Magic Johnson

Having won everything possible at the college level, Johnson decided to leave college two years early and declared himself eligible for the 1979 NBA Draft

1979 NBA Draft

The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...

. The New Orleans Jazz

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 originally had the first draft pick, but they had traded the pick to the Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 in exchange for NBA star Gail Goodrich

Gail Goodrich

Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He is best-known for scoring a then record 42 points in the 1965 NCAA championship game vs. Michigan, and his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971–72 season...

. As a result, the Lakers drafted Johnson with the first overall pick, signing him for a sizable salary of US$

United States dollar

The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....

600,000 a year.

Johnson joined a franchise

Professional sports league organization

Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...

 which had gone though major changes. The Lakers featured a new coach in Jack McKinney

Jack McKinney (basketball)

Jack McKinney is a former college and professional basketball coach. He has served as head coach for three NBA teams--the Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers, and the Kansas City Kings...

, a new owner in Dr. Jerry Buss

Jerry Buss

Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss Ph.D., M.S. is an American businessman, real estate investor, and a former chemist. He is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team along with other professional sports franchises in Southern California...

, and several new players. However, Johnson was most excited about the prospect of playing with his personal idol, the 7–2 center

Center (basketball)

The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...

 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...

, the leading scorer in NBA history. From the first game, Johnson displayed his trademark enthusiasm for the game. When Abdul-Jabbar hit a last-second free throw

Free throw

In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...

 line hook shot

Hook shot

A hook shot, in basketball, is a play in which the offensive player, usually turned perpendicular to the basket, gently throws the ball with a sweeping motion of his arm in an upward arc with a follow-through which ends over his head. Unlike the jump shot, it is shot with only one hand; the other...

 to win against the San Diego Clippers, Johnson ran around the court, high-fiving and hugging everybody, causing concern that the "Buck" (as Johnson was called by Lakers announcer Chick Hearn

Chick Hearn

Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn was an American sportscaster. Known primarily as the long-time play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, the legendary Hearn is remembered for his rapid fire, staccato broadcasting style, inventing colorful phrases such...

 for his youth) would burn himself out. However, in that 1979–80 NBA season, the rookie proved them wrong. Johnson introduced an uptempo style of basketball which the NBA described as a mix of "no-look passes off the fastbreak, pinpoint alley-oops from halfcourt, spinning feeds and overhand bullets under the basket through triple teams". Fellow Lakers guard Michael Cooper even stated that: "There have been times when he [Johnson] has thrown passes and I wasn't sure where he was going. Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must've thrown it through somebody." This style of basketball became known as "Showtime". Given Johnson was also a prolific scorer and rebounder, he soon led the league in triple-doubles, racking up 10-points-10-rebounds-10-assists games in a rate only second to NBA Hall-of-Famer

Basketball Hall of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...

 Oscar Robertson

Oscar Robertson

Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...

. In addition, he expressed a raw, childlike enthusiasm which further endeared him to the fans.

Johnson's average of 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game was enough to make the All-Rookie Team and become a starter on the All-Star

All-star

All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...

 Team, even though the NBA Rookie of the Year Award

NBA Rookie of the Year Award

The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...

 went to his rival Larry Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...

. The Lakers compiled a 60–22 win-loss record, and with Paul Westhead

Paul Westhead

Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...

 replacing coach McKinney as a coach after a serious bicycle crash, the Lakers reached the 1980 NBA Finals

1980 NBA Finals

The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1979–80 NBA season.Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's MVP. But midway through Game 5, the Laker center suffered a severely sprained ankle. He managed to come back in the game in the 4th quarter to lead the Lakers to victory...

 against the Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...

. Against the fierce resistance of Sixers Hall-of-Fame forward Julius "Doctor J" Erving

Julius Erving

Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....

 and Darryl Dawkins

Darryl Dawkins

Darryl Dawkins is a retired American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career...

, the Lakers took a 3–2 lead before Abdul-Jabbar went down with a sprained ankle. Coach Westhead decided to put point guard Johnson at pivot instead, and on the Sixers' home court, the rookie dominated with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals

Steal (basketball)

In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...

, lifting the Lakers to a 123–107 win and winning the NBA Finals MVP award. The NBA regards Johnson's clutch performance

Clutch (sports)

In American sports terminology, "clutch" means performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, the last hole of a Major Championship golf tournament, or the final minute in a close match...

 as one of the finest individual games ever. Although only twenty years old, he had already won every trophy at the high school, college and professional levels. Johnson also became one of only four players to win NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years.

Regular season

Player	GP	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...	82	38.3	.604	.000	.765	10.8	4.5	1.0	3.4	24.8
Ron Boone Ron Boone Ronald Bruce Boone is a retired American Basketball Association player.During his years at Tech High in North Omaha, Nebraska, Boone stood 6'2" and weighed 175 pounds.... †	6	17.7	.350	NA	.857	1.8	1.2	0.8	0.0	5.7
Marty Byrnes Marty Byrnes Martin William "Marty" Byrnes is a retired American professional basketball player.Born in, Syracuse, New York, a 6'7" forward from Syracuse University, Byrnes played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas...	32	6.1	.500	NA	.867	0.8	0.4	0.2	0.0	2.0
Kenny Carr Kenny Carr Kenneth Alan Carr is a retired American basketball player.A 6'7" forward from North Carolina State University, Carr won a gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1976 Summer Olympics... †	6	17.7	.438	NA	1.000	3.4	0.2	0.4	0.2	3.2
Jim Chones Jim Chones James Bernett Chones is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" forward/center, Chones starred at Marquette University, where he earned All-America honors as a junior in 1972 after averaging 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game...	82	29.2	.489	.000	.740	6.9	1.8	0.7	0.8	10.6
Michael Cooper	82	24.1	.524	.250	.776	2.8	2.7	1.0	0.5	8.8
Don Ford Don Ford Donald J. Ford is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He was a 6'8½" , 215 lb forward. In high school, he played at Santa Barbara High School and the other forward on his teams was future UCLA and NBA star Keith Wilkes... †	52	11.2	.508	.000	.821	1.9	0.7	0.2	0.3	3.0
Spencer Haywood Spencer Haywood Spencer Haywood is a retired American professional basketball player.- High school :In 1964, Haywood moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he attended Pershing High School...	76	20.3	.487	.250	.772	4.6	1.2	0.5	0.8	9.7
Brad Holland Brad Holland John Bradley Holland is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for four years at UCLA and was the 14th player taken in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He served as a member of the 1980 NBA L.A. Lakers championship team...	38	5.2	.423	.200	.938	0.4	0.6	0.4	0.0	2.8
Magic Johnson Magic Johnson Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...	77	36.3	.530	.226	.810	7.7	7.3	2.4	0.5	18.0
Mark Landsberger Mark Landsberger Mark Walter Landsberger is a retired American professional basketball player. At 6'8" and 225 pounds, he played as a power forward and center.-Career:... *	23	16.3	.482	NA	.518	7.1	0.6	0.4	0.2	7.0
Butch Lee*	11	2.8	.308	NA	.857	0.7	0.8	0.1	0.0	1.3
Ollie Mack Oliver Mack Oliver Mack is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'3" 185 lb shooting guard and played collegiately at San Jacinto Junior College and East Carolina University.Mack was selected with the 3rd pick of the second round in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers... †	27	5.7	.420	.000	.500	0.8	0.7	0.1	0.0	1.9
Norm Nixon Norm Nixon Norman Ellard "Norm" Nixon is a retired American professional basketball player for the NBA, who spent twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers.-Early life:...	82	39.3	.516	.125	.779	2.8	7.8	1.8	0.2	17.6
Jamaal Wilkes Jamaal Wilkes Jamaal Wilkes is a retired American basketball player who played the small forward position and won four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Wilkes was also a key player in the run of NCAA championships accumulated during the John Wooden era of UCLA basketball...	82	37.9	.535	.176	.808	6.4	3.0	1.6	0.3	20.0

*Stats after being traded to the Lakers.

†Stats before being traded from the Lakers.

Playoffs

Player	GP	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...	15	41.2	.572	NA	.790	12.1	3.1	1.1	3.9	31.9
Marty Byrnes Marty Byrnes Martin William "Marty" Byrnes is a retired American professional basketball player.Born in, Syracuse, New York, a 6'7" forward from Syracuse University, Byrnes played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas...	4	2.0	.333	NA	.667	0.3	0.3	0.0	0.0	1.5
Jim Chones Jim Chones James Bernett Chones is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'11" forward/center, Chones starred at Marquette University, where he earned All-America honors as a junior in 1972 after averaging 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game...	16	27.4	.407	NA	.676	6.5	1.8	0.5	0.4	7.4
Michael Cooper	16	29.0	.407	.000	.861	3.7	3.6	1.5	0.7	9.1
Spencer Haywood Spencer Haywood Spencer Haywood is a retired American professional basketball player.- High school :In 1964, Haywood moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he attended Pershing High School...	11	13.2	.472	.000	.813	2.4	0.4	0.0	0.5	5.7
Brad Holland Brad Holland John Bradley Holland is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for four years at UCLA and was the 14th player taken in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He served as a member of the 1980 NBA L.A. Lakers championship team...	9	3.6	.500	.000	1.000	0.6	0.3	0.6	0.0	1.6
Magic Johnson Magic Johnson Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...	16	41.1	.518	.250	.802	10.5	9.4	3.0	0.4	18.3
Mark Landsberger Mark Landsberger Mark Walter Landsberger is a retired American professional basketball player. At 6'8" and 225 pounds, he played as a power forward and center.-Career:...	16	12.2	.362	.000	.833	4.3	0.1	0.2	0.1	3.4
Butch Lee	3	2.0	NA	NA	1.000	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7
Norm Nixon Norm Nixon Norman Ellard "Norm" Nixon is a retired American professional basketball player for the NBA, who spent twelve seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers.-Early life:...	16	40.5	.477	.200	.804	3.5	7.8	2.0	0.2	16.9
Jamaal Wilkes Jamaal Wilkes Jamaal Wilkes is a retired American basketball player who played the small forward position and won four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Wilkes was also a key player in the run of NCAA championships accumulated during the John Wooden era of UCLA basketball...	16	40.8	.535	.176	.815	8.0	3.0	1.5	0.3	20.3

Award winners

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
  
  , NBA Most Valuable Player
• Magic Johnson
  Magic Johnson
  Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
  
  , NBA Finals Most Valuable Player