Now this is where the rest of it happens. It also seemed that the Lakers were going to win the NBA title at the end of Johnson’s rookie year. The Lakers were coming off a crushing Game 1 loss to the 1979 NBA champions. www.thecomeback.com/crossoverchronicles is a National Basketball Association fan web site and is in no way affiliated with the National Basketball Association, or its Properties. Die Meisterschaft konnten sich die Los Angeles Lakers mit einem 4:3 in der Serie gegen die Detroit Pistons sichern. What made Johnson's performance even more remarkable was that he was an NBA rookie—and, indeed, one who had left college after only two years, and was only 20 years old. What added to Abdul-Jabbar’s greatness? Team. Not being old enough to witness the game live (or, ahem, on tape-delay) when the spectacle of it all was originally aired, I can only assume the United States Postal Service crashed (that was our fathers’ Twitter, right?) after Magic “played” all five positions in a dominating performance. Why? With the series tied at two games apiece, Kareem injured his ankle in Game 5. Well, at least — again — presumably, since the team didn’t even bother to take celebratory champagne or other customary victory objects with them on the flight to Philadelphia. It’s about wanting to do it. Game 1: Sun, May 4: Philadelphia 76ers: 102 @ Los Angeles Lakers: 109: Game 2: Wed, May 7: Philadelphia 76ers: 107 @ Los Angeles Lakers: 104: Game 3: Sat, May 10: Los Angeles Lakers: 111 @ Philadelphia 76ers: 101: Game 4: Sun, May 11: Los Angeles Lakers: 102 @ Philadelphia 76ers: 105: Game 5: Wed, May 14: Philadelphia 76ers: 103 @ Los Angeles Lakers: 108: Game 6: Fri, May 16: Los Angeles … The key moment of the series was Magic Johnson's baby sky hook in Game 4. Seattle SuperSonics vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson's performance in Game 6 and the series earned him the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). It was the beginning of the birth of Magic Johnson as a beloved hero. Finden Sie perfekte Stock-Fotos zum Thema 1980 Nba Finals sowie redaktionelle Newsbilder von Getty Images. Legends and great stories don’t come about without some form of tragedy, however. They were the sole property of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You tried to perform an action that is meant for registered users only. Copyright © Tokyvideo – All Rights Reserved, Contact | Box Score - Los Angeles Lakers (123) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (107) - May 16, 1980 Milwaukee Bucks vs. Seattle SuperSonics. G.4 Game 4. Watch the full game of the NBA finals 1980 between Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers - Full match replay of the 6th game. Please select a reason for reporting this video and add an optional comment. Yes, there were most certainly other players of note on the roster, but lost in history to new generations of basketball fans was the dominance of the future Monster Shouter — for good reason, too. But then I remembered: Not only don’t they have my dad at home recording it with some weird gadget… they don’t have Magic Johnson, either. Spielzeit der National Basketball Association. While rookies often develop at a faster rate in … G.2 Game 2. What made Johnson's performance even more remarkable was that he was an NBA rookie—and, indeed, one who had left college after only two years, and was only 20 years old. Words can’t properly describe how impactful Johnson was on the 1980 NBA Finals and, obviously, Game 6. Game from 1980 Playoffs. Everything is amped up to a higher level. Joseph has covered college basketball both (barely) professionally and otherwise for over five years. Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Then… it happened. You tried to perform an action that is meant for registered users only. Kareem’s longevity will always remain impressive, but that same longevity makes him a player who belongs to a more distant era. Outside the fact that is how I thought every basketball player played (thanks for heightening my expectations to unrealistic levels and ruining my jumper, Dad), I never looked back. Kareem had 40 pts, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. Lakers vs. 76ers, 123-107, Box Score - 1980 Playoffs Stats from the NBA game played between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers on May 16, 1980 with result, scoring by period and players. DMCA. Die reguläre Saison begann am 10. West Conf Semis. By the time the final buzzer made its last awkward noise of the season, Magic Johnson scored a game-high 42 points and hauled down 15 rebounds, as well as providing seven assists to his teammates. But before it happened, Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals — against the defending champion Seattle Supersonics — happened. Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers. Next game we got to come out and show that.” Herro made 14 of 21 shots from the floor, 5 for 10 from 3-point range and became just the second 20-year-old in NBA playoff history to score at least 37 points in a game. West Conf Semis. Darauf folgten die NBA-Playoffs am 28. Oktober 1980 und endete am 29. G.3 Game 3. Terms and Conditions | Die NBA-Saison 1987/88 war die 42. Top NBA Finals Moments Index. thecomeback.com/CrossoverChronicles is part of the NESN digital network. The Game: 1980 Finals, Game 6. As a 20-year-old, Magic averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game in his inaugural season, during which he showcased glimpses of brilliance that would later be the foundation for The Showtime Lakers. It only seemed like a Kareem-led L.A. team, with Magic more than coming into his own as an NBA player. "Jamaal Wilkes had an unbelievable game", said Johnson in 2011. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics. If you stop following this series you will no longer receive notifications when new videos are uploaded. The sky hook was a shot so wonderfully crafted, so utterly unblockable by those attempting to deny him near the rim, that no other basketball player has been able to duplicate the artistic feat in subsequent decades. Luckily for Magic, his smile, and those depending on his abilities, his rookie regular season went as well as anyone could have hoped for. Smiles can only get an athlete so far, however. G.5 Game 5. This Date in NBA History (May 16): Rookie Magic Johnson's historic Game 6 performance in the 1980 NBA Finals and more. So, yes, this is where it happened. West Conf Finals. While that last statement might read more like a fictional plot line placed to build a climax, it was real. April 1988, die Mitte Juni mit den NBA Finals endeten. While the team’s success may have hinged on how well Kareem was playing, it was the charismatic Johnson who won over a city before even playing a second in a purple and gold uniform. My father had it on VHS or some other dated device, and he showed it to me as though it was an educational video. This is also the game where Kareem injured his ankle leaving the stage open for Magic in Game 6. The most revered and remembered thing about Kareem is the sky hook — the one shown above was his game-winner in Game 6 of the 1974 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics in the Boston Garden. It was his team. He remains the youngest and the only rookie ever to be named Finals MVP. Unfortunately, many other great aspects of his career and abilities have been lost to time, new legions of fans, and the live in the right now now moment of the social media era — and probably even a viewing generation before that. Even many in the Lakers’ front office assumed Jabbar was so done that they would travel to Philadelphia without him and presumably lose Game 6. Magic Johnson wasn’t just some ho-hum basketball player, though. 104 107. People might remember that Magic ended up with a triple-double, yet it was Jabbar’s epic box-score of 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots that helped put Los Angeles right back in the series. Create your free account and enjoy our features for registered users: 1985 NBA FINALS - Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 6, 1987 NBA FINALS - Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 6, 1989 NBA FINALS - Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 4, 1988 NBA FINALS - Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 7, 1973 NBA FINALS - Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 5, 1970 NBA FINALS - New York Knicks vs Los Angeles Lakers - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 7, 1977 NBA FINALS - Portland Trail Blazers vs Philadelphia 76ers - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 6, 1984 NBA FINALS - Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics - FULL GAME REPLAY - GAME 7. Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers. He rejected his opponents’ wayward, misguided, and fruitless attempts at scoring over him. Our team will review your report and take appropriate action as soon as possible. No fan of Dr. James Naismith’s game could possibly be disappointed. How proficient was he as a shot blocker? Seattle SuperSonics vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Box Score - Philadelphia 76ers (103) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (108) - May 14, 1980 Houston Rockets vs. Boston Celtics. 1980 NBA Finals Lakers vs. 76ers (Complete - All 6 Games) (Magic Johnson MVP) Game 4: Dr. J's legendary baseline scoop shot; Game 6: Magic (42 points, 15 rebs, 7 assts) fills in as center for an injured Kareem (Game 6 is ESPNCL - C quality) 1981 NBA Finals Celtics vs. He averaged just over 3.4 shots per game from the 1973 season (the first season in which blocks were recorded) all the way to the 1980 campaign. The Magic Johnson story was born in college and that 1979 meeting with Larry Bird, but the legend of Magic was originally created in Game 6 of the Finals on May 16, 1980. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; 2. On May 16 in 1980: Magic Johnson's historic Game 6 in the Finals vs. 76ers Rookie guard Magic Johnson filled in at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and came up with 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists as the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title by beating Philadelphia 123-107 in Game 6 of the Finals. This moment in Salt Lake City in March of 1979 occurred years before HIV would make him a spokesman for education, tolerance, and understanding on an awful disease that was incredibly misunderstood at the time. Copyright © 2016 www.thecomeback.com/crossoverchronicles - All Rights Reserved - Trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners. Cookies Policy | A plethora of injuries have changed the course and texture of this year’s playoffs. NBA Playoffs 1980; Dettagli della competizione; Sport: Pallacanestro: Organizzatore: NBA: Periodo: 2 aprile 1980 — 16 maggio 1980 Data: 1980 Squadre: 12 Verdetti; Titolo East Philadelphia 76ers: Titolo West Los Angeles Lakers: Campione Los Angeles Lakers (7º titolo) MVP delle finali: Magic Johnson: Ultimo aggiornamento dati: 18 settembre 2017: Cronologia della competizione 108 103. Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers. Minimally, fans’ feelings about their favorite Laker players changed. West Conf Finals. Magic Johnson, Lakers: 1980 Finals, Game 6. With one of the greatest Finals performances ever, Johnson led the Lakers to the 1980 NBA title and was named Finals MVP. The 1980 NBA playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1979–80 season. November 1987 und endete am 24. The NBA Finals were set. Posted by Joseph Nardone Not even the sport’s most gifted physical specimen in the present tense, LeBron James, has been asked to do what Johnson did by playing every position in one night. The 1980 NBA Finals, or the folklore of Magic Johnson, wouldn’t have happened without some Shakespearean events leading up to the now (in)famous Game 6 over three decades ago. That meeting with Bird unfolded just a short time before Magic started an NBA career that would become the stuff of legend. In Game 6, against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers rookie jumped center, played every position and poured in 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists in a 123-107 win to seal the NBA championship. 102 105. The other: Magic Johnson, who had 42 in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals for the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson had no problem and was up to the challenge, although he would lose the famous opening tip to Caldwell Jones. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979–80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. Magic Johnson, Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, and the Insanity of it All. The Lakers earned their seventh NBA title, their second since moving from Minneapolis. Even those within the Los Angeles organization felt that if they were going to win the title, it would have to be in Game 7 at home in the fabulous Forum. April 1988. That Friday night in Philadelphia served as the official announcement that Magic Johnson was a serious player of relevance. The Lakers only encountered a small hurdle, and because of their backbone, Jabbar, they leaped miles over it. It is, for a lack of a better way to put it, the best basketball games being played in the world by the very best players. Als 23. It was Michigan State versus Indiana State; the Inner City versus the Country Bumpkins; and most importantly, it was Magic versus Larry Bird before people even knew what that meant. He was as complete a center as anyone had seen at the time. www.thecomeback.com/crossoverchronicles is not an official web site for the National Basketball Association. As you can now –at least hopefully — see, the 1979-1980 Lakers weren’t Magic’s Lakers.