1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers: That Magic Season Part 1/3

Los Angeles picked Earvin "Magic" Johnson, an electrifying 6-9 point guard who had led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship. "Showtime" had arrived, and a dynasty was established almost overnight.

The 1979-80 season was one of intense drama for the Lakers. With the team at 10-4, Head Coach Jack McKinney suffered a serious injury in a bicycle accident and was replaced by Paul Westhead. The Lakers rallied to finish the season at 60-22, tops in the Pacific Division. Inspired by NBA All-Rookie Team member Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar turned in the best all-around performance of his career and earned his sixth and final Most Valuable Player Award. The Lakers were talented and deep-Jamaal Wilkes, Jim Chones, and Abdul-Jabbar made for an intimidating front line, and the backcourt of Johnson and Nixon could stand up to any guard tandem in the country. The Lakers' bench included Michael Cooper and Spencer Haywood.

Los Angeles walked all over Phoenix and Seattle in the first two rounds of the playoffs, taking each series in five games. The NBA Finals pitted the club against the Julius Erving-led Philadelphia 76ers, and the two teams split four close games to start the series. Abdul-Jabbar sprained his ankle in Game 5 but still scored 40 points to give the Lakers a 108-103 win.

Abdul-Jabbar was unable to play in Game 6, but Johnson stepped up to turn in one of the most remarkable performances in NBA Finals history. Still just a 20-year-old rookie, Johnson moved from guard to center and tallied 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, single-handedly carrying the Lakers to a 123-107 victory and the NBA Championship. Johnson earned the first of three NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kareem
• Abdul-Jabbar
• Magic
• Johnson
• Jamaal
• Wilkes
• Norm
• Nixon
• Michael
• Cooper
• Julius
• Erving
• Andrew
• Toney
• Bobby
• Jones
• Maurice
• Cheeks
• Darryl
• Dawkins
• Showtime
• Lakers
• Philadelphia
• 76ers
• 1980
• NBA
• Finals
• yt:crop=16:9

[Flipper79able]

A lot of people get caught up in the fact that this was Magic's rookie season and he won a championship right off the bat but let's not forget people that Kareem won the MVP this year. Kareem was the best player in the NBA this season. Amazing effort by Bird who won rookie of the year and led Boston from last place to the best record in the league. The biggest single season turnaround in NBA history. WOW.

[irod13]

@sweetdebra777 Even "Magic" himself said "There's Michael Jordan and then, there's the rest of us."

[jlee562]

@sweetdebra777 and of course, this is coming from a girl who cant even spell jordan's name right. smh

[sweetdebra777]

Magic is and always will be the greatest player in the nba jordon is so over rated so love to all my magic johnson fans ~~Debra~~

[AnotherStatsGuy]

my bad @ 4:02

[AnotherStatsGuy]

What is that song that starts @ 4:04 with Dr. J dribbling?

[radiodj1520]

In This Clip, From 0:00 To 0:46, It Was "The 1980 NBA Playoffs And Championship Series" Video Open From 1980.

[wizeman5974]

@TheEntertainmentonly Not only Cowens, but Pete Maravich. His last season was '80 and he as well as Cowens only played that year with Larry Bird. Think of Bird, Parrish, Cowens, Maravich, Maxwell, and McHale all playing together (McHale was a rookie with the Celtics in their '81 championship season).

[Angelslover9]

where was the nba draft hosted in new york city but the building

[ErikS1975FreeState]

All the Lakers were missing was Magic to become NBA Champions