Magic Johnson
Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996)
3-time NBA MVP (’87, ’89, ’90)
5-time NBA Champions (’80, ’82, ’85, ’87, ’88)
3-time NBA Finals MVP (’80, ’82, ’87)
9-time All-NBA 1st Team (’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91)
1982 All-NBA 2nd Team
1980 NBA All-Rookie 1st Team
12-time NBA All-Star
2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (’90, ’92)
4-time NBA assists leader (’83, ’84, ’86, ’87)
2-time NBA steals leader (’81, ’82)
One of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players (named in ’96)
Basketball Hall of Famer
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is one of the rare players in sports history that can claim that he defined an entire decade in his sport. His rivalry with Larry Bird is one of the most famous in team sports history, as the league’s two marquee franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, did battle at the leagues summit multiple times in the 80’s. But the rivalry began in college, when Magic’s Michigan State squad beat Larry Bird’s Indiana State team to earn the 1979 NCAA title. After that, the Lakers made Magic the 1st pick in the ’79 draft.
Magic immediately became a star, teaming up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to form the best duo in league history. In his rookie year, Magic played center for the injured Kareem in game 6 of the 1980 Finals and turned in one of the most famous performances in league history. That game won Magic his first of three Finals MVP awards. Two years later, he would repeat that feat.
Throughout the 80’s, the Lakers dominated the western conference, making trips to the Finals eight out of ten years in the decade. The Lakers earned five championships during Magic’s tenure, with the oversized point guard taking the mantle from Kareem as the team’s best player in the back half of the decade. Magic won his first NBA MVP in 1987, then took that award home two more times in ’89 and ’90. In 1991, Magic led the Lakers to the Finals again, where they lost to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, however, that series was Magic’s final act in meaningful NBA action, as he announced the following November that he was HIV positive.
The HIV virus was a confusing thing in 1991, when Magic announced he had contracted it. People didn’t totally know how to deal with it then and it forced Magic into early retirement. He did have a couple of moments in 1992, however. The first was at the All-Star Game in Orlando, where he put on a show. The second was as a member of the Dream Team at the Barcelona Olympics. Despite a 36-game (including playoffs) comeback in 1996, Magic’s basketball career had run its course. However, Magic’s off court business life has continued to thrive and he now plays a major role in both the Dodgers and Lakers franchises. His business acumen is almost as legendary as his passing ability. Magic Johnson is a true basketball icon in every sense of the word.
Other accomplishments that didn’t factor into this ranking
His #32 is retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
1992 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
1992 Olympic Gold Medal (USA)
1979 NCAA Champion (Michigan State)
1979 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (Michigan State)
1979 Consensus 1st Team All-American (Michigan State)
1978 NABC 2nd Team All-American (Michigan State)
His #33 is retired by Michigan State
