando, and needless to say, he did not disappoint fans.
Magic razzled and dazzled the crowd to the tune of 25 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds in the West’s 153-113 romp of the Eastern squad. Johnson looked like a player who had not lost a step and his impressive display lead him to being named the All-Star Game MVP. The performance would also help in landing Magic on the Dream Team Olympic squad that won gold in Barcelona just a few months later.