This will probably never happen again...a rookie leading a team to a championship in a clinching game and win mvp..greatest PG of all-time

@TRJ2241987

6 жыл бұрын

Today I watched footage where Magic says that Kareem 100% deserved to be the series MVP, not him. Kareem averaged about 30ppg in this series and was the hero in the 4th quarter of Game 5 playing on one foot, but got no credit because he missed the final game. I think Magic is right. Magic has also pointed out time and time again that nobody ever noticed that Jamaal Wilkes scored 39 points in Game 6.

@orlmagicfan4life528

6 жыл бұрын

TRJ2241987 I need to copy paste this everywhere!😂

@bbigjohnson069

6 жыл бұрын

Magic had a lot to do with that too (Wilkes 37 pts.). Many of his assists were to Wilkes for easy baskets.

@TheKennyboy92

6 жыл бұрын

yeah it's insane what a player.

@DanielSong39

5 жыл бұрын

Bill Russell is the closest example I can think of, though Finals MVP didn't exist back then.

One thing overlooked in Magic's incredible performance: most of the night, he was being guarded by Bobby Jones, one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Jones was an NBA 1st team All-Defensive Player from 1977-1984. And STILL Magic dropped 42/15/7. That is really amazing.

@jasondunbar5369

2 жыл бұрын

Magic ❣️❣️❣️❣️

@jkbearhunter

2 жыл бұрын

As a ROOKIE

@marvinspeak3777

2 жыл бұрын

Bobby Jones Was No BUM!!!!! REAL TALK!!!!!

@jasondunbar5369

2 жыл бұрын

Special person and player 💕💕💗💕🏀💕💗😁😁😁😁

@jasondunbar5369

2 жыл бұрын

Majic was and is flame 👍👍👍👍💲💲💲🏀🏀💲💲

Bill Russell was a very wise man when it came to basketball.

@bonitaboggan8432

8 жыл бұрын

+Joel Villarreal Russell seem to know something the others assume would go the other way. They were talking about Kareem not missing a 7th game, but there was no need for a 7th game. Thus, Bill was on point when he talked about the Lakers being a fast team and sometimes a fast team can beat a big team.

@chrispalin4043

8 жыл бұрын

"Speed overcomes size" is pretty prophetic. As within 2-3 few years speed/athleticism dominated basketball. With Showtime. And it's been that way ever since

@xtian697

8 жыл бұрын

Wilt, Kareem and Olajuwon were a better overall player than russ.

@joecap2919

8 жыл бұрын

+Ball Is Life that's why Russell has 11 rings ( more than the three of them combined). What a stupid comment..lol

@williampayne2075

8 жыл бұрын

+Joe Cap in a league with 15 teams, and red aurbach as coach. Wow you think you know basketball

Magic was NCAA Finals MVP in 1979 and NBA finals MVP in 1980. Has anyone else ever done that in consecutive years?

@manuginobilisbaldspot424

8 жыл бұрын

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOPE! And likely never will again.

@nunu5245

8 жыл бұрын

Greatest Point Guard Ever. He won a ring his rookie year,man he was amazing

@hmdagoat8742

7 жыл бұрын

dape yea my 2k myplayer

@nunu5245

7 жыл бұрын

KingSplash 97 lmaooo

@mrwinfield38

7 жыл бұрын

dape hell no,but haters always find a way to talk trash!!

The fact that he did this as a rookie, playing every position, without kareem blows my mind, but it just shows how great magic was...

@hectorlopez1069

Жыл бұрын

He was magic all the way in this game.

I'd like to see MJ do that, Magic the true GOAT.

Magic's got the best smile and a smooth voice to add to that.

@JohnDoe-lb1kc

6 жыл бұрын

he's gay as fuck. teammates know it as well

@jshonsmith3399

4 жыл бұрын

@@JohnDoe-lb1kc he's married with kids

@Batchboy

Ай бұрын

He sounds like he's definitely gay ....but good player

"The pressure is on Philadelphia because they have to play THIS TEAM." -Bill Russel. The emphasis on the end was Russell saying that the focus should not be on Magic because he is playing a foreign position, but that having a faster, smoother, and versitle player like magic in the center is going to completely change the tempo and dynamic of the entire team, and that's where the real danger lies. Man, the court IQ of the OGs were on different levels. Those guys back then would just break down these teams today with a cerebral game rather than an athletic one.

@manuginobilisbaldspot424

6 жыл бұрын

The man literally won championships in the last 13 of 15 years he played organized basketball (two NCAA, 11 NBA). If I wanted to understand ANYTHING about winning in the game of basketball, the first person I'd talk to is Bill Russell. His word should be gospel if you're trying to win.

@roundtable3501

3 жыл бұрын

@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 Yep, and an Olympic gold medal as well. No one could win like bill russell.

@russellbradford4394

2 жыл бұрын

@M 9

@michaelbonhomme3219

2 жыл бұрын

Not really. It comes down to 1. An experienced Player 2. “The Player” 3. “The Player-Coach” 4. The Man There are a lot of Men who fit these prerequisites that simply DONT WORK THE GAMES💯 Gilbert Arenas injury free would be phenomenal if you watch his takes right now Kobe could do it WELL AS WELL

@noj78

2 жыл бұрын

@M derpy comment bro. Def a mufc fan.

This Magic performance is considered, for many specialists, the all-time best individual performance in a NBA match.

One of the most iconic play-by-play calls in NBA history. Brent Musberger is a legend.

You can have ur Curry but I'll have my magic

@kikeolvera2614

5 жыл бұрын

He could do anything and played any position!!

@rage2637

5 жыл бұрын

Magic was 6'9 against 6'3 PGs and the game wasn't competitive back then. Smh

@freshc9240

5 жыл бұрын

rage 263 "The game wasnt competitive back then" This is a joke, right?

@anthonynegron788

5 жыл бұрын

@@rage2637 Magic won 5x and lost 4x, how is that not competitive?

@yrnxkj7607

5 жыл бұрын

rage 263 exactly he was a freak of nature lol

NBA Finals brought me here. Already knew about this though. Magic is my favorite player of all time.

That game is what started magic on the path to greatness. He was a rookie and took it to Dr. J and Darryl Dawkins.

@vonholland64

4 жыл бұрын

Terry Jackson near impossible for sixers to be able to adjust to this and the sixers just didn’t have the same talent level

@yummyyum36719

3 жыл бұрын

Dawkins was the Shaq of his era. He used to destroy the old glass backboards. Magic manned up and played him tough as a rookie who was much lighter. Compare that to LeChump's complete lack of toughness year after year in a league that was softened up just to sell the "LeBron is the GOAT" lie. Then if you call out the lie you get called a racist as well. LeChump is not even on my top 50 list let alone the GOAT. Magic is by contrast the greatest point guard of all time and easily a top 10 player of all time.

Best game ever 1. Rookie 2. Championship game 3. Away game 4. Star injured 5. No problem

@wizard1687

3 жыл бұрын

Also, he was only 20 years old and only had 2 years of college under his belt. In an era where almost everybody still went the full 4 years to school

@PInk77W1

3 жыл бұрын

@@wizard1687 nice

@csc4781

3 жыл бұрын

And won the MVP

@200mphz06

2 ай бұрын

⁠@@csc4781Kareem won MVP in Magic’s rookie year and should have won MVP for that finals. Magic had one great game.

@csc4781

2 ай бұрын

@@200mphz06 I know Kareem won league MVP that year, I agree,Kareem had a better stat line and the offense ran through him cause it was Magic’s rookie season still a great accomplishment but I agree

A lot of people forget that Jamaal Wilkes had a great game also!

@17Helton

3 жыл бұрын

Wilkes had 37pts and 10 Rebounds. Not bad.

@michaelbonavito2927

2 жыл бұрын

yes they do

omg bill russell without gray hair :o

@vassalagem1

7 жыл бұрын

without gray hair, but already too inteligent for TV... you can see that the way he talks is too much for the reporter.

@TRJ2241987

5 жыл бұрын

Bill Russell didn't have grey hair until the early 90s

This is the greatest performance EVER in the history of the NBA!

@kingjames6203

9 жыл бұрын

Michael Delgadoi think its lebrons game 6 vs celts as a heat player

@facelessandnameless

9 жыл бұрын

Not even close! That was a great performance, but doesn't touch a 20 year old rookie becoming the finals MVP.

@kingjames6203

9 жыл бұрын

Michael Delgado umm yeah it does, lebron barely even missed and got 45 in three quarters with many many super highlight plays

@facelessandnameless

9 жыл бұрын

It's a great performance indeed. But this one, including the context, is on another level. I'm assuming your just a kid...

@kingjames6203

9 жыл бұрын

Michael Delgado im assuming u dont reason at all as ive given plenty of proof why lebrons performance was the greatest while u give only that magic got mvp as a rookie in the finals, thats nothing, it dont matter the experience dude but what they did

Bird actually won rookie of the year that year. Those 2 guys will always be linked because they were both the most versatile and high IQ players ever.

@tubenachos

7 жыл бұрын

Yeah but Larry felt burned because he watched Magic win the title.

@joecap2919

7 жыл бұрын

tubenachos do you mean in 81,84 an 86.....lol

@246kram

6 жыл бұрын

Well said in acknowledging Magic's basketball IQ...

@masterxsalvage

6 жыл бұрын

And then LeBron was created.

@missjoyceakaladyj6628

4 жыл бұрын

And of course I didn't think he was the real winner. But, Magic & Bird gave us so much pure basketball that I'll let it go.. Lakers Fan 4ever💜🙏🏽💜

What a great interview with Bill Russell before the game. Spot on comments.

This game was really transcending and even gave the nba a look into the future even tho magic was Listed at center, this was basically positionless bball, run and gun, great stuff!

the greatest pg ever to play the game and he ended up playing every position in this game! WOW! This is the greatest performance in finals history! No one will eclipse this performance unless he ends up scoring like 70 or more points. Elgin Baylor's 61 is probably number 2 for finals games right now!

@omarrodriguez6298

8 жыл бұрын

no, no one will ever eclipse this performance. when are we gonna see a rookie do this again. NEVER!!

@russellbradford4394

2 жыл бұрын

Yep

Magic was great in high school and college. He was winning his third championship. It was his first NBA championship, but he didn't appear to have the nervousness some rookies have who had never won championships at the top levels before.

@evinguidone6498

4 жыл бұрын

Very true. He looked so calm.

Magic Johnson, the best All Around Player of ALL TIME

@200mphz06

2 ай бұрын

That would be Larry Bird. Better shooter and rebounder and could pass.

I believe he is the best player of all time. versatile!!

@thkalas

4 жыл бұрын

nah...he isn't

@teranceashford3885

3 жыл бұрын

The 🐐 Magic Earvin Johnson

@thkalas

3 жыл бұрын

@@teranceashford3885 If Magic could play defense, he's be 2nd behind Jordan in the GOAT list.

@michaelbonavito2927

2 жыл бұрын

@@thkalas hes third behind bird

@thkalas

2 жыл бұрын

@@michaelbonavito2927 if he could play defence, he would be 2nd

magic knew he had to bring it ... and he made history doing it !!

The great Bill Russell with a wise and accurate prediction. The great Magic Johnson with a great performance. Great Vid.

The greatest playoff performance of all time

@facelessandnameless

9 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

Love how confident Bill Russell was in his assessment of the potential game outcome.

@wizard1687

3 жыл бұрын

It might seem over simplified, but the greatest winner in NBA history predicted this outcome spot on

I understand all the talk about MJ, but this game cemented Magics legacy I’m only his Rookie year. No other athlete could have pulled this off. The Captain is in LA nursing a bad ankle and this rookie takes LA in to the Spectrum and just crushes That Sixer team loaded with great players. What other modern era player could go on the road in a World Championship series and play every position on the floor and dominate Dr. J and his crew??

That MAGIC move, leap up in the AIR ,twist, turn, show em the ball with the right hand, finish it by SWITCHING to his LEFT!! hand and kiss the ball off the glass at 4 20 is truly MAGICAL!!!!!

greatest player of all time right there

@csc4781

9 жыл бұрын

One of them. It not the best

@4-CQL

8 жыл бұрын

+CSC It's an opinion, and it is shared by many people. You don't hold the facts. It's just opinion.

@csc4781

8 жыл бұрын

+Witness you're right Jordan is

@4-CQL

8 жыл бұрын

+CSC No, I was talking to you. You saying "One of them. It not the best" is an opinion, not a fact. Him saying Magic is the greatest is an opinion as well, and it's shared by many people, including the great Larry Bird.

@csc4781

8 жыл бұрын

+Witness Jordan GOAT that's me

Magic averaged 21.5 ppg, 11 rpg, 9 apg, and 2.7 spg in the 1980. Kareem had ridiculous numbers through five games, but it's not like Magic's were horrible and rode importantly, he played in every game and turned in arguably the greatest single same masterpiece in finals history. A worthy Finals MVP, Magic Johnson

Magic is a Legend! He the Real 1979-80 Rookie of the Year!

Watched this as a kid on tape-delay (different times). As a huge Dr. J fan, I was hearbroken, but Magic did the impossible, and as a rookie. This performance alone makes Magic perhaps the greatest rookie of all time. Tremendous.

That's why Magic is the G.O.A.T. A rookie winning the finals MVP and the championship. Nuff said. And playing with no help from Kareem. This guy is legend. #32

@jesusthemosiah6287

2 жыл бұрын

He had help the other 5 games. Including game 5 when he shot 30% and had 10 turnovers

@Mike-vo2rp

2 жыл бұрын

The goat at pg

@alanduff1054

10 ай бұрын

#7 at BEST...

Wow! What a performance. I wanted Philly in this series. But I tip my hat to the Lakers and Magic.

the single greatest basketball player of all time...

@leofonte

5 жыл бұрын

The GOAT!

@jshonsmith3399

4 жыл бұрын

That's MJ

@kout31

3 жыл бұрын

@@jshonsmith3399 Magic Johnson? 😉 I will say this though, Magic is the SMARTEST player I have ever SEEN play. I'm a 70's baby.

@imamfproblem1320

3 жыл бұрын

@@kout31well then og, coming from a fellow michigander and huge magic fan then you should know black Jesus was just something else different on that court... he just went up and stayed there... ask magic man

@kout31

3 жыл бұрын

@@imamfproblem1320 Oh yeah there's only one MJ, #23. The real goat. I was a die-hard Laker fan, but I acknowledge Mike Jordan as the best, even if it hurt my feelings, lol!

A humble and gracious man. Like his play.

Magic Johnson with the game of a lifetime.

I loved that theme music...I miss the old NBA too.

Magic defentially put on a performance that will never happen again in the NBA finals to win a championship after winning a championship in NCAA

IF YOU ARE A TRUE NBA FAN THEN YOU KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE BEST PERFORMANCE IN NBA HISTORY!!!!

@sonofaballer96

8 жыл бұрын

+Omar Rodriguez stop

@Ballinbmac

8 жыл бұрын

+sonofaballer96 bro was a rookie yes it was

@sonofaballer96

8 жыл бұрын

+Ballinbmac Greatest rookie performace but Michael Jordan's final performace against the Jazz is arguably better.

@Cinemagoer_64

8 жыл бұрын

+sonofaballer96 yes precisely against the Jazz!

@manuginobilisbaldspot424

8 жыл бұрын

No...42/15/7 on the road at 20 to win a championship >>>> beating a team that could never win the big one. Magic's performance is the best ever.

jordan didnt get it until the 7th year magic did the first year and invented the fastbreak

Interviewer: Ok that you magic. Magic: Hi mom and dad

they had magic johnson playing centre thats crazy

@jamesmorrison185

10 жыл бұрын

i seen that game that video was a joke....and the announcement was bullshit...centers dont bring the ball up court....he was great but he had a wondering position

@evinguidone6498

4 жыл бұрын

@@Mahulz lmao rekt

Trust me. Kareem was the leader of that team. He carried them through the season and playoffs Every player in the league knew it.

@TaybeenTrill248

4 жыл бұрын

It was Magic but Kareem was a monster

@Andre-cl2qt

2 жыл бұрын

Magic then Kareem who was not quite the same player later on

@rumarspencer7302

2 ай бұрын

It was Kareem's team first, then later Magic's team.

Not only did Magic have 42 points in that game, Jamaal Wilkes had 38.

@rumarspencer7302

2 ай бұрын

Wilkes 37 actually.

GOAT

@luminous420

6 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@JohnDoe-lb1kc

6 жыл бұрын

nah. but better than lebummer tho

No one player is better at making any team better than this guy is. Incredible court awareness and understanding of the game. If you're starting a new team he has to be your first choice.

Magic was a PHENOM!

Leading the team to be 1st in west conference and the NBA champion in his rookie year That's just fucking unreal Can't use any word to describe Magic's greatness

This is why I rate Magic over MJ... I'll probably cop some flak now but ah well...

Bill Russell was already an old man in this video wow!!!! Rest in Peace

The moat versatile player all time, best Laker ever, best passer ever exist, best pg all time. He is good at everything. Just EVERYTHING

I remember this game...it was on tape delay here in Memphis. Just turned 12(May 7) I MISS THE NBA ON CBS!🏀🏀

Magic is the Greatest basketball player of all time. A better player is yet to emerge.

In his hey Majic was a beast ! With no Kareem in his Rookie year take team on his back and won championship. Greatness! M

The pass at 6:57 is just sick, and he starts up the floor before coop even shoots it!

@bigjonah5503

4 ай бұрын

Hee heeee

The Lakers had lost 8 of their last 9 Finals appearances and hadn't been back in the Finals since the '72-'73 season but this Chip was the door opener to the Lakers winning 11 Chips since. Magic's performance in this game was the catalyst for all the success the Lakers franchise enjoyed after years of misery in the NBA Finals. This Chip helped lift the black cloud that hung over the franchise--it was truly the beginning of something special.

@davanmani556

Жыл бұрын

It started with Jerry Buss taking over the team. You had intellect with gambling instincts.

Magic looks so excited no anxiety at all before the biggest game of his life.

Magics young voice😂😂

And yet Magic STILL didn't win Rookie of the Year! You'd think such a season would seal it, but nope, it had to be his arch-nemesis who won it instead.

@bbigjohnson069

Жыл бұрын

Larry Bird had a bigger impact for Boston than Magic did on the Lakers. The Lakers were already a good team with Kareem, Wilkes and Nixon. Magic put them on top. Boston was horrible the year before Bird got there. He single-handedly turned them around.

I say at this stage of his career he is the best player ever !

the greatest point guard all time check the stats haters!!

Still say Magic’s performance is the best ever

bill russell prediction was spot on. a true champ.

Wow I would have to agree..this is top playoff performance ever. His HOF center out, he has to start at center and puts up those numbers? Not to mention he is straight out of college...ridiculous. This or Lebron's game 5 against Pistons are top performances ever.

The greatest performance by a rookie in NBA HISTORY

the thing about this game,it was tape delayed back then,most west coast games.see back then the tv went OFF.

Magic is the greatest player ever! Jordan couldn't ever play center and definitely not in a Championship game on the road or home. Jordan could not succeed in the 80's. Only after Boston, Detroit and the Lakers teams had won multiple rings and then began to decline did Jordan win anything. Magic at 20 years of age was making the way more experienced men to look like they were rookies. Players today don't have the maturity or pure poise and leadership to out do Magic. Not Jordan, Lebron, Curry, etc. No one compares ever to the Magic Man!

@cuttingedge2982

5 жыл бұрын

Couldn't have said it better. Not even close, these new age guys are in shape, but they can't lead, and they are all soo damn nice to each other. Too much money, not enough pride or grit. Great talents today, but at 20 none of these guys are even close to Magic.

@denniseverett1904

4 жыл бұрын

Look how excited Magic was before tipoff talking to Hot Rod. You can tell the Lakers were loose starting with him. They didn't have anything to lose in this game because of the luxury of the game 7 back home in LA if needed. The 76ers on the other hand were facing elimination but forgot that they not only needed to win but also as Bill Russell said"adjust" to the Lakers without the big fella. And with Magic playing all 5 positions it just threw a wrench(causing confusion) into their thought process.

@coryburns9161

2 жыл бұрын

I agree 100% Magic is my favorite player ever probably added 8 years to Kareem Abdul Jabber career and helped make every teammate better

One of the greatest performances by a rookie.... Especially when one considers this is the final game for championship..... And he played all positions!!

As a rookie NBA finals MVP nobody did that before.....Magic was like Lebron out there doing everything.

Magic was so much less media-savvy in 1980. It's like watching a 12-year-old Stevie Wonder.

@davanmani556

2 жыл бұрын

I think that’s what made him more endearing. John Drew was like that with the folks in Atlanta.

Greatest rookie performance ever.

geez, magic looked worried in that pre game interview. the real goat guard.

Bill Russell commentary was dead on. Amazing...

I was at that game ran on floor after lakers won magic was like a kid he gave us high fives it was awesome sixers looked like they were stuck mesmerized in forth quarter

How do you not miss a free throw in an away game 6? Think about that for a second. In 1977 he led his high school team to a championship in overtime. In 1979 he led his college team to a championship against Larry Bird's team. In 1980 he led the Lakers to the championship. In 1981 the Lakers won the championship again. That's 4 championships at 3 levels in 5 years. And that year he lost in 1978. They narrowly got beat by Kentucky in the Elite 8. Kentucky went on to win the championship that year.

@bbigjohnson069

Жыл бұрын

They didn't win in '81, they did in '82.

there are some great players... even a few greater than magic Johnson...… however this is probably the most amazing game ever played..... nba championship game, rookie playing all positions..... and dominating throughout...…. amazing!!!

Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers shock the basketball world. 🏀 Honestly, I really dont think we will ever see something like this in a long, long time. Perhaps never? Its been over 30 some years already! Id really like to hear Chick Hearn call this game from radio.

Amazing the commentary from Bill Russell. "The Sixers have to play THIS LAKERS TEAM." Takes a winner to know...

Theirs more in the series which is just so touching. His moments with Shawn touch my heart to this day.

So incredible!!

Magic is the most versatile and athletic player ever in the history of the NBA. A freak. Bill Russel and Wilt were as athletic but specialists. Dr J. Connie Hawkins and MJ also great athletes but specialists. Magic Johnson is in a league of his own when it comes to athleticism and versatility. One of the greatest players of all time and a great human being.

Magic was an amazing player.

Magic was cold blooded 🥶

I just dont understand why this man isnt the GOAT

wow, just reading the states and watching this video of magic, and top it off, magic is a rookie and had to play center i the finals and close out game. Has to be the greatest game by a player, concerding the situation of the game hands down...

He gave Dr J the damn blues

Look at Magics smile pre game. He knew he was about to cook. Very confident and charismatic. He wasn’t worried at all

Hi mom and dad..

He is 1 of the greatest of all time.

If this doesnt solidy Magic top 5, along with 5 rings, not sure what will. incredible performance. probably his best imho

if basketball uniforms reverted to this era, I would start watching nba

First NBA finals with a 3pt line , and you can see how they still shoot those deep 2s , not looking where the line even is ....

Coop got his one for the thumb prior to 91. It started for Magic and Reilly right here.

I don’t think the league has produced a player who could elevate his teammates and also dominate like Magic, literally one of a kind we’ve ever seen. He’s forever locked into the top 3 to 5 best ever to lace em up.

I don't know whether there's some camera effects beig used, or its sped up since it's an upload, but Magic was a lot quicker and faster than I ever thought.

@greglawrence1314

8 жыл бұрын

He led the league in steals a couple times early in his career. He was pretty fast in his youth.

Even Magic's pre-game interview is impressive. So poised and relaxed and he's only 20! Nobody had that combination of competitiveness and graciousness.

Thanks for posting!! Great interview with Bill Russell at start of game- he could sense LA had nothing to lose & pressure was on Philly. Great interview with Magic before & after game - such a class act!! And what a great game for Magic - did he miss any freethrows? I think not and he was everywhere on the court.