Jerry Buss soon to be owner of the Lakers is in heated talks with the old owner, Jack Kent Cooke, over getting the deal done. In the summer of 1979, as President Carter lamented an American "crisis of confidence" and the National Basketball Assn. . Youre my basketball guy. What teams has Magic Johnson played on? - Sage-Answers But hes coming down on Pearl. And Im this guy who is completely the opposite. In 1988, Magic and the Lakers defeated the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons featuring Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, In 1983 Magic and his Lakers lost to an all-time great Philadelphia 76ers team that still had Dr. J, Andrew Toney and Mo Cheeks but added, In 1984 the Lakers got the worst of it in the first of three matchups vs. So thats whats important, that we have power and that we have a seat at the table.. Johnson became an entrepreneur after purchasing several Starbucks stores, buying movie theaters, creating his own Mastercard, and starting a record label. And, you know, from the very beginning of meeting Magic, you know this guy was an entertainer. Magic Johnson Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Him? - Pro Sports Quiz Maddox: You know, Jeff is making me proud to be a Lakers fan and an Angeleno right now. That's what I've been about my whole career.". Magic Johnson Quiz | Magic Johnson | 20 Questions - Fun Trivia You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. No way. So basically no one was coming to watch these brawls. So I sort of think of Jerry Buss and Magic Johnson as this marriage made in basketball heaven or this chemical reaction that you can only get between these two particular people at this particular time. How many NBA Championship rings does Magic Johnson have? - YebScore I mean, the cheapest team you can buy, if you had some extra cash lying around, would run you . He played on the team from 1979 to 1991, and then came back for the 1995-1996 season. Chris "Mad Dog" Russo is tired of all the talk about Damian Lillard's NBA future. worried over declining attendance and TV ratings, two visionaries rookie. In the summer of 1979, as President Carter lamented an American crisis of confidence and the National Basketball Assn. And lets just hope him dribbling against smaller guards will work, I guess was the biggest concern, but by far the biggest impact was just he was the big point guard. The Bulls Second Threepeat: All You Need to Know! Larry Bird - Wikipedia He is often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time. Did Magic Johnson play with the Harlem Globetrotters? They, like, drag the bottom of the ocean for it. You have that scene at the white party where Jerry Buss introduces Magic to Donald Sterling and those two models come up. Youre my TV guy. It was Magic. In his concessions he planned on his customers eating their dinner with the movie adding chicken wings and buffalo shrimp to the selection. When I think of Showtime, the first thing I think of is Magic Johnson driving in on Pearl Washington and just freezing him. Who is Magic Johnson's wife, Cookie Johnson? Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. Following his storied basketball careerwhich saw him lead the Los Angeles Lakers to five championship winsJohnson's success continued off the court. In 1991, in the same month he revealed his HIV diagnosis, Johnson founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, which develops programs and supports community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. According to CNN, as of 2014, the foundation had raised more than $20 million for charity and given out nearly $4 million in scholarships. I went to the track and field events, boxing, gymnastics - it was awesome to watch so many athletes compete.. Pearlman: I would compare the NBA before Jerry Buss to an empty shopping mall. But it wasnt always that way. Who Did Magic Johnson Beat in the NBA Finals? And Jerry Buss just really, truly did have these books filled with the pictures of the young women he was dating or had dated. Related: Find Out All About Will Smith's Net Worth, FromFresh PrincetoKing Richardto the Movie That Made Him $100 Million. All of us on the same team.. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The 6 ft 9 in and 215 lb right handed player could dominate the court in any position. The non-profit group has helped students learn fundamental math skills through the game of basketball since 2013. They played 710 games together and registered 529 wins. Maddox: Completely. If youre a dealer, you would try to get athletes into it because you knew they could afford it. So my company was able to provide jobs and access to these retailers who were not coming in before, but now they hit a home run when we partnered and they came into the inner city., Related: Every 'King' Needs His Queen! Maddox: There was a malaise over the country, Brennan: Right, there was like a low energy. Copyright: ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Further expanding his reach in the sports world, Johnson also became a part owner of Major League Soccers Los Angeles Football Club in 2014, joining investors including soccer great Mia Hamm. And Magic is driving down the lane one time. I mean, if youve ever had sand dabs at Musso and Frank is famous for their sand dabs. [Winning Time clip: Buss character: I just paid for her sophomore year of college. So hes like, This is amazing.. Worthy's eyewear became a part of his uniform after he was scratched in the eye in a game against the Utah Jazz in his sophomore year. For a while, it seemed that Magic would miss out on his goal. Its a family publication, Kareem. We dont know about stocks. One was from a player that had just retired from the NBA the year before. After he announced his retirement and testing positive for HIV, Johnson came back to the. People both in L.A. and around the country are going to watch the show Winning Time. And theyre going to have all these questions. 8. They combined for a win percentage of .739. Maddox: I really do find that to be true. Theres a huge difference between the two. He was always willing to get down and dirty, cleaning the board and protecting the paint while coming off the bench. Johnson magically stepped up to replace Abdul-Jabbar at center in the pivotal Game 6. He wore protective glasses from then throughout his entire career. Which was like this era too. He succeeded in these positions while playing basketball at Everett High School, Michigan State University, and in the NBA. Maddox: So was born a Lakers fan, and I grew up in the 90s, so I heard a lot about Showtime and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, and still I think I took for granted how much these Lakers teams did for, yes, the Lakers franchise, but also the NBA as a whole. Yeah. It reads, Fights, drugs and racial tension: 70s spelled trouble for the NBA.. His strong suits, and most often played positions, were power forward, point guard, and shooting guard. Jeff Pearlman: Thats exactly what they did. We made it so much fun that normally Chuck Daly (Team USAs head coach) had to stop the practice because we were playing so hard against one another and he said, Hey, you guys have got to save this for the game., We did what we were there to do which was to entertain and show people how to play the game. We had the greatest basketball players in the world. Taylor Hendricks has a great combination of star potential and pro-ready tools that makes him one of the most compelling prospects in the draft. While hes made millions, hes also a philanthropist and remains focused on creating generational wealth. Youd come in; itd be a wide shot of the Forum. It wasnt enough that Magic had been unfazed by the attention all season as the No. And he turned out to be really good anyway. Magic won more NBA Finals than most other great players, but he lost more too! Blazers PG Damian Lillard Interested in Trade to Magic Rival? Its literally like a little dab atop the sand that they, I dont know how they catch it. That's what Magic Johnson was all about. 1 overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, is targeting first game for the San Antonio Spurs during Summer League play in Las Vegas. [Winning Time clip: Buss character: Frank Mariani, my business partner and personal wet blanket. READ MORE >>> Lakers owner Jerry Buss brought Showtime success to L.A. Brennan: I want to know more about the composition of this hard turd. This was a bittersweet business decision made on behalf of my family and myself, and I want to assure all the wonderful and loyal Lakers fans that my decision will in no way affect my dedication and support for the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA great said of the sale, according to Bleacher Report. Maddox: Well, then, its interesting that they were covering the NBA at the time because the other thing that was happening a lot was just these massive fights like brawls, street-style brawls in the NBA Finals, even, around this time. Your login session has expired. With seven seconds left in Game 4 of the 1987 Finals, Magic Johnson's sky hook put the Lakers up for good. Abdul Jabbar's career highlights and awards are too many to mention. Reilly and Isaiah with Kirk Bovill, right, as future Clippers owner Donald Sterling in Winning Time.. Magic Johnson - Son, Stats & Wife - Biography Players, Teams, Seasons, Leaders, Awards, All-Star Games , Executives . How Does Magic Johnsons Finals Record Compare to Other Grea NBA Players? He was an instant beneficiary of Magic's no-look passes as he joined the Lakers at a time when Johnson was in his prime. Pearlman: I mean, Jerry Buss was getting laid often. And he has the guy stop the car, he gets out of the car, and he picks an orange from the tree. "It proved to be the right decision," he told CBS News in 2021 of returning to the sport. They had real personal affinity for each other as well. How long did Magic Johnson play in the NBA? Exploring the - Sportskeeda Johnson was a player in Los Angeles from 1979 to 1991 and again for a portion of the 1996 season. Magic Johnson Earvin Johnson Jr. Twitter : MagicJohnson (Magic, Buck, E.J. And also coming in at the same time. Pearls planted, and Magic does this, like, look to the right, unfurls his arm, and just somehow whips it left. You have all these point guards who are 6-feet, 6-1. And that was a precursor for every Kevin Durant-type player you see today. James Harden's options are trying to win a title with the Sixers or semi-retirement back in Houston. The New York Knicks drafted Kurt Rambis in 1980 but waived him soon after. He previously served as TV editor at Paste Magazine, and his writing has also appeared in Indiewire, Slate, Deadspin and numerous other publications. The No. It just felt really Southern California to me, and really Hollywood. Mixing his sports background and business acumen, Magic Johnson has continued to purchase athletic teams. Maddox: Thats how teams work. Thats interesting to me. Loews Cineplex Entertainment had used the Magic Theatres name only to brand the location. Maddox: I just am looking at this fish. He won multiple awards for MVPs and All-NBA First and Second teams. Matt Brennan: So, I dont know if I told you this, but before I was a journalist, I was a historian. Each complex is around 60,000 square feet (5,600m2) with multiple concession areas, 10 to 15 screens with SDDS stereo sound, stadium seating and a capacity of 3,200 to 5,000. their way through these interviews and theyll say, well, you know, and its, like, kind of nonsense. "The Olympic Games are the greatest sporting event Ive played in and been a part of, says Johnson, thinking back on his time as part of the USAs fabled Dream Team. Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from Earvin Magic Johnson on 07byRafael Amado Derasis marked withCC BY 2.0. Two, its about this iconic NBA franchise. All stats represent what the teammates of Magic Johnson averaged when they played with him in the selected games. Brennan: And Jerry Buss also sort of reinvented how the game was displayed and packaged and turned into this entertainment product that went beyond just hardcore basketball fans. Michael Jordan's Bulls vs. Magic Johnson's Lakers: Which Dynasty Was Despite being from different generations and playing in different eras, Johnson and Bryant bonded over a love for the Lakers (both players spent their entire NBA careers with the franchise), as well as a shared passion for the Olympic Games. As the NBA calendar year progresses, stay up to date with the latest news happening around the league with our DallasBasketball.com tracker. When you go to an NBA game today and you see dance troupes and you see crazy halftime entertainment, and you see celebrities courtside, thats all the Showtime Lakers. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Faced with stiff competition including both Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, Magic made the Finals a lot but did not always win them. Long before he invested in the team, according toForbes, Johnson attended the first Sparks game back in 1997. [citation needed]. You hit the blow (sniff cocaine) to be sociable. But I dont know why sniff cocaine is in parentheses there. Brennan: Its like a type of fish, I think. Im excited to get into that. Magic Johnson Teammates, Los Angeles Lakers - RealGM Theres a direct, direct link to Jerry Buss, the Laker Girls, Magic Johnsons arrival, Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon showing up and sitting courtside, and everything you see in the modern NBA. Maddox: This period is exactly when Episode 1 of Winning Time begins. Also Read: Who is Magic Johnson's wife, Cookie Johnson? Theres a scene I love, that they actually dont use in the show. * 78 teammates found. They were always younger. After building the Magic Theatre in Harlem, multiple businesses followed suit including Old Navy, Disney, and HMV. Magic became the first rookie ever to do what in the NBA? Who are the free agents for the next two years? 1 pick Victor Wembanyama will not join the Spurs in Sacramento, but will make his debut when they head to Las Vegas for the NBA 2K24 Summer League. Brennan: Glad youre here. He grew up with nine sisters and brothers, and was influenced by both of his parents who loved basketball. He really believed in womens sports and uplifting womens sport and that was his passion, and also homelessness which is really running rabid here in Los Angeles, Johnson said. Nike and Reebok pour money into advertising; I've been trying to get out for years.. Magic Johnsons finals record was 5-4. Im 5-9. Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people, tragically lost his life in a helicopter accident in California in 2020. But even among the five NBA championships and countless awards, Johnson admits his participation at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games stands out as the greatest sporting moment of all. Maddox: So there were a ton, and Jeff outlined some of them for us. "Magic Johnson built business empire after court glories ended", "Former Magic Johnson Theaters reopens as Rave Cinemas", "Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD - Los Angeles, CA - Cinemark Theatres", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magic_Johnson_Theatres&oldid=1090160051, Movie theatre chains in the United States, Entertainment companies based in California, Entertainment companies established in 1994, Cinemas and movie theaters in Los Angeles, Cinemas and movie theaters in New York City, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 27 May 2022, at 20:00. This is a special night for me.]. One of the all-time greatest players in the history of the NBA, Johnson played his entire Hall of Fame career with the . And this article has some incredible quotes. [Archival clip: President Carter: Good evening. In 1983 Magic and his Lakers lost to an all-time great Philadelphia 76ers team that still had Dr. J, Andrew Toney and Mo Cheeks but added Moses Malone as well. It was a cocaine era. I dont have that much cash lying around. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr., is no longer actively involved in the management committee, strategic planning, operations, or public relations. For his valiance, Magic Johnson was rewarded with the MVP award. [Winning Time clip: Mariani character: You know, just think this through. Magic Johnson was named as one of the NBAs top 50 greatest players of all time. There was this team 3,000 miles away that played in this glorious land with these huge stars. September 14, 2021 6:24 AM In Game 6 of the 1980 Finals, Magic Johnson had 42 points and 15 rebounds in a title-clinching win. How did the Laker Girls start? he should have been awarded the 1980 NBA Finals MVP. Johnson dropped the company in 1992 after 13 years as a spokesman, saying at a U.S. Olympic team practice at the time, according to The Baltimore Sun, "Converse as a company is stuck in the '60s and '70s. While playing in these positions, Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. Theres just a shared kinship. Johnson accomplished virtually everything a player could dream of during his 13-year NBA career, all of which was spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. [6] It is now owned by Cinemark Theatres and is renamed the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD. Maddox: I imagine the conversation at the time was like, Whos better, Larry Bird or Magic Johnson? And NBA executives are pulling their hair out, trying to figure that out. Maddox: Exactly.