The 79-80 championship game was perhaps the single greatest performance in the history of the NBA. A rookie comes into the league, leads his team to the championship series, plays all floor positions, replaces the most prolific scorer in the history of the game, and has a monumental game. God, how I miss his game.
@prodiggy13 i'm not really a Lebron James fan but you cannot not knock his passing skills. Thats why Lebron kind of reminds me of Magic only because of Lebrons passing skills. They were both very physical. Magic was 6,9 Lebron is6'8. Both were 235 plus. Its not really a crime if your a basketball fan. Lebron has not accomplished anything yet but eventually he will get his ring.
@Legendofzoom Lebron is closer to 260... Magic played at about 220. Their games had a lot of differences. But both are unselfish. However I think LBJ is closer to Magic than Michael.
Magic Johnson was a much better player then Bird. Most people who disagree are always white rednecks who are probably just racist. Seriously! & before anybody posts anything about me: I happen to be a white guy from Texas, and not a gangsta-wanna-be, so don't bother with any racist comments
Also, the Boston did have a lot of good players: McHale, Walton, Parish, DJ, etc. The reason why they could never beat L.A. is for a very simple reason:
To say that most people who think Bird is better is racist is a comment that could only be made by a full blown retard. I live in New England and everyone loves him here, black or white. We had Mchale and Parish but Kareem was a multiple MVP winner and scoring Champion. If you look at Birds stats they are all better than Magic except for assists. You my friend are a moron.
Uhm well,i think everyone can score,everyone can rebound but its not like everyone can assist,its the unselfish action on court and magic always put on a show when he came on court and assist his teammates ;)
Bird had plenty of assists, in fact Magic was one of the few that had more. But Bird could also score, rebound steal, plus he was an awesome 3 point and free throw shooter. Bird took his team from last place to one of the best teams in the league, thats why he got rookie of the year.
Well then your case is never going to rest and has never rested in the first place. Especially by just simply repeating the same contested points over and over. For example:
P1: Bush is way better than Clinton b/c he didn't cheat on his wife.
P2: Many polls say that Clinton was better.
P1: Bush is way better than Clinton b/c he didn't cheat on his wife.
P2: Didn't I just say that the polls reveal the opposite?
P1: I'll just repeat the same point until people agree w/ me.
He wasnt though. It is very close but the truth is nobody was better than Larry Bird at his peak. They had some similarities but Magic didnt beat Bird.
Larry Bird was a Killer.
The Lakers beat the Celtics. They were both great teams the Lakers were just a little greater.
Kareem didnt won them for la. Its like saying Karl Malone is an all time great and a hall of famer becoz he is too good. No. Karl Malone was great becoz of John Stockton. The same way with Magic and LA. Kareem may be the lead actor and Worthy, Scott, Rambis and Cooper in supporting roles. But Magic is the DIRECTOR. He made the game so easy for these guys.
Nothing will take away Magic's win over Bird in college. But during their professional careers:
1984 Finals MVP: Larry Bird
1985 Finals MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1987 Finals MVP: Magic Johnson
The only other Finals MVP for the Celtics was Cedric Maxwell who got traded for Bill Walton in '85-'86. Unfortunately, Walton was injured and didn't play for the '87 finals. James Worthy was also the '88 Finals MVP. Let's not forget that Michael Cooper (DPOY '87) always guarded Bird.
@ErickKing91 Huh, you don't know your History very well do you? Bird one once and Magic one twice. Bird was 84 and Magic was 85 and 87. I guess a lot of people don't know their facts considering you got 4 thumbs up.
@ErickKing91 I think they're very comparable players. It takes a team to win a championship and Magic had the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time-leading-scorer and James Worthy, ranked among the top 25 NBA players in history (at the time). Larry Bird had only 1 other all-star on his team - McHale and that guy didn't compare to the top talent surrounding Magic..
@Sovnarkom what about robert parish, one of the top centers of all time, a 20,000 point scorer in his career? dennis johnson, one of the best perimeter defenders in history, a 5 time all star and the 1979 NBA Finals MVP? Cedric Maxwell, danny ainge, bill walton? these guys weren't exactly slouches in their day either. yes, magic had a great team around him but so did bird. to win in the 1980s, you needed a GREAT team, it was that tough.
@Laydeezmancris Parish completed a pretty amazing front court for the Celtics but the 80s Lakers had the most talent of any team in that era. -> Only the post-Moses Malone 76ers who almost swept the playoffs in 83 are comparable.
Moses, Kareem, Hakeem .... even Patrick Ewing was better than Robert Parish. He was a great player but not someone who could equalize the talent gap between those teams enough to make the Magic vs Byrd by chip count conclusion worth a damn.
@Sovnarkom i don't necessarily think thats true as ive just pointed out that the Celts had a pretty comparable list of stars. but in any case, having talent does not necessarily mean you will always win. the 84 sixers and 87 pistons were talented too but they didn't win because they got outplayed - simple as that. ewing better than parish? stop with the jokes my friend. parish was far more skilled than ewing could ever dream. a better scorer, rebounder, low post player than ewing. that's silly!
@Laydeezmancris You think that Parish was a better rebound-er than Ewing when Parish had 9.1 rebounds per game compared to Ewing's 9.8? You think he's a better scorer then Ewing when he only scored 14.5 points per game compared to Ewing's 21 points per game? ... and I'm silly?
Please, step away from the keyboard and watch some games.
@ErickKing91 you forget that bird only played 3 of them and that allot of celtics top players was injured when they faced each other. and if the celtics wouldn't have so many injuries they would probably won a couple more championships.
@ErickKing91 They only played 3 finals against each other. Bird won in 84, Magic won in 85 and 87. Had the Lakers made the 86 finals, it woudl have been tied 2-2 between them cause the Celtics of 86 were unstoppable.
That's a lie! Did you not watch the above clip bad2dabone!? Magic won the game without Kareem! BTW: The Lakers of the 80's won FIVE NBA titles. Not three. Don't confuse them with Boston. :-)
The 79-80 championship game was perhaps the single greatest performance in the history of the NBA. A rookie comes into the league, leads his team to the championship series, plays all floor positions, replaces the most prolific scorer in the history of the game, and has a monumental game. God, how I miss his game.
lamontlewis 2 months ago
Is magic the only player to win a championship in his rookie year?
HaganeGinga 3 months ago
@HaganeGinga no, but he is one of the few
lier123654789 2 months ago in playlist More videos from theehibachi
this will never be done again. a rookie, playing every position, with a stat line like that..yeah, never again
beastmode40205 4 months ago
He's truly a inspirational player. We need somebody like him in the NBA right now
iChan1229 7 months ago
@iChan1229 what are you talking about we have 'lebron 'queen'' james now he is more inspirational than Earvng Johnson lol
Vergecurtis 5 months ago
5:39-5:46 thats in 2k insider
theNL9 7 months ago
lol i wish he stayed in school another year
assman3467 7 months ago
magic johnson
"Showtime"
nothing in NBA history or future can ever compare to that!
thamasstamind 8 months ago
Hahah, man, i love the way Magic looks like a 10 year old kid having the time of his life, every time he smiles.
Jurgemaister1 1 year ago
magic one of the best overall bballers ever
larrylove973 1 year ago
Magic laughs like he's stoned out of his mind!!!
rrrjjjmmm100 1 year ago 2
why is daryll dawkins wearing a necklace lol
forgethefancyname 1 year ago
@forgethefancyname he's an NBA pimp daddy mack,pimpin' out the cheerleaders after the game dummy!!!
rrrjjjmmm100 1 year ago
Magic is oficially my favorite sportler and also (i think) the best basketball player in the history !!
warcraft1234p 1 year ago
Magic was better than Bird and I'm saying this as a fan of Boston. There's no shame in saying that though. They were both great players.
BananasInTheSand 1 year ago
@BananasInTheSand ur a racist
rrrjjjmmm100 1 year ago
@rrrjjjmmm100 How in the hell is he a racist for saying that comment?
MIKESOWELL 9 months ago
ur kiddin right?
DeadmanTaha 1 year ago
he's probably the most versatile player that has ever played the game
dylaniiii 1 year ago 2
did he ever do a turnover?? xD
DeadmanTaha 1 year ago
@DeadmanTaha yes he holds the lakers franchise record for most turnovers
323POLLO13 1 year ago
6:38 You hear Magic Laugh? like a Pimp!!! LMAO!!!
SuperLil2pac 1 year ago
@SuperLil2pac LOL... Classic Magic.
dj021680 1 year ago
6:38 this is the coolest shit i ever heard Magic say. did you hear the laugh? LMAO!!!! THAT'S MY DOG!!!
SuperLil2pac 1 year ago
I hope Lebron James switches to PG. WHo could be the next MAGIC
Legendofzoom 1 year ago
@Legendofzoom
James has no skill just atleticism,
Magic would school LeBron, Hell Rookie Jordan was way better the LeBron.
It's a crime to compare LeBron to any NBA Legend because LeBron has accomplished nothing.
prodiggy13 1 year ago
@prodiggy13 i'm not really a Lebron James fan but you cannot not knock his passing skills. Thats why Lebron kind of reminds me of Magic only because of Lebrons passing skills. They were both very physical. Magic was 6,9 Lebron is6'8. Both were 235 plus. Its not really a crime if your a basketball fan. Lebron has not accomplished anything yet but eventually he will get his ring.
Legendofzoom 1 year ago
@Legendofzoom Lebron is closer to 260... Magic played at about 220. Their games had a lot of differences. But both are unselfish. However I think LBJ is closer to Magic than Michael.
dj021680 1 year ago
4:47 whatever happen to dancing Barry? Is he still alive? lmao
Legendofzoom 1 year ago
2:05 Young Playboy Owner Doctor Jerry Buss ..Smiling lmao
Legendofzoom 1 year ago
Magic s smile shows he is much hotter basketball player than U!!!!
javiervelazco25 2 years ago
I really beleive that if magic had wanted to be a scorer instead of an assist man, their would be no debate at all over who the greatest player was.
lukatme2 2 years ago
He doesnt have the championships Magic have. 5 NBA and 1 College
showtime0402 2 years ago
is that a good thing or bad thing?
Yoseph107 2 years ago
There should be an actual movie of Magic Johnson about his life and Denzel Washington should play the role of Magic!!!
Yoseph107 2 years ago
you're onto something...
TEHtaytay 2 years ago
Denzel is too short. He would need midgets in the movie.
tamapalagi 2 years ago
magic has a really silly horse laugh, i wonder if that's how he sound like at his booty mansion!
tarkatower 2 years ago
Comment removed
tarkatower 2 years ago
20 year old rookie hits for 42 points in a nba finals game WOW!
kingbee10 2 years ago 35
Magic Johnson was a much better player then Bird. Most people who disagree are always white rednecks who are probably just racist. Seriously! & before anybody posts anything about me: I happen to be a white guy from Texas, and not a gangsta-wanna-be, so don't bother with any racist comments
Also, the Boston did have a lot of good players: McHale, Walton, Parish, DJ, etc. The reason why they could never beat L.A. is for a very simple reason:
L.A. had Magic. Boston did not.
Cased closed.
Zeeboe 3 years ago
To say that most people who think Bird is better is racist is a comment that could only be made by a full blown retard. I live in New England and everyone loves him here, black or white. We had Mchale and Parish but Kareem was a multiple MVP winner and scoring Champion. If you look at Birds stats they are all better than Magic except for assists. You my friend are a moron.
Flipper79able 2 years ago
Uhm well,i think everyone can score,everyone can rebound but its not like everyone can assist,its the unselfish action on court and magic always put on a show when he came on court and assist his teammates ;)
Acientking88 2 years ago
Bird had plenty of assists, in fact Magic was one of the few that had more. But Bird could also score, rebound steal, plus he was an awesome 3 point and free throw shooter. Bird took his team from last place to one of the best teams in the league, thats why he got rookie of the year.
Flipper79able 2 years ago
Man I can't get enough of that music in the Sixers series.. .I need that to work out to.
jonQuest82 3 years ago
i REPEAT:
Magic vs. Bird =
Play 4 Finals Between Them!!!!
Magic Win 3 Finals vs. Bird Win 1 Final.
I Rest My Case!!!
ErickKing91 3 years ago
According to the logic then Bill Russell must own Wilt Chamberlain.
ExplosiveThinMan 3 years ago
Yes!!!
ErickKing91 3 years ago
How many times can you rest the same case? lol!
jp3813 3 years ago
Until People Understand The Magic Always was Better then Bird!!!
ErickKing91 3 years ago 2
Well then your case is never going to rest and has never rested in the first place. Especially by just simply repeating the same contested points over and over. For example:
P1: Bush is way better than Clinton b/c he didn't cheat on his wife.
P2: Many polls say that Clinton was better.
P1: Bush is way better than Clinton b/c he didn't cheat on his wife.
P2: Didn't I just say that the polls reveal the opposite?
P1: I'll just repeat the same point until people agree w/ me.
P2: n00b
jp3813 3 years ago
He wasnt though. It is very close but the truth is nobody was better than Larry Bird at his peak. They had some similarities but Magic didnt beat Bird.
Larry Bird was a Killer.
The Lakers beat the Celtics. They were both great teams the Lakers were just a little greater.
ExplosiveThinMan 3 years ago
Kareem didnt won them for la. Its like saying Karl Malone is an all time great and a hall of famer becoz he is too good. No. Karl Malone was great becoz of John Stockton. The same way with Magic and LA. Kareem may be the lead actor and Worthy, Scott, Rambis and Cooper in supporting roles. But Magic is the DIRECTOR. He made the game so easy for these guys.
tin2975tin 3 years ago
Somebody can tell me the Name of the song at the 6:14 min. of this Video???
Thankx!!!!
ErickKing91 3 years ago
Magic vs. Bird =
Play 4 Finals Between Them!!!!
Magic Win 3 Finals vs. Bird Win 1 Final.
I Rest My Case!!!
ErickKing91 3 years ago 15
Nothing will take away Magic's win over Bird in college. But during their professional careers:
1984 Finals MVP: Larry Bird
1985 Finals MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1987 Finals MVP: Magic Johnson
The only other Finals MVP for the Celtics was Cedric Maxwell who got traded for Bill Walton in '85-'86. Unfortunately, Walton was injured and didn't play for the '87 finals. James Worthy was also the '88 Finals MVP. Let's not forget that Michael Cooper (DPOY '87) always guarded Bird.
jp3813 3 years ago
Magic had the better team. The fact that Bird got Indiana State to the finals is a testament to how great he was.
In the pros their supporting casts were basically even. They both had talent and it was a better guage than that one college game.
ExplosiveThinMan 3 years ago
They only met 3 times. 1984, 1985, 1987,
Bird wins in 1984
Magic wins in 1985 and 1987.
rockjohnson80 2 years ago
@ErickKing91 Huh, you don't know your History very well do you? Bird one once and Magic one twice. Bird was 84 and Magic was 85 and 87. I guess a lot of people don't know their facts considering you got 4 thumbs up.
Flipper79able 1 year ago
@ErickKing91
magic had a better them through all of those playoffs. I'm not saying Bird is the better player, but I can't say Magic is better either.
thebrick1901 1 year ago
@ErickKing91 I think they're very comparable players. It takes a team to win a championship and Magic had the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time-leading-scorer and James Worthy, ranked among the top 25 NBA players in history (at the time). Larry Bird had only 1 other all-star on his team - McHale and that guy didn't compare to the top talent surrounding Magic..
Sovnarkom 8 months ago
@Sovnarkom what about robert parish, one of the top centers of all time, a 20,000 point scorer in his career? dennis johnson, one of the best perimeter defenders in history, a 5 time all star and the 1979 NBA Finals MVP? Cedric Maxwell, danny ainge, bill walton? these guys weren't exactly slouches in their day either. yes, magic had a great team around him but so did bird. to win in the 1980s, you needed a GREAT team, it was that tough.
Laydeezmancris 8 months ago
@Laydeezmancris Parish completed a pretty amazing front court for the Celtics but the 80s Lakers had the most talent of any team in that era. -> Only the post-Moses Malone 76ers who almost swept the playoffs in 83 are comparable.
Moses, Kareem, Hakeem .... even Patrick Ewing was better than Robert Parish. He was a great player but not someone who could equalize the talent gap between those teams enough to make the Magic vs Byrd by chip count conclusion worth a damn.
Sovnarkom 8 months ago
@Sovnarkom i don't necessarily think thats true as ive just pointed out that the Celts had a pretty comparable list of stars. but in any case, having talent does not necessarily mean you will always win. the 84 sixers and 87 pistons were talented too but they didn't win because they got outplayed - simple as that. ewing better than parish? stop with the jokes my friend. parish was far more skilled than ewing could ever dream. a better scorer, rebounder, low post player than ewing. that's silly!
Laydeezmancris 8 months ago
@Laydeezmancris You think that Parish was a better rebound-er than Ewing when Parish had 9.1 rebounds per game compared to Ewing's 9.8? You think he's a better scorer then Ewing when he only scored 14.5 points per game compared to Ewing's 21 points per game? ... and I'm silly?
Please, step away from the keyboard and watch some games.
Sovnarkom 7 months ago
@ErickKing91 you forget that bird only played 3 of them and that allot of celtics top players was injured when they faced each other. and if the celtics wouldn't have so many injuries they would probably won a couple more championships.
Vergecurtis 5 months ago
@ErickKing91 They only played 3 finals against each other. Bird won in 84, Magic won in 85 and 87. Had the Lakers made the 86 finals, it woudl have been tied 2-2 between them cause the Celtics of 86 were unstoppable.
hazmat1000 1 month ago
i didnt know magic were this famous back in the days
ConstructionMadness 3 years ago
bird owns magic .. sorry
bad2dabone20 3 years ago
Magic vs. Bird =
Play 4 Finals!!!!
Magic Win 3 Finals vs. Bird Win 1 Final.
I Rest My Case!!!
ErickKing91 3 years ago 3
no .. magic didn't won 3 finals !!! kareem won them
bad2dabone20 3 years ago
That's a lie! Did you not watch the above clip bad2dabone!? Magic won the game without Kareem! BTW: The Lakers of the 80's won FIVE NBA titles. Not three. Don't confuse them with Boston. :-)
Zeeboe 3 years ago 2
Thanks man.
Arenas90 3 years ago