Magic Johnson

[aesop]

My favourite basketballing memory was watching the Magic Johnson All stars play the Boomers at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

That was the best game I ever saw in my life with Magic hitting a buzzer beater to take the game into overtime. Even though they were playing the boomers the whole crowd jumped up. That was a great day.

Did anyone else have the pleasure of seeing him play?

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by aesop
Did anyone else have the pleasure of seeing him play?

Was a dream to see him play and had it all planned. Unfortunately, it was the season after the Aids announcement.

Still went and saw LA play Barkley's Phoenix.

 

[CURVE]

I was only 8/9 at the time, but I spent a year living in LA and got to see every Magic home game in his rookie season (1979-80) plus a couple of away games including the famous Game 6 at Phily. For me, Game 6 is the greatest individual performance in Basketball history. 42pts, 15reb and 7ass playing at C because of an injury to Kareem. And he was only 20 years old.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by DEVO
For me, Game 6 is the greatest individual performance in Basketball history. 42pts, 15reb and 7ass playing at C because of an injury to Kareem. And he was only 20 years old.

Ridiculous comment. Willis Reed's 4 points for New York against all the odds was single greatest performance in the history of athetlics...

 

[mattyc2422]

Even as a Spurs fan, I have nothing but the utmost respect for Magic Johnson. One of the best ever.

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by aesop
My favourite basketballing memory was watching the Magic Johnson All stars play the Boomers at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

went to the boomers v magic all stars play at the ent cent, sydney...

however, magic didnt suit up for the game and made the announcement before tip off... f f s !!!!!

was still a bloody enjoyable game...
mark aguire hit a 3pt shot on the buzzer to send the game into OT... where the all-stars eventually won...

bought a dodgy magic johnson all-stars t-shirt...
and got to slap james worthy on the back too !

 

[Portmanteau]

Who was on the All-Stars team? I'd like to see them take on the Mark Davis/Al Green "Great Mates" line-up...

 

[coxon]

Originally posted by Bresh
Who was on the All-Stars team? I'd like to see them take on the Mark Davis/Al Green "Great Mates" line-up...

ummm...

can only remember:

moses malone
james worthy
mark aguirre


aesop or jod could prob remember a few more...

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by aesop
My favourite basketballing memory was watching the Magic Johnson All stars play the Boomers at the Perth Entertainment Centre.

That was the best game I ever saw in my life with Magic hitting a buzzer beater to take the game into overtime. Even though they were playing the boomers the whole crowd jumped up. That was a great day.

Did anyone else have the pleasure of seeing him play?

I was at that game....what a shot by Magic on the buzzer to send it into OT. I went crazy

Magic Johnson is the second greatest player of all time without a doubt.

Coxy, didnt Cooper suit up for them aswell? ard to remember now.

 

[eastaugh36]

I was there. The Adelaide game was one of the first on the tour and luckily he injured himself AFTER Adelaide so I got to see the legend play. I have the program still and a cap I think.

 

[CURVE]

Originally posted by Bresh
Ridiculous comment. Willis Reed's 4 points for New York against all the odds was single greatest performance in the history of athetlics...

Is that the game where he went onto court with a serious leg injury (i think) in one of the finals against the Lakers (early 70's)??

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by DEVO
Is that the game where he went onto court with a serious leg injury (i think) in one of the finals against the Lakers (early 70's)??

Yup...

 

[CURVE]

Originally posted by Bresh
Yup...

A very brave and inspiring moment, but not the greatest.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by DEVO
A very brave and inspiring moment, but not the greatest.

I take it you are smilie-blind...

 

[Portmagpies]

If a GM could select any one player when starting up a franchise, Magic would be the first player picked.

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by Portmagpies
If a GM could select any one player when starting up a franchise, Magic would be the first player picked.

Second....

 

[Portmagpies]

No other player in the history of the game has made ordinary teammates look so good.

And that includes your predictable first pick.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by jod23
Second....

Most definitely first.

Does it mean he's the best ever? No, but he is clearly the man you'd build your franchise around.

His versatility is something that not even 'His Baldness' can match.

 

[mattyc2422]

Originally posted by Portmagpies
No other player in the history of the game has made ordinary teammates look so good.

And that includes your predictable first pick.

Valid point.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
Most definitely first.

Does it mean he's the best ever? No, but he is clearly the man you'd build your franchise around.

His versatility is something that not even 'His Baldness' can match.

No, but for single-handed championship-winning ability, you'd take Jordan every time.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

I hear that Scottie Pippen was once a fairly handy basketballer who was a vital part in 6 rings.

 

[Portmagpies]

I'd dispute claims that Jordan's championship winning ability is superior to Magic's, Larry's or even Isiah's for that matter.

Check the rosters of those Championship winning Lakers and Celtics teams compared to the Bulls, especially the last three. By the time of the Bulls second run, the league was so diluted, two All-Stars could win you everything.

There's no way you could get away with that in the 1980s.

And please, don't anyone come back with today's players are better. More athletic yes, but not as skilled.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by jod23
Second....

I am a big fan of Jordan BUT if I was picking my team Magic would be the 1st one picked. his ability to draw the best out of his team mates was freakish. With Magic running the point I would be prepared to go to war with anyone. The ultimate team player. Jordan would be 2nd picked IMHO.

 

[Portmanteau]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
I hear that Scottie Pippen was once a fairly handy basketballer who was a vital part in 6 rings.

Yeah, I hear that James Worthy, Byron Scott, Kareem Abdul Jabbar et al are a band of rejects and misfits, who are totally not members of DEVO's all-time Laker line-ups.

If Magic Johnson replaced Kobe Bryant on last year's Lakers line-up (the one sans Shaq), they'd have fared the same...

 

[jod23]

Im a huge Magic fan but all those saying he would be chosen first are just plain wrong. Jordan is quite clearly the greatest player of all time so any GM would be stupid not to take MJ with their first pick.

People argue that Magic got his teammates involved like no other player in history and that he made his teammates better etc and I dont dispute that but that's what makes MJ so good. He just does it by himself.

When you compare Magic's all star teammates to Jordans rag tag bunch of nobody's (Pip excluded), then and only then do you realise that Jordan = championship, simple as that. And as a GM, you want your team to win championships, so MJ is the logical choice.

Oh and since 1979/80 only 7 teams have championships.

LA (Kareem and Shaq)
Boston (Parish)
Houston (Olajuwon)
San Antonio (Robinson and Duncan)
Philadelphia (Malone)

Noticing a trend. Only Detroit and Chicago won titles without a dominating bigman. And Detriot only managed two whereas MJ's Bulls tripled Detriots efforts. Also Detriots bigmen werent exactly bad with guys like Laimbeer, Edwards, Salley, Mahorn but Chicago's poor effort of Cartwright (the only decent bigman MJ has ever played with) Wennington and Longley....

So apparently you can only win titles with a big man. Jordan is the exception which proves just how great he truly is. Jordan would be every GM's first pick!