No one in the league today is as dynamic a passer and playmaker as Magic. Makes you wonder if we even have point guards in todays game. The value of one is evident watching this
One thing the everyone forget is that Magic Johnson was a great passer however, it was the movement of his teammates that made his passing look easy. His teammates were not standing around looking. It was the movement of his teammates that added to the brilliance of his passing skills.
Agreed. I was watching (and disgusted by) some traveling videos from today's NBA. As a Laker fan who grew up in the 80's, I thought maybe I might be biased so I tried searching Magic Johnson traveling videos. I came upon his passing videos and was just blown away by how much I didn't remember. I quickly realized that his teammates had to be ready at any given moment for an impossible pass and to convert it quickly.
Whats also slept on his team mates dont know how to miss you have one of the goats in kareem, then you got big game james worthy, bob mcadoo the original KD, then ac green, byron scott, kurt rambis, wilkes, micheal cooper and mike thompson and the crew...... when you have all no.1 picks who are the best in the game these guys will give you assists🤣🤣
A well made Magic Johnson playmaking highlight (like this one) beats any other basketball highlight on CZcams. Magic isn't even my favorite player, but I can't think of any skill a player has ever possessed that is more aesthetically pleasing than his passing ability.
Just watched Bill Simmons' interview with George Gervin from a few years back. Ice said he played pick up with Magic when he was just 14 years old (Gervin being an ABA star at the time, but played pick up all over the country in the offseason) and said Magic was just special. At 14 this man was running point with hall of fame professionals. One of a kind player.
Magic is a generational talent. A 6 foot 9 point guard with his shooting ability, athleticism, speed, quickness and pinpoint precision accuracy in passing who could also play the other five positions? Guys like him come along once in a lifetime.
Magic was the best passer I have ever seen. I will never forget the 1979 national championship game. I was 11 and home alone and in heaven. Magic was also the most fun to watch. It's almost like he was. Harlem Globetrotter in a Lakers uniform.
In the championship against Indiana State, Earvin threw IN-BOUNDS full-court passes to Gregory Kelser that Kelser quickly dunked. Larry Bird got so pissed that he reached out of bounds to foul Magic.
When Magic had the ball " AnyOne" could get it! He made everyone look good . Cooper , Worthy, Scott, Kareem , Rambis ,Michael Thompson , McGee. It must've been a joy to play with This man .
When Magic is dribbling, I guess his teammates are as nervous as the opponents. The ball may just come at any time, from any angle, while Magic is doing any action and facing any direction... Any prediction based on past experience just doesn't work...=)
The most beautiful passing including no look passing ever. No one can do it better than Magic. He was the magician of basketball. He made the ball disappear from his hands and appear in someone else's hands (teammate) then it's in the basket. I'm glad I got to see it all back in those days. Wow!
True since its an NBA player they have played this game for a few decades and completely memorized everything about the game so its only natural to be god at passing
@@lodii7246 In Magic’s case, he wasn’t merely good, he was GREAT. Even compared to NBA vets in his time, he was passing in ways that hadn’t been seen before.
Passing the ball with this level of accuracy was amazing. But what’s more impressive is knowing that the guy you’re passing the ball to is going to score. Again today’s league doesn’t understand this. Magic gave all his teammates that inner confidence. Every member on this team became a franchise player because of Magic. Jamal Wilkes - The silk Man Bob Mckadoo - Can do McGhee - The road runner Kurt Rambis - Clark Kent’ Super Man Michael Cooper - The Coooop all these guys came off the Bench and they were all great.
I have watched and studied most all generations and eras of basketball… To me, the 1980s Magic Johnson led, “Showtime Lakers” is the greatest and most beautiful basketball to watch of all time!
The way he can read plays as they fold is so brilliant. Magic can see and direct where his opponents' eyes are looking at and pass to the players they don't have their eyes on. It's like magic.
I can never get enough of Magic. I would much rather watch fast breaks, or some of those finger breaking passes. It's amazing there were not more injuries.Highlights of 3 point shots is like watching paint dry.
I continue to hold that Magic Johnson had the most winning impact of any player I've ever seen. There were many bad Bulls and Cavs teams but it is impossible to have a bad team when Magic Johnson is your star player. I consider him the GOAT and always have. I'm glad the analytics came in and backed up my eyeballs, though. Magic is number one on a lot of all-in-one "metrics."
Magic made it fun for even his big guys to run. Look how many hoops were scored by Worthy, Rambis, Green, and even Kareem, because they knew if they got out and filled the lanes, they'd get a layup or dunk. What a great teammate to have.
Not even Jordan or LeBron could do what Magic Johnson did, the first man and the only man to change the game of basketball thank you magic for your greatness and being the greatest ever
the greatest passing talent ever, his speed of thought belongs is ridiculous.no one had the 24 second clock chopped up in as many decision making milliseconds as him. PLAYER WHOSE TALENT TRANSCENDS TIME.
Most unselfish player to wear a Lakers uniform!!!!😄😄😄 Everyone wanted to run the fastbreak when Magic had the ball. The no look pass was an art form and the court was his stage. He made basketball fun to watch......
I watched Magic Johnson growing up in Detroit when he was at Michigan state, and boy those alley hoops to Greg kelser, was off the roof !! One of the things I really liked about him was his unselfish attitude towards his teammates and his ability to spot the open man, it was like one guy would be open but the other guy had a better chance for the easiest shot, How he did it and knew it only God knows!🏀🤣. Not to undermine others such as bob cousy, Jason Williams, pete maverick, because they were phenomenal passers and very stylish, But Magic Johnson play making and passing was different from theirs, His was more meaningful and very timely which led to 5 NBA titles! Not to mention that he made not so good players look great! All you had to do was be ready for the ball as James worthy once said. Good post and good video. 👍👍🏀😎
Don’t care if he doesn’t have the most assists this guy will always be the best passer of all time.. to this day not one player has even tried to imitate his passing skills on the court only one I can even think of that was flashy was Jason Williams.. can you imagine if magic played today he’d have a CZcams clip every night
The only star player who really knew the meaning of TEAMWORK , only Magic Johnson✍️🙋♂️📝 Many star players played alone against one team and using his own team as an accessories for his own highness,,,✌️
What's amazing is that his teammates don't really catch lobs. So nowadays some of these back door cuts he wouldn't have to whip the ball inside, it would just be a lob. It's spectacular that he can get guys the ball no matter how athletic or unathletic they are. If it's coop or Scott, it's a lob. If it's Rambis, it's high but not to where he has to jump for it.
My assessment after tryna figure out how he was getting away with such easy passes. When your 6’9 with a controlled handle and your head is always up. I’m guessing you can see the simple passing lanes more often then a normal size pg. plus the physical gift to get it there fast and on time even when you think you can deflect a pass he zips it right pass you. Basically #demigod
Do you guys understand why the Lakers were so successful back then? It’s because Magic involved everyone on the team in his plays. This is something the league fails to understand today. They depend solely on one person, the franchise player. These guys had fun despite the pay they earned. Because they all had the chance to play and improve themselves. Most important the scandals were less.
Magic was the best all around player in basketball. He could play center, forward and point guard. He could rebound, score points when needed and create easy scoring chances for his teammates. He made the Lakers the best team in basketball during the 80's which is the best era of the NBA. That team went to 8 out of the 10 NBA finals in the 80's. Then in the next two years, without Kareem, they went to another one. Out of those 10 years they won 5 NBA titles. To understand how good he was all you need to do is look at the deciding game 6 of the 1980 NBA championship series. As a rookie, without Kareem playing, he started at center and scored 42 points, had 18 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. He did that on the road in a close out game. And he made every single free throw he took that night. To limit him to a title of greatest point guard is to not really see what he actually did. He made Showtime happen. Without him, it doesn't happen at all. He made huge clutch last second shots for his team. And when they needed to ice games, he made free throws. He and Larry Bird revolutionized the game together. Jordan didn't do that. The league changed the rules to fit for Jordan. Magic didn't need that. He won and made basketball fun. I'd rather watch a game with Magic than one with Jordan.
Youngsters, pay attention this wasn't just once a game. Most of these are showing multiple passes vs the same team in the same game. We as fans were treated on a regular basis to great passing from Magic, not just one every once in a while for a highlight on ESPN. For as good as he was, IMO he is still underrated because of all the recency bias with Curry, Paul, Ja etc...
We take magic for granted there is no Laker greater than magic period even Bryant is below him magic in my view is the goat I watched many basketball ball games but the delight the show time Lakers exhibited is unparalleled in the history of the game the Magic Bird era is definitely the best period of the game ever it was not just athleticism which you see today but the artistry , joy and fanfare was great you had so many super stars and great teams I won't take Isaiah out of the conversation .
That pass at 13:30- we knew Magic could run the fast break. For all those who say they played no defense, this is half court set up and Magic just sliced it up. All he needed was the space of a basketball. I saw him do it all the time. Be honest fast break ball like the Showtime Lakers is a lot more fun than watching some guy shoot threes.
That man triple head faked on the same play passed with the left hand on a no look in a matter of 3 seconds……. Beyond the word skilled Magic was truly amazing.
I don't really get to understand how people can so often compare Stockton and Magic based on the assist stats record alone. Stock has been extraordinarily efficient and tough as a player. But in all honesty Magic's game was simply another league. The main difference between the two - a huge one too - is that Magic could be an offensive powerhouse on his own. Something Stock could just dream of. Magic could score almost at will if not double teamed. So defenses had to constantly double team him on the block or sending help (and quickly) on his driving lane creating endless mismatches and advantages that the guy vivisected with relentless efficiency. And more often than not with stunning flair too. His ball handling let him keep his eyes always on every part of the floor ready to instantly punish every defensive slightest miscommunication or error. He was quick for that huge 6'9" frame and almost unstoppable on the break, at half court he could create plays out of nothing just reading the floor and delivering passes over the head and arms of his defender almost at will. Many great PG I loved (Nash, Stockton, Kidd, Isiah probably on top of my list - not in the same order-) But Magic was the perfect point guard for his times and his impact on the point guard position in my opinion is still unmatched .
He always seemed in control. He could pass with his left hand perfect bullet passes. For a right handed player that's crazy. Some of those passes in traffic are like lasers.
Something I always tell fellow basketball fans.: Magic Johnson could have scored as much as Michael or Lary, he just chose to score by making it flashy (aka with a pass-y) 🔦
!["The Magic Man" Magic Johnson mix (made by NPZ) [ULTIMATE MIX]](/img/n.gif)
i don't care who has the record, magic johnson will always be the greatest assist man ever...
ascend2me ...Yup. He found dudes that weren't really sure if they were open...but knew to keep watch of Magic no matter what lol
ascend2me ...Truth. He may not be #1 in quantity, but the Quality....GOAT. GENIUS. And, imho, the greatest team leader of his generation.
ascend2me lonzo ball
He was one of the best passers for sure, but Bird was actually even better.
Counter Strike 😂😂😂
The ultimate in making your teammates better.
No one in the league today is as dynamic a passer and playmaker as Magic. Makes you wonder if we even have point guards in todays game. The value of one is evident watching this
One thing the everyone forget is that Magic Johnson was a great passer however, it was the movement of his teammates that made his passing look easy. His teammates were not standing around looking. It was the movement of his teammates that added to the brilliance of his passing skills.
well sure. That was the whole plan. Rebound, give ball to Magic and then run your ass off and fill a lane. Dunk.
Agreed. I was watching (and disgusted by) some traveling videos from today's NBA. As a Laker fan who grew up in the 80's, I thought maybe I might be biased so I tried searching Magic Johnson traveling videos. I came upon his passing videos and was just blown away by how much I didn't remember. I quickly realized that his teammates had to be ready at any given moment for an impossible pass and to convert it quickly.
Whats also slept on his team mates dont know how to miss you have one of the goats in kareem, then you got big game james worthy, bob mcadoo the original KD, then ac green, byron scott, kurt rambis, wilkes, micheal cooper and mike thompson and the crew...... when you have all no.1 picks who are the best in the game these guys will give you assists🤣🤣
@joceja23 they had both
When team mates know there is an excellent chance of getting a Magic pass, they move. If the ball disappears into a Black Hole, no one moves.
A well made Magic Johnson playmaking highlight (like this one) beats any other basketball highlight on CZcams. Magic isn't even my favorite player, but I can't think of any skill a player has ever possessed that is more aesthetically pleasing than his passing ability.
Great point!
Just watched Bill Simmons' interview with George Gervin from a few years back. Ice said he played pick up with Magic when he was just 14 years old (Gervin being an ABA star at the time, but played pick up all over the country in the offseason) and said Magic was just special. At 14 this man was running point with hall of fame professionals. One of a kind player.
Magic is a generational talent.
A 6 foot 9 point guard with his shooting ability, athleticism, speed, quickness and pinpoint precision accuracy in passing who could also play the other five positions?
Guys like him come along once in a lifetime.
THOSE BOUNCE PASSES ARE RIDICULOUS 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Milo Tucker he was sick wit the bounce passes...
At 2:16, he KNEELS to get the correct angle. RIDICULOUS!
Magic Johnson showing his brilliance on the basketball court ♌️
Magic was the best passer I have ever seen. I will never forget the 1979 national championship game. I was 11 and home alone and in heaven. Magic was also the most fun to watch. It's almost like he was. Harlem Globetrotter in a Lakers uniform.
In the championship against Indiana State, Earvin threw IN-BOUNDS full-court passes to Gregory Kelser that Kelser quickly dunked. Larry Bird got so pissed that he reached out of bounds to foul Magic.
playing with him must have been a joy. Wow. Just run, fill a lane and wait for the pass.
I loved seeing Magic play because he really loved the game and was so competitive.
👍😳
When Magic had the ball " AnyOne" could get it!
He made everyone look good . Cooper , Worthy, Scott, Kareem , Rambis ,Michael Thompson , McGee. It must've been a joy to play with This man .
When Magic is dribbling, I guess his teammates are as nervous as the opponents. The ball may just come at any time, from any angle, while Magic is doing any action and facing any direction... Any prediction based on past experience just doesn't work...=)
Yi Yang ...lol, WORD.
A lot of the plays are planned and practiced.
I miss seeing”MAGIC JOHNSON PLAY HE’S THE REAL PLAY MAKER “!!!!👍😁👍
Worthy is a great finisher, after a pass from Magic.. Count it!!
The most beautiful passing including no look passing ever. No one can do it better than Magic. He was the magician of basketball. He made the ball disappear from his hands and appear in someone else's hands (teammate) then it's in the basket. I'm glad I got to see it all back in those days. Wow!
A good passer can deliver the ball to a teammate based on where they are, a great passer delivers the ball to where they will be.
Laker Logic Its true. Amateurs pass to players. Pros pass to spots.
True since its an NBA player they have played this game for a few decades and completely memorized everything about the game so its only natural to be god at passing
@@lodii7246 In Magic’s case, he wasn’t merely good, he was GREAT. Even compared to NBA vets in his time, he was passing in ways that hadn’t been seen before.
Passing the ball with this level of accuracy was amazing. But what’s more impressive is knowing that the guy you’re passing the ball to is going to score. Again today’s league doesn’t understand this. Magic gave all his teammates that inner confidence. Every member on this team became a franchise player because of Magic.
Jamal Wilkes - The silk Man
Bob Mckadoo - Can do
McGhee - The road runner
Kurt Rambis - Clark Kent’ Super Man
Michael Cooper - The Coooop all these guys came off the Bench and they were all great.
I have watched and studied most all generations and eras of basketball… To me, the 1980s Magic Johnson led, “Showtime Lakers” is the greatest and most beautiful basketball to watch of all time!
I think that the 86-87 Lakers is the single-best team ever. Spare me the
Bulls and Celtics and Warriors comments.
@@bluegregory6239 They were robbed in '84 the Celtics were on the verge of being swept.
The way he can read plays as they fold is so brilliant. Magic can see and direct where his opponents' eyes are looking at and pass to the players they don't have their eyes on. It's like magic.
Can I also mention how he is able to anticipate and pass to places his teammates aren't at yet but are able to receive it when they are moving.
The GOAT Pointguard!
Isiah Thomas; Jason kidd,, Chris paul,;; John Stockton;; Bob Cosby Oscar Robinson; Jerry west
This is just Unreal.
I can never get enough of Magic. I would much rather watch fast breaks, or some of those finger breaking passes. It's amazing there were not more injuries.Highlights of 3 point shots is like watching paint dry.
vin russo What
@@maxdurk4624 he said watching hightlights of 3 pointers in like watching paint dry
@@NewAgeSlaves I know what he said but am so dumbfounded at how dumb it is. The way he types and clearly thinks is akin to a ten year old.
@@maxdurk4624 lol well I think he articulated himself well enough that it could be recieved
I REALLY WISH SOME NEW PLAYER COULD EMULATE MAGICS STYLE , SIMPLY AMAZING ! CANT BELIEVE NO ONE HAS COME CLOSE TO HIS PASSING STYLE IN 30 YEARS !
Lonzo Ball maybe 🤷♂️
@@georgemcfly3482 No.
Jokic to some degree but his passes are less flashy and being a center he doesn't do the fastbreak the same way Magic does.
I continue to hold that Magic Johnson had the most winning impact of any player I've ever seen. There were many bad Bulls and Cavs teams but it is impossible to have a bad team when Magic Johnson is your star player. I consider him the GOAT and always have. I'm glad the analytics came in and backed up my eyeballs, though. Magic is number one on a lot of all-in-one "metrics."
Magic made it fun for even his big guys to run. Look how many hoops were scored by Worthy, Rambis, Green, and even Kareem, because they knew if they got out and filled the lanes, they'd get a layup or dunk. What a great teammate to have.
Not even Jordan or LeBron could do what Magic Johnson did, the first man and the only man to change the game of basketball thank you magic for your greatness and being the greatest ever
Lebron can pass which is why he's 4th all time in assists - sit down
I never get tired of watching Magic and Larry Bird pass the rock. They saw the game differently than everyone else
Let this be a lesson, always dribble with your head up.
I could watch this all day! Brings back some great memories. Many thanks for posting.
I was a huge Dr. J/Sixers fan back in the day, but my lord, Magic and the Lakers' fast break was a beautiful thing to behold!
the greatest passing talent ever, his speed of thought belongs is ridiculous.no one had the 24 second clock chopped up in as many decision making milliseconds as him. PLAYER WHOSE TALENT TRANSCENDS TIME.
Most unselfish player to wear a Lakers uniform!!!!😄😄😄 Everyone wanted to run the fastbreak when Magic had the ball. The no look pass was an art form and the court was his stage. He made basketball fun to watch......
The greatest passer ever...bruh you watch how the hell he can get those assist. Love Magic
Can't believe what I'm seeing no one ever had passing skills like this its unreal
Jordan and Lebron resume will get them the job. Magic's resume gets Everybody hired 👍 💯
He makes so many passes to cutters in tight windows. Its laughable how easy he makes it look.
Imagine him in today space out and heavy P&R offense... He would be a nightmare to defend.
the 11:16 Supersonic clips showed him in a godly zone. worth rewatching.
Gotta rewatch those Sonics passes. Pretty ridiculous
I'm sorry, but this whole clip is of him in godly zone.
Ridiculous. The Sonics should have just stopped playing.
I need replays lol i have to keep rewinding to just witness the impossible become possible.
My FIRST pick in an all time draft
Magic throwing dimes to Klay daddy.
oh man looking forward to the full compilation. excellent work on this
Oh man, hearing Chick call it is so good...
Legend !
Crazy how congested the paint was and not 1 dime for a 3pter.. game has definitely changed more then any other eras
Top 3 of all time in the NBA unbelievable skills with a ball wayyyyyyyy ahead of his time! Literally
I watched Magic Johnson growing up in Detroit when he was at Michigan state, and boy those alley hoops to Greg kelser, was off the roof !!
One of the things I really liked about him was his unselfish attitude towards his teammates and his ability to spot the open man, it was like one guy would be open but the other guy had a better chance for the easiest shot,
How he did it and knew it only God knows!🏀🤣. Not to undermine others such as bob cousy, Jason Williams, pete maverick, because they were phenomenal passers and very stylish,
But Magic Johnson play making and passing was different from theirs, His was more meaningful and very timely which led to 5 NBA titles!
Not to mention that he made not so good players look great! All you had to do was be ready for the ball as James worthy once said. Good post and good video. 👍👍🏀😎
He'd throw nearly full-court alley-oops to Gregory Kelser. Sick!
Don’t care if he doesn’t have the most assists this guy will always be the best passer of all time.. to this day not one player has even tried to imitate his passing skills on the court only one I can even think of that was flashy was Jason Williams.. can you imagine if magic played today he’d have a CZcams clip every night
This guy was truly something special!!
kareem's skyhook and magic's no-look pass endeared me to the NBA! it is art at its finest!
downloaded this already, wonderful player was magic
Magic is the greatest passer to ever play the game.
The Best Ever. The GOAT. Not even close.
The only star player who really knew the meaning of TEAMWORK , only Magic Johnson✍️🙋♂️📝
Many star players played alone against one team and using his own team as an accessories for his own highness,,,✌️
The perfect blend of Court vision, anticipation, and height.
this vid is str8 🔥🔥🔥
man, I love Lebrons BBIQ but holy shit, Magic is a class above him , in terms of floor vision.
What's amazing is that his teammates don't really catch lobs. So nowadays some of these back door cuts he wouldn't have to whip the ball inside, it would just be a lob. It's spectacular that he can get guys the ball no matter how athletic or unathletic they are. If it's coop or Scott, it's a lob. If it's Rambis, it's high but not to where he has to jump for it.
My assessment after tryna figure out how he was getting away with such easy passes. When your 6’9 with a controlled handle and your head is always up. I’m guessing you can see the simple passing lanes more often then a normal size pg. plus the physical gift to get it there fast and on time even when you think you can deflect a pass he zips it right pass you. Basically #demigod
Magic! simply the best passer ever!
Showtime magic man! I love it!
So beautiful to watch
Ridiculously sublime!!!!!
Do you guys understand why the Lakers were so successful back then? It’s because Magic involved everyone on the team in his plays. This is something the league fails to understand today. They depend solely on one person, the franchise player. These guys had fun despite the pay they earned. Because they all had the chance to play and improve themselves. Most important the scandals were less.
Fantastic magic show😀
R.I.P. to "THE VOICE" of the Lakers, Chip Hearn
Chick* Hearn. I'd roast you but the sentiment and thought of the comment is sincere. RIP to a legend
Yeah, I fugged dat up and should know betta...but someone was cutting onions at the time I was watching this video.
Oh my what a pass..
Love how J.kidd and Magic are almost the same. Just simple passes nothing fancy.
Magic made numerous fancy passes too
His vision is UNREAL
The greatest of all time, right here
EARVIN MAGIC JOHNSON IS THE MONSTER !!!
Magic was the best all around player in basketball. He could play center, forward and point guard. He could rebound, score points when needed and create easy scoring chances for his teammates. He made the Lakers the best team in basketball during the 80's which is the best era of the NBA. That team went to 8 out of the 10 NBA finals in the 80's. Then in the next two years, without Kareem, they went to another one. Out of those 10 years they won 5 NBA titles. To understand how good he was all you need to do is look at the deciding game 6 of the 1980 NBA championship series. As a rookie, without Kareem playing, he started at center and scored 42 points, had 18 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. He did that on the road in a close out game. And he made every single free throw he took that night. To limit him to a title of greatest point guard is to not really see what he actually did. He made Showtime happen. Without him, it doesn't happen at all. He made huge clutch last second shots for his team. And when they needed to ice games, he made free throws. He and Larry Bird revolutionized the game together. Jordan didn't do that. The league changed the rules to fit for Jordan. Magic didn't need that. He won and made basketball fun. I'd rather watch a game with Magic than one with Jordan.
makes you think that Magic could actually see thru defenders to be able to make those passes
#1 point guard all time!! Stockton #2 in my opinion...
Nope if it's skill set it's 2# cp3
If it's pure greatness it's 2# curry
Isiah is 2
I think Kidd has surpassed Stockton and Isiah. Just my opinion
@@betlogjaja3450 As a shooter yes but as a whole PG you aint lookin deep enough
This is just another thing that made the 80s great.
the magic man says it all! if it's magic....then everything else is illusory!
James Worthy might be the best finisher in Association history. And, to this day, Magic is my all-time favorite player. My personal goat.
took pistol pete flashiness to next level
I can literally spot that LeBron studied Magic Johnson's passing ability in transition. LITERALLY!
The most exciting plays are when the shooter is somehow able to be all alone under the basket and just softly lays it in.
Never get tired of seeing him look over the top of PGs heads and deliver passes. Nor James Worthy with his 99 standing layups lol
Youngsters, pay attention this wasn't just once a game. Most of these are showing multiple passes vs the same team in the same game. We as fans were treated on a regular basis to great passing from Magic, not just one every once in a while for a highlight on ESPN. For as good as he was, IMO he is still underrated because of all the recency bias with Curry, Paul, Ja etc...
People think Magic is great because of his passes. He is great because he gets his team to hustle. He even got Abdul Jabbar to run fast breaks.
Legend
WoooooW .......▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ █ 100 % Awesome !!!!
We take magic for granted there is no Laker greater than magic period even Bryant is below him magic in my view is the goat I watched many basketball ball games but the delight the show time Lakers exhibited is unparalleled in the history of the game the Magic Bird era is definitely the best period of the game ever it was not just athleticism which you see today but the artistry , joy and fanfare was great you had so many super stars and great teams I won't take Isaiah out of the conversation .
He put the Show in Showtime. He could do it all. No one like him before, or since.
That pass at 13:30- we knew Magic could run the fast break. For all those who say they played no defense, this is half court set up and Magic just sliced it up. All he needed was the space of a basketball. I saw him do it all the time. Be honest fast break ball like the Showtime Lakers is a lot more fun than watching some guy shoot threes.
That man triple head faked on the same play passed with the left hand on a no look in a matter of 3 seconds……. Beyond the word skilled Magic was truly amazing.
It's MAGIC
I don't really get to understand how people can so often compare Stockton and Magic based on the assist stats record alone.
Stock has been extraordinarily efficient and tough as a player. But in all honesty Magic's game was simply another league.
The main difference between the two - a huge one too - is that Magic could be an offensive powerhouse on his own. Something Stock could just dream of.
Magic could score almost at will if not double teamed.
So defenses had to constantly double team him on the block or sending help (and quickly) on his driving lane creating endless mismatches and advantages that the guy vivisected with relentless efficiency. And more often than not with stunning flair too.
His ball handling let him keep his eyes always on every part of the floor ready to instantly punish every defensive slightest miscommunication or error.
He was quick for that huge 6'9" frame and almost unstoppable on the break, at half court he could create plays out of nothing just reading the floor and delivering passes over the head and arms of his defender almost at will.
Many great PG I loved (Nash, Stockton, Kidd, Isiah probably on top of my list - not in the same order-)
But Magic was the perfect point guard for his times and his impact on the point guard position in my opinion is still unmatched .
Great
He always seemed in control. He could pass with his left hand perfect bullet passes. For a right handed player that's crazy. Some of those passes in traffic are like lasers.
RIP Chick Hearn!
I have no idea how he makes these passes.. not only does he make them but he makes them with flair. RIDICULOUS.
Magic Johnson is the GOAT
He is THE greatest Laker ..
Better than kobe Bryant;; just joking
Watch it in 0.75 and you will see the greatness
Greatest Laker ever
The greats are always 2 to 3 steps ahead!
Never been a ball handler better than the MAGIC MAN.
That spin move was nasty at 12:02.
Davon Benson Earl Monroe created the spin move. Magic loved to talk about him.
Something I always tell fellow basketball fans.: Magic Johnson could have scored as much as Michael or Lary, he just chose to score by making it flashy (aka with a pass-y) 🔦