It would be difficult to discuss the greatest NBA players of all time. How Many Rings Does Magic Johnson Have ?without include iconic Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson. Johnson, who was 6 feet 9 inches tall, offered a special blend of physical attributes, aptitude, and personality to the role.
How Many Rings Does Magic Johnson Have
His competitive performance was the main factor behind the Showtime Lakers’ successful run at an NBA title in the 1980s,
and his rivalry with Boston Celtics great Larry Bird helped to raise awareness of the game. Sadly, Johnson’s career
came to an end when he tested positive for HIV in 1991, but few can match the legacy the Hall of Famer left on the game.
What is Magic Johnson’s ring count?
During his playing career, Johnson won five NBA titles, all of which came with the Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
The Lakers’ championship from 1985 was possibly the most important since it marked the team’s first NBA Finals victory over the Celtics.
In 1987, Johnson and his team overthrew the Bird’s Celtics once more, and the former star was named Finals MVP for the third and last time in his career.
But Johnson’s most memorable Finals experience was in Game 6 of his 1980 rookie season against the Philadelphia 76ers.
With the Lakers leading 3–2, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sidelined due to an ankle sprain in Game 5, Paul Westhead, the coach, chose to start Johnson at center.
With 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in response, he helped the Los Angeles Lakers overcome the Sixers 123–107 and launch their dynasty.
Johnson was chosen MVP of the Finals and is still the only rookie to win the trophy.
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There isn’t and never will be a clear cut ranking of the greatest NBA players of all time.
There is just too much elite talent to single out one player above the other after more than 75 years of competition.
Ranking the top players at each position and locking out the point guard position would be a more inventive exercise.
Magic Johnson remains the greatest point guard in NBA history, even with Steph Curry being in the past.
Few can truly capture the brilliance of a five-time champion, three-time Finals MVP, three-time league MVP, and ten-time All-NBA pick. These are the five titles that the Magic have won.
1980 NBA Finals: Philadelphia 76ers 2, Los Angeles Lakers 4.
11.2 rebounds, 21.5 points, and 8.7 assists
We saw a glimpse of the greatest rivalry in basketball history during the 1979 NCAA Championships. Indiana State’s Larry Bird will take on Michigan State’s Magic Johnson.
The game, which Michigan State won handily, continues to be the most viewed basketball match of all time.
After the Lakers and Chicago won the coin toss to determine first overall, the NBA would never be the same.
Magic Johnson, the youthful, cheerful star from Lansing, Michigan, will play for the Lakers.
The Lakers had the best record in the West with 60 wins because to their new run-and-gun strategy.
Following a successful Western Conference campaign, the Lakers took against Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers.
In Game 5, with the series tied, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leaped for a rebound and landed on his ankle, twisting it completely.
Despite finishing the game with 40 points, he was out of Game 6. The Lakers were ahead, but it felt like they had no chance to win the championship.
Magic Johnson entered the game at that point and took over at center. His effort in Game 6 was outstanding, as he finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists.
He won the MVP award for the Finals and is still the only rookie in NBA history to do it.
Los Angeles Lakers 4, Philadelphia 76ers 2, NBA Finals, 1982
10.8 rebounds, 16.2 points, and 8 assists
In 1981, the Lakers were eliminated in the opening round while trying to win the championship again.
They were defeated in three games by the Houston Rockets, who went on to win the Western Conference.
The 1981 NBA Finals were won by the Boston Celtics, which equaled the number of rings that Magic’s main adversary, Larry Bird, had.
The Lakers won 65 games and reclaimed the top regular season record in the West, giving them fresh motivation to unseat the Celtics for the championship.
The Lakers traveled back to the west and were matched up with the Philadelphia 76ers. In six more games, Phil would suffer the same fate as the Lakers went on to win the championship.
Magic would average 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, almost achieving a triple-double. In six Finals games, he also averaged 2.5 thefts per game. Magic will win his second MVP title in the Finals.
18.3 points, 14.0 assists, and 6.8 rebounds
The Lakers had made two NBA Finals appearances before, but they hadn’t taken home a championship until 1985. Every Laker will always remember the 1984 Finals.
In what is regarded as one of the best NBA Finals ever, the Lakers and Celtics squared off in 1984. Before Game 4, the Lakers led the series 2-1. With 14 seconds left, the Lakers appeared to be winning, leading by two points.
That was before Dennis Johnson forced overtime by stealing an inbounds pass. Larry Bird won his first MVP award in the Finals as the Celtics prevailed in that game and went on to win the series in seven games.
That would be a very different scenario in 1985. After Kareem’s all-time worst performance, the Lakers would lose by 40 points in a game.
Pat Riley made the players watch the beating video and went to see Kareem several times. From that point on, the Lakers would control the series and win all six games.
Even though the Magic averaged 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, they were defeated by eventual MVP Kareem,
even though they broke the NBA record for most assists averaged in a series.
Boston Celtics 2, Los Angeles Lakers 4, 1987 NBA Finals
13 assists, 8 rebounds, and 26.2 points
The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship again after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs in 1986 by the Houston Rockets in five games during the Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers were motivated even more in 1987 to reclaim what was rightly theirs from the Celtics.
The Lakers would emerge as the overwhelming favorites to win another championship after winning 65 games throughout the regular season.
He encountered a well-known opponent in the Boston Celtics during the 1987 Finals after making his way out west. At this moment, the rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers was pure chaos.
Even though they faced off multiple times, this series involved topics outside basketball. After leading 3-1, the Lakers completely gained control of the series, and the rest is history.
Following an incredible 16 points and 19 assists in game six, the Magic would win their third and last MVP award in the Finals.
He gained another advantage in the rivalry when this fourth championship ended his tiebreaker with Larry.
1988 NBA Finals: Detroit Pistons 3, Los Angeles Lakers 4.
13 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 21.1 points
With 62 wins, the Lakers concluded the 1988 regular season in first position in the West, demonstrating that they had firmly found their footing as a team.
They won the conference once more, and Magic Johnson advanced to the NBA Finals for the eighth time.
The Lakers faced the resilient Detroit Pistons, who are renowned for their aggressive defense and tough play, rather than the well-known 76ers or Celtics.
With a 3-2 series lead and one game
remaining to win the series, the Pistons stole game five.
Isaiah Thomas, the standout guard for the Pistons, hurt his ankle in the sixth game but still played.
In the third quarter alone, he scored a career-high 43 points, setting a record for the most points scored in an NBA Finals game.
It was insufficient, though, as the Lakers won the series in seven games. Thanks to a fantastic performance by James Worthy, the Lakers prevailed 108-105 in a close seventh game in Los Angeles.
In game seven, Worthy recorded 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists to win MVP of the Finals. Magic Johnson won his final NBA championship before he announced his retirement in 1991.
