Being from LA and being a Lakers fan, Magic was and still is my favorite player. Watching him play was like watching poetry in motion. He could have been like Jordan, but he was unselfish in the sense that he wanted the players around him to be involved and share in on the glory. If you had even the slightest advantage to score, Magic had no problem making that pass. And who he is off the court....just an awesome guy with the biggest smile. A great player, but an even more amazing human being. 👍
@@leoyu2101 You’re right. Jordan would never make that pass unlike Magic. Jordan was the ultimate 1v1 player while Magic was the ultimate team player. Mad respect for both guys, but I’d rather hang out with Magic than Jordan based off their personalities.
I'm in Italy and not in LA and being a Lakers and a Magic fan too, I had the fortune of having seen him playing in Milan in 1994. To me the Basketball made as a man, absolute poetry and talent, I agree 100% with your vision.
Since the 1990's the rules of basketball were changed so that teams could no longer depend on superstar players but all members had to work together to win.
I just got a tear. IDK why? 🏀 Magic. I didn't develop an appreciation for his SKILLS until I got older. Never a Laker fan. But I love his passion and smile for the game itself...
I hate the Celtics But as a grown man i have learned to respect all of their legends.. Danny Larry Kev have broke my heart numerous times. Found out Danny was one of the best high school athletes ever and i found out how many moves Kev had and i already knew about Bird.. One of the best teams of all time
That's what was great about bb back then, they played to win, not for showmanship like today. There is no longer respect between players in the NBA, and only getting worse. Refs don't even make correct calls themselves. Game is getting worse.
What can you say about Magic.He made it look so easy.I AM 74 YEARS OLD NOW.AFTER HAVING SEEN BIRD MAGIC AND JORDAN. I AM CONVINCED WE WILL NEVER SEE THE LIKES OF THEM AGAIN.WHAT A ERA IT WAS.
They were absolutely great, but so are the players now. You can sit in your bubble and not appreciate the game for what it is now, or you can watch and enjoy. I guarantee magic, Jordan, and bird are watching
He made basketball exciting to watch because he dominated the game by involving his teammates in so many ways! Anyone playing in team sports would want a player like Magic.
When Magic came into the NBA as a 6' 9" guard, he revolutionized the game! Then you add Larry Bird to the mix, the 80's was the best era for basketball. Magic was simply to big and skilled for anyone to stop him!!
@@TheOnefalcon07 Bird always said that Magic was the best player ever, even better than Jordan and Magic thought Bird was the best player ever! I preferred both of them over Jordan because they made everyone they played with better with their astonishing passing!...And one other thing: The NBA let Jordan break the rules by carrying the ball & traveling...Watch all these highlights and Magic never once carried the ball or traveled! Same with Bird! Both guys played the game the way it was meant to be played!
@@tommyrawlings3046 I couldn't agree more about Jordan. I loved the Magic show and his rivalry with Bird. Another I would add is Doctor J. He was smooth... nobody has ever played like him since.
1980 Finals. Magic playing Center for an injured Kareem is forever my greatest memory. Not only did they win but he was MVP. Btw. He was a rookie. This is why Magic was the most valuable player to ever wear a uniform. He could do anything at the highest level Game 6. 42-15 stat line.
My favorite player ever. The Magic man delivered us championships through the 80s, when I went from being an 8 year old just getting into basketball until I was a senior in high school. Then my freshman year at UCLA, looking forward to years of battling the hated Bulls, suddenly it was all over. Career cut way too short and yet he was still considered the best point guard ever, and still is in my opinion. Because he did exactly what a point guard is supposed to do. He made everyone around him better; he only took matters into his own hands when he had to, and then he had such a will to win and was so creative he usually left the other team shaking their heads in disbelief. The baby skyhook against the Celts in Boston to win it all was just…just…the balls on that guy though. Icewater for blood, the Proto-Mamba. The ultimate competitor but off the court the guy with the hugest smile even non-basketball fans knew. He was the glue that made Showtime so special, and with all respect to Kobe, who I loved so much and still do, it’s gotta be Earvin Magic Johnson who made basketball the most special for me personally.
Nobody that big ever played like that before. Magic was 6'9'' playing guard in the '80s. He filled in at center any time they needed him to. He was probably their best center! I was a Celtics fan, but I liked the whole Laker team, except for Kareem. Everybody remembers the offense, but I remember the defense. Any time they wanted, they could dial up the full-court press and just suffocate opponents. Make them fight just to make it to half court, and turn every rebound into a fast-break. I was rooting for the other guys, but that was a thing of beauty.
Man, the best thing about Magic is that he was a hell of a team player. Nowadays, the best players want to keep the attention on them (not a problem, it creates some amazing plays), but you'd be looking a while to find a player that _could_ dunk and score to his heart's content, but decides in passing at the last millisecond to simply look cool and make his teammates look cooler. What a fucking legend.
As a Lakers season ticket holder from the 79-80 season thru the 2011-12 season, I saw the Lakers win 10 chips during that time... and to this day, Magic is still my all-time favorite player. My personal goat. The Showtime Lakers of the 80's were truly special.
I could watch Magic highlights all day long. It was always "Show time!" You could tell he enjoyed the game and made the fans love it too! It was always FAN-tastic!
I was a Celtic fan but when a friend called and said he had tickets to the Knicks/Lakers at MSG which were nearly impossible to get I said *of course I want to see Magic* . We sat in the 10th row from the court and YES ...I AM BRAGGING!!
He may not be the goat.. But damn sure should be in the Debate ... Irony is He's a victim of making his team mates & team better. A more selfish Magic would have stood out more individually.
Second greatest player I’ve ever seen, and also involved in the greatest rivalry in sports I’ve ever seen. All respect to magic. Coming from a Celtics fan
That wasnt my experience with him. As a teen magic was my favorite player. We waited for the players to come out after a game. There were around ten kids total and he wouldn't sign one autograph and telling us "I ain't got time for this shit" while literally slapping pens out of kids hands. He was an asshole. Other players like worthy, cooper, rambis, and pat riley signed autographs for everyone that night. He could of had a bad day I dont know. Now clyde Drexler on the other hand nicest athlete I ever met
Johnson's height gave him a built-in advantage over any guard he faced and gave the appearance of him 'bullying' smaller players. However, there's no denying his greatness - and when you review the tapes you realize he wasn't bullying shorter players but in fact was 'doing his thing' against opponents' forwards and centers (McHale, etc.). Dude was fantastic.
He actually played as a centre when Karim was injured in the finals and score some 40 points or something..had a good 30 rebounds I think as well... lol..The guy was Magic.
It's like when I try to explain to kids these days how good John Elway was and they automatically want to go check the stats, and I'm like "Forget the stats!". Similar with Magic, yeah he wasn't dropping 40pt games on the regular but the guy is definitely a Mt Rushmore of basketball type of player.
Magic is not just a 5 time NBA champion player, he put sport into a show where show time comes from and that's what LA represents in the world - city of entertainment. If Jordan is the greatest player in basketball, Russell is the greatest championship winner, Olajuwon is the greatest defender, Kobe is the most hard working and educational basketball player, VC the greatest dunker, Iverson the greatest dribbler, Curry and Durant are the greatest shooters, LeBron and Pippen are the greatest all rounder, O'Neil and Champlain are the most dominant basketball player ,then Magic would be the greatest leader in basketball 🏀, salute to all of them.
@@josephjoestar6679 I can tell you're stupid....totally different set of rules and style of play....this current era is physically inferior to the 80's and 90's style....but magic was an open court player, he'd average 15+ assist a game with today's open style...curry couldn't handle the physicality of magic's era...not all about scoring and shooting 30 footers!!...
Magic is and always will be my GOAT! He made me love basketball.I was blessed to see him play against the Cavs ( which was a blow out for the Lakers )back in the 82-83 or 83-84 season at Cleveland. I was amazed. And I will cherish watching him and the Lakers for as long as i am.
Crazy he dominated with average speed and no hops. He was big like a power forward but had the handles and grace of a guard. His vision and anticipation were off the charts. He got the most out of what God blessed him with.
Im continually amazed at his awareness of the people around him and athletecism.... What is really crazy to me is how the people around him kept up! He was so quick and athletic, i dont know how they realized in a split second he was doing a crazy mid-air wrap around, and the ball was about to suddenly be in their hands.
most underrated player ever ..... he would be dominant in any era, included the actual one the 1st artist of the game and 9 Finals in 12 years ..... absolutely top. In the top 5 ever, the PG role is his without any doubt
@@bastousien NO you mean Lebron.. a guy that reaches finals almost every year as the team leader and ball handler. Durant is not close to either of them in either regard.
Who says he is Underrated? Many including me think he was the best player of 80’s and five rings and a college title and he is easily a top 5-10 player: Players I think was better: Jordan Lebron Kareem, Russel off top of my head but if people think he is one of greatest, ok even though He was the best of his generation and let’s leave it there
Que bueno que están poniendo estas jugadas, las vi todas por la televisión en ese mismo momento, para mí fue el mejor jugador de la NBA. Dios bendiga a Magic Johnson.
I went through the 90’s as a huge Bulls/Jordan fan, but there was never any doubt that Magic was a special talent, and one of the best players of all time.
It was a delight to watch him during the eighties. Had the chance to watch him in a exhibition game in early 90's, after his retirement, and the guy still had the touch.
Well done. As a lifelong Lakers fan, some of my earliest memories are my parents screaming at the television as the Lakers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the Bill Russell Celtics. Crushing Boston on their home floor in '85 after the debacle of the '84 finals. I was waiting for the Jump Hook. Nice to see it made the top spot, as is fitting.
And it is important to consider that the finals that finals that he loses were against super teams like the Bad Boys, Celtics of Larry Bird and Philadelphia 76 of Dr. J and Moses Malone.
Not too much of a basketball fan BUT I always appreciated the athleticism from guys like Magic Johnson, The Big O, Pistol Pete, and even more so from the little guys like Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues and Bob Cousy. Of course Michael Jordan's name is spotlighted when the subject of basketball comes up, but sometimes takes away from the other greats I just mentioned.
That's four periods, which I would argue is a bit excessive. Here's how I arrived at that total. Counting from the word "ever" we see an actual period, then the word "period" twice, followed by another actual period. Also, I don't agree that it's the greatest NBA shot ever. And I was a huge fan who watched it live. For one thing, there was an easy pass to Kareem, so I'd argue that Magic made up his mind too soon. For another, it's just not that great a shot. Ever see Steph Curry play?
I'm a white boy who can shoot, but can't run or jump, so I really appreciate two black players, Magic Johnson & Earl the Pearl Monroe who could do everythig that I, all of us, dreamed of doing. They were so good at what they did & it was so entertaining that it was impossible to be jealous. Looking back on it, I'm not only glad I saw them in person; I'm grateful that they are on RU-vid anytime I want to see them again. I should also say that Larry Bird was on a par with them.
Was looking forward to this fast break,where Magic looked Hard at a teammate to his left,then threw a no-look to a teammate ahead,to his Right😳(best no-look pass I've ever seen🤯)
Back when 2 steps meant 2 steps, not 2 steps plus however many you want to take to "gather" the ball into some kind of fully held position. It's amazing how good some of these guys were back then while actually having to dribble up until the end of their possession.
I literally had to stop go back and slow it down to see how the hell he did those moves. Mind you I watched him in College and said he’s going to be unstoppable 🏀 at 6’9” and can dribble,pass, run the floor, shoot and defend truly a GOAT 🏀
Nice set of highlights. There was something about the superstars from that era that were just unreal. Todays athletes are absolutely incredible, but nothing beats the Magic/Bird/MJ era
Nossa, época que era uma magia de acompanhar a maioria dos esportes, os caras eram magos, espalhava magia nos jogos, hoje em dia é só força e velocidade.
but UK encourages all. basketball and nfl regular seasons are held there. they play rugby too. cricket is the national sports but soccer is the popular one.
Getting 100 here. Pretty much everything that Magic did was special. He is truly one of the greatest ever to play the game. From his 42 points, 15 boards, 7 assists in the 1980 finals, the the skyhook that he shot over Kevin Mchale(however it's spelled) in the 87 finals. To leading a CBA worthy roster(excluding Worthy) to the NBA finals against Jordan's stacked Bulls. Clearly, even ill, Magic was really something extremely very special. Yeah, DEF one of the GOAT players in NBA history
Lakers were so good back then (team game) and Magic was able to help his team so many ways. He had very few hiccup moments that so many of the other top greats could not avoid. He also played when the league might have been at its most competitive. I'd argue that the 5 titles Magic and the Lakers earned during this time may have been the most difficult 5 for any other player/team.
I think the 84 Finals would be his lowest point before ascending to beat player of 80’s (with Bird being like 1B, but I think Magic was just slightly better due to being a better athlete
As a die-hard Celtics fan from Massachusetts, it kills me to say just how TRULY GREAT Magic Johnson really was. I loved/hated that guy!!! A total class-act as both a player & a human being.
A magia das pessoas acontecem de forma de que nem sequer saibamos como acontece, porém ele nos deu o presente, de suas cestas magníficas seja de ( ala , pivô, ou de qualquer outra posição e ainda não esqueceu de mencionar o seu colega de quadra, que estava lesionado, Magic, você nos trouxe magia nas emoções do seu basquete obrigado cara.