Thats what wild about Magic. Wins the NCAA championship in 1979 and then FMVP as a rookie in 1980. He asked his coach to step in for their teams best player and rose to the occasion. That game along with Jordan's 63 against the 86 Celtics, Lebron's 48 where he matched the Pistons by himself to win a conference final game in double OT, and Duncan's unofficial quad double to win his second title as reigning MVP, are the greatest games ever played.
He wasn’t a point guard his rookie season. And he also didn’t really play much centre that game. Not that it wasn’t an incredible performance, because it was, but he played position-less basketball, way WAY before it was commonplace. It made sense for him to take the jump ball that game. (He never guarded the other team’s centre though)
I don’t think anyone can ever top Magic as the greatest point guard ever, he started winning since the beginning, won FMVP in his Rookie year, he’s won so many accolades but the most impressive part is he did it in such a short time in only 13 seasons
Perfect storm got to play with the goat at the time in Kareem and obviously was a freak of nature at 6’9 with handles of a 6ft guy …Ben Simmons only could dream
@Slim Jimmy idk man the same reason I say Jordan is better then LeBron is the same I say Magic is better, Magic accomplished more in less time, at this current season Steph is on Magic had already won 1 more MVP 2 more championships and 3 more FMVP’s, Magic is the greater Point Guard
It's a shame the world didn't know enough back then about HIV, he could've had an even more impressive career. His career lasted only 11 years and he reached 9 finals and won 5 rings. Just insane.
Magic, Jordan, LeBron and Bill Russel are lock starters for me on my all time team. Kobe, Curry, and Shaq are lock bench players. Forwards are tough, but Duncan is on the team, maybe even starting.
Magic is in my top Five. It's a shame we shine so much light on Jordan, LeBron and Kobe not taking anything from them we all know they are top players. But the quality that Magic mastered before all of them was leadership. Yes he had the great Kareem there with him when he came in the lead but this guy as a rookie point guard won the NBA championship in his first year at the age of 20. And then won 4 more championships. And he didn't play as many years as other stars did. Magic to me is underrated.
Jordan and Lebron are Nike guys. Kobe came in late but was majorly hated on at first. However Magic Kobe and Duncan all have goat claim getting tittles at 19-20-21 you right they all have to be top 5
I’m not sure you’re reading the room right. Jordan and Kobe are beloved to be sure, and rightly so. What they did on the court was simply majestic to watch. Yes, it was individual greatness, but I don’t say that as a criticism. That were the greatest in history at their game. Then we have Magic and Bird. They are arguably the greatest floor generals to ever play the game. They have never been, in any way that I can recall, overlooked or underrated. Bird-Magic are legendary. I can’t think of any conversation about all-time NBA greats that hasn’t included both. They are almost universally regarded as two of the 10 best players in history.
So just passing he was good ? I did not watch him I just want some1 to tell me what other than passing was he great at. Because right now I have steph over him because all I here are his story's of rookie year and that he's a GREAT PASSER.
@@johnsepulvedacruz6428 he wasn't just a great passer. He was the best passer the game has ever seen (yes, including Larry Bird), _and_ he consistently put up solid numbers in points and rebounds. He was an amazing all-around player. Magic Johnson was a force to be reckoned with back in his day and still would be. The _reason_ for his nickname was that he would do passes and take shots that seemed impossible, but succeed.
@@RabblesTheBinx I am not comfortable saying Magic was a better passer than Bird. Or Stockton and Nash. Or maybe Oscar Robertson. But yes Steph is nowhere close.
I feel ya brother, but it does make you think..... of the big five NBA stats (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals)...... Magic isnt there..... John Stockton holds two (assists and steals).
I’ve been trying to find a highlight reel for years that was filmed in black and white were Magic was running the break and made two fakes without traveling then passed to someone trailing him. One of the most beautiful sequences of basketball I’ve ever seen, the other was a Zeke highlight pass where he threw a pass between a defenders legs that went around a teammate hitting another in stride.
@@iamdezsi9671 😬 sheesh Lakers might want a refund for getting Russ then lmaoo but definitely the 2021-22 Lakers were more of a disappointment and disaster than the 2012-13 Lakers with an aging Kobe R.I.P., washed Steve Nash and soft Dwight Howard... 🏀💯
If you never saw Magic play in person you have no idea how 'good' he was. On TV you only saw what the camera showed you, so usually only when he had the ball. If you saw him live you could watch him do everything and he was amazing. He single handedly controlled games by doing what ever needed to be done. Need a steal, he stole the ball. Need a rebound, he got it. Speed the game up. slow the game down, he did it. Score, pass, play D, whatever it took he did it and if you weren't paying attention you might not even have realized the impact he was having on every aspect of the game. Great player!
Unfortunately I was born in 98 so I never was able to see it live, I’m sure it was special. Having lived 20 minutes from downtown Milwaukee most of my life I can say watching Giannis in person feels that way to me. Yes everything he does on camera is incredible, but the way he impacts and dictates the game in so many levels from what you can only see in person is really amazing to watch.
Magic's style of play along with his 6.9 athletic frame, ball handling and passing skills ad to that his extremely high basketball IQ and leadership. All of which cemented his as one of the most Impressively DomInate players in basketball history on Every level. People tend to forget Magic won Championships in HS, College and 5 NBA titles and 2 straight Olympic gold medals on the Greatest Team ever assembled. If not for retirement for obvious reasons I'm sure no one can argue against him possibly winning at least 2-3 more championships. He and Larry Legend Exemplifies what a True Superstar of the sport is. They played the game the right way winning playing Team ball not caring about personal stats. They each made others on there team even better and smarter players. Magic & Bird names go hand in hand as 2 sides of the same coin.
Nah from the start of 1991, Jordan had that decade locked for him. Ain't no way beating the Bulls in 90's. 80's are for Bird, Magic and Isaiah but 90's was all Jordan.
@@kingjoshuamanatad2140 I dont think its a given. Magic was, arguably, getting better moving into the 90s. A better outside shot, and even slicker offensive awareness. The Lakers were losing Kareem around 90 regardless of Magics trajectory, but the Lakers always had major budget, and Magic was able to lead a teams offense epically well.
I have been waiting for this episode since I saw Larry Bird's episode. I hope to see many more forgotten, underappreciated or legendary players that you will make an episode for in the future. Keep up the great work!😁
I grew up in Long Beach CA in the 70's and 80's " of course I'm a Magic Johnson fan " I also watch Michigan State basketball why because of Magic Johnson.
So I live near the Detroit area in Michigan and my barber shop actually has a signed Michigan state magic Johnson jersey. They also have a signed Michigan state Kirk cousins jersey too
-Best Point Guard Ever -Arguably one if the Greatest players Who ever play Basketball -The most enterteiment player to watch in a Basketball court (must see TV) -Magic ... just MAGIC Have i anwser this silly question??
Chick Hearn relayed a story about Magic. Growing up they would watch games on TV and if someone had a big scoring night Magic would get hyped. But his dad would chime in and say that if someone has a big scoring night it means SOMEONE is getting him the ball. And the became a theme for Magic, placing emphasis on play making and passing.
The two most impressive things about Magic Johnson ( and there is a lot to be impressed by) how he made others better his most impressive individual stat his assists per game for his career is number one all time in the regular season and the playoffs
The absolute best point guard ever to lace up; the best team leader ever in the NBA and I won't even mention his rebounds, assists and steals. If I was starting a team it would begin with #32. He made all those around him much better players.
My grandfathers (papa) favorite player was Magic. Papa was a badass firefighter in LA County. Moved to Oregon in the 80, so i was raised as a blazer fan. So many good memories watching NBA on NBC with Ahmad Rashad. Any lakers cards i got i would give to Papa. 😂❤️
In the span of 4 years: High School Champion, NCAA Champion, and NBA Champion. The only Rookie to be NBA Finals MVP. And he did this all before he turned 21 years old! 21 YEARS OLD!! There hasn't been anyone since 1980 who has come close to accomplishing what Magic did in those 4 years. Of all the records that have stood the longest, I don't think any player will ever match Magic being the only rookie to win NBA Finals MVP.
The TRUE G.O.A.T...Magic...6'9" Mr. Do-it-All, played every position...the creator of 'Showtime', Mr. Triple-Double...and still the ONLY rookie to be named Finals MVP (age 20) after replacing Kareem. Nine trips to the finals (five rings). (3-time league MVP), (3-time Finals MVP), (9-time All-NBA First Team), (12-time All-Star) (All Star MVP). All in a career that abruptly ended early.
Magic 🪄 in my opinion I think he would have been the goat 🐐 if he didn’t retire early because of HIV he would’ve played for a while his game didn’t rely on scoring a lot of points to win championships 🏆 it relied on passing the rock having fun and being a good teammate and also scoring in the clutch when needed that man went to 9 finals people need to talk about this guy more I’m telling you ❤😊
Nonstop Sports i love this kind of video on how good was this player you need to do more of this like next how good was david robinson and other legend men
You guys should do this type of video for Patrick Ewing or Ben Wallace. Two Hard nosed big men who in my opinion never get enough recognition in the conversation of great centers.
@Nonstop Sports great documentary love the previous ones too such as wilt Chamberlain and kareem Abdul Jabbar, may I suggest that please make a prime Shaq video but in all honesty damn thx one of the best sports channels in RU-vid by far. Cheers brother
Other than traveling and dribbling above the shoulder(carrying). Magic was incredible. He could do anything on the court. Greatest point guard ever, then Stockton.
the best pointguard of all time. Curry is a fake pointguard. Just a glorified shooting guard. This man was a 6'9 fella that had the movement of a 6'3 point guard. His passes were otherworldly.
When Michael Jordan says he's the greatest point guard of all time, then he's the greatest point guard of all time. 9 finals appearances in 11 years says it all. The two years they didn't make it Magic broke his leg in the early 80s and pulled a hamstring the year after Kareem retired when they were undefeated in the playoffs. Game 6 against the Sixers in the 1980 finals is arguably the greatest performance of all time, particularly after Kareem got injured in game 5 and the pressure mounted. 42 points 15 rebounds 7 assists 4 steals 14-14 from the freethrow line. Complete domination. Sixers Coach Billy Cunningham said that is the greatest performance he has ever seen. And Magic was a mere 20 years old. Jordan, Magic, Bird. The trifecta. Take your pick. It took Kobe 20 years to get 5 rings and LeBron 20 to get 4. Magic had 5 in 11 years, nearly half the time, and easily could have had more, having been in his prime when he got hiv. Kobe and LeBron couldn't carry Magic's jock.
It's hard to put your finger on it, but if you watch the Lakers when Johnson was in the game versus when he was sitting out, they just weren't the same team. They looked different and played different. Isaiah Thomas said "every time he came down the court, he wasn't looking to beat you. He was looking to humiliate you." I swear Magic knew when the other guys were blinking, because he would rocket passes past one or two guys that should not have worked -- but did game after game.
It's hard for me, as someone who's only ever seen the same 15 highlights from Magics career, to put him as the best pg ever, especially with never seeing him clips of knocking down 3s or jumpshots. Tbh I can't get the memory of his odd looking shooting form from that all star game. That's the only time I ever got to watch him play on TV.
Great …..size, speed, strength, could shoot the three….could finish, court vision unparalleled….but who knows how good he could of been without the severe knee surgery early on in the pros….before that end to end no body better…except Jordan….but so impressive the way he came back from that …shows his character…..he was a big man…6’9 point guard…..tough to do on a so so knee…
