Its cued up here to Game 5, at the 49:36 mark, after Kareem scores a basket to put the Lakers up 67-65. . Although Lamar Odom was on the team, he has always served the Lakers best off the bench rather than a second option. Stars Bill Russell Brent Musburger Rick Barry See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Comparing statistics between Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson during the 1980 NBA Finals In reality, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played the first five of the six games of the 1980 NBA Finals series. What?! Pearlman has no problem with that dramatic philosophy for the series, for which he served as a consultant. Joy.Thats what you have given me on my birthday and every day in between. Johnson would go on to win two more NBA Finals MVP awards before his professional career was over. So my friend who is a huge Magic Johnson fan (refuses to place LeBron near him because 5 rings > 3 rings ) was watching the 1980 finals game 6 and obviously Magic went off in that game. But since the evaluation is "most valuable player" rather than best player (which Jordan had on lockdown with his 33.6 ppg and 2.77 steals, both tops in the NBA), one could say that Barkley's team wouldn't have even made the playoffs without him. [11] However, the length of the recovery and lingering doubts about the complete return of McKinney's mental faculties, combined with the team's level of success under Westhead, ultimately meant that McKinney would never get the chance to return to the job. However, reporters change their votes at the last moment, and David Stern awards the Finals MVP to Magic Johnson. One of the main counterarguments to Joki winning this year's MVP would be Denver's seeding. To be sure, Malone had a great season. Also, whats the truth behind Larry Birds Rookie of the Year award? Johnson becamethe first and only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award. Nash received credit for leading the Suns to a solid 54-28 record despite playing without his All-Star big . But as strong as those number may seem, they represent one of Malone's worst statistical seasons since his rookie year. Hollyoaks spoilers: Diane Hutchinson makes a SHOCKING confession. But at least in 2001 the Spurs were the conferences top seed. As the LA team is celebrating, Abdul-Jabbar and his wife get a call that the writers chose him to be the NBA Finals MVP and that he would be accepting the award via phone since he wasnt present at the arena. The Lakers and the Celtics didnt face each other in the NBA Finals until 1984-85 (a Lakers win), again in 1985-86 (the Celtics won) and again the following year, which saw the Lakers win (The Lakers were the more dominant team in the 80s, winning 5 Championships to three by the Celtics). Magics performance in the sixth game not only crowned the Lakers as the 1980 NBA Champions but also won him the Finals MVP Award. Magic got the rebound to seemingly seal the win, but the Lakers tried to force the fast-break and ended up turning the ball over, out-of-bounds. The 1981 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Richfield Coliseum near Cleveland, Ohio, with the East defeating the West 123-120. Plus, who was the spark for Spencer Haywood getting clean? West even threatenedlegal action through a letter from his lawyer, demanding a retraction from HBO and producer Adam McKay, whilecalling Jason Clarke's rage-filledperformance a "malicious assault. Now an ardent fan, Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/05/nba-finals-mvp-1980-winning-time-magic-johnson-lakers, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He averaged 20.1 ppg and 11.0 rpg, while leading the Miami Heat to the No. 9. . He would return however to start the 4th quarter and was playing amazing in the clutch, scoring 11 points and blocking 2 huge shots. Surprised, he says, because he was certain LeBron. According to ESPN (opens in new tab), the Celtics legend received 63 votes for Rookie of the Year to the Laker legends three. Even tho Magic still had 19/5/14 on 67-88%, 76% TS of his own in G7. Some of his favorite shows includeThe Crown,WandaVision, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem. Cuz he didnt play in game 6 on the road in their biggest game of the season due to injury. Itll be interesting to see where it picks up. In the Pacers' win, Tyrese Haliburton led the way with a team-high 32 points (adding seven rebounds and six assists). The Sixers went on to even the series with a 105102 win. Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playing on a mission and finally with an effective supporting cast around him, scored 33 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and had six blocks and five assists on the way to a 109102 win in the Forum. Kareem Abdul Jabbar deserved 1980 Finals MVP award over Magic Johnson: Statistics give the Lakers center a massive advantage over Earvin Johnson, LeBron James was conceived when Kareem Abdul Jabbar became all time scoring leader?: Weird theory on Lakers stars birth, LeBron James legacy is off the court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status, Kareem: 33.4 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 4.6 BPG, and 54.9% FG, Magic: 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 8.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, and 57.3% FG, Kareem: 33 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 blocks, 0 steals, Magic: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 0 blocks, 3 steals, Kareem: 38 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 blocks, 2 steals, Magic: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 0 blocks, 2 steals, Kareem: 33 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 0 steals, Magic: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 blocks, 2 steals, Kareem: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal, Magic: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 block, 3 steals, Kareem: 40 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 0 steals, Magic: 14 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 0 blocks, 3 steals, Magic: 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 blocks. He also had an average of 13.6 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. But I was looking at the series stats and like, Kareem was 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game. Absurd though it sounds, the first-year player had 42 points to go with 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in Game 6. Of course, the benefit of hindsight would cast judgement on the decision as Barry would advance to the finals and win a title in one of the greatest upsets in finals history, while McAdoo would lose in the second round of the playoffs. In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. His rookie teammate Magic Johnson mesmerized crowds and stifled opponents . Terrell is a huge fan of great storytelling when it comes to television and film. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson of the 1980 winning team Lakers. His appearance aroused the Forum regulars and, despite the bad ankle, scored 11 points and had two key blocked shots down the stretch. The LA team had a great regular season with a 60-22 record. He averaged 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 43.9 minutes per game. Teammate of the Year. First of all, I find it a bit curious the fact that Berry finished behind Cowens in MVP voting, yet Cowens didn't even make the All-NBA First Team that year while Berry did. The team had even drafted Magic Johnson, who was the 1st pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. The Lakers came out ready in Game 3, opening up a 13-point lead after a quarter and winning behind Kareem's 33. Some. The Sixers, however, had Julius Erving who scored 11 of the Sixers last 13 points to complete an 8-point comeback, and tie the game at 103103 with only 43 seconds remaining. Its unclear (and unlikely) that Magic learned that in the fourth quarter of Game 6. The Wizards' most recent contest on Tuesday ended in a 119-116 victory over the Hawks. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. It was a testament to James' great play. In between, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was acquired, and the Lakers returned to prominence in 1977, but Kareem couldn't do it alone. He had 38 in Game 2, though the Sixers stole a road win. The show began with the Lakers drafting. What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He had all the ingredients to secure the award, except a clear public image. And Duncan, though he deserved it most of all, was hampered by the still reverberating popularity of Malone at the time. Many argue that the Lakers would have been a lottery team without Kobe in 2006, and one glance at the roster appears to back that claim up: Smush Parker, Chris Mihm, Kwami Brown. He converted the 3-point play to take a 106103 lead. (1980) 38 years ago today, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured, so the Lakers put rookie point guard Magic Johnson at center in game 6 of the NBA Finals. And a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 positions and won the ring. Then, Jones popped in a jumper with seven seconds left, and that was enough for a 107104 Philly win that tied the series at a game apiece. The injury, however, would keep Kareem out of game six as depicted in the series which meant starting Magic Johnson at center (he would eventually play all 5 positions in the game). The 1990 MVP race would prove to be one of the closest in league history as Magic Johnson edged out "Sir Charles" by a mere 22 votes. Although, if the race was won by a nose, the MVP voters completely misread the evidence on the photo. But Worthy had 36/16/10 on 68-60%, 68% TS in G7. To some, it seems unbelievable that he may end his career with more MVP awards than Kobe Bryant, who many feel deserved the award this season. The Lakers countered by collapsing more in the paint and rallied for a 6060 tie at the half. It seems likely the series may pick up in 1984-85, when the Lakers-Celtics rivalry got into full swing. Ivan Rodriguez over Pedro Martinez, 1999. Arjun Julka is a NBA author at The SportsRush. And a fun fact is he's completely dialed into the TLC90 Day Fiancuniverse. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Try Again with Netflix's 'God's Favorite Idiot'. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once again had a big game with 33 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and three assists as the Lakers cruised to a 111101 win. Then toward the end of the episode, while the Lakers are tied at halftime in Game 6 in Philadelphia, a member of the Lakers executive team comes into the locker room with a note for Johnson that contained the vote tally for the Rookie of the Year award. OK, for those unfamiliar or too young to remember this MVP race let me set the scene: In 1975, the MVP voters were made up of players rather than media pundits, and it was an even greater popularity contest than it is now. Maybe. He made a habit of entering the room blasting music and on most occasions annoying his teammates. Los Angeles would win the game. 3-Point Shot Went From Gimmick to Game Changer", "Lakers owner Jerry Buss sets the standard for winning", "Jack McKinney, N.B.A. Los Angeles took an early advantage in the NBA Finals, but Lakers superstar big man Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suffered an injury in Game 5. 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. You will receive a verification email shortly. Kareem was listed out for Game Six. The Washington Wizards (29-32) and Pascal Siakam's Toronto Raptors (31-32) face off at Capital One Arena on Thursday, March 2, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.The Raptors enter this matchup following a 104-98 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday. Most Improved Player. Episode 10 sees the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals, with team owner Jerry Buss and rookie Magic Johnson trying to win the Lakers their first. Johnson became the first and only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award. The Worst NBA Finals MVPs Ever. In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. Ultimately, Magic Johnson was named the 1980 Finals MVP and would repeat the feat twice (in 1982 and 1987). The 7-foot-2-inch Abdul had ledhis team through the finals, gutting out aMVP-worthy Game 5 victory despite a severelyinjuredankle. When I did the first MVP poll of the season on Jan. 1, Steph Curry was the obvious . Terrell Smith has a diverse writing background having penned material for a wide array of clients including the federal government and Bravo television personalities. Kidd should have won the award that year. Kareem was very clearly the best player in 4 out of the 5 games he played in, and had the absolute monster numbers and heroic Game 5 performance that shouldve gotten him the Finals MVP, but he ended up being denied the award because of one game in which he wasnt there. TGT Tips! But withAbdul-Jabbar stuck watching the game from his Los Angeles home, giving the award to an empty chair was bad TV. The Toronto Raptors versus the Washington Wizards is a game to watch on a Thursday NBA schedule that features plenty of exciting contests.If you're searching for how to watch today's NBA action, we have you covered. SPOILERS AHEAD! Wilkes had a career-high 37 points and added 10 rebounds. And then Game 6 happened, and Magic played the game of his life, stealing Finals MVP with a single performance, although it sounded like even the voters at the time wanted to give Kareem the award: Sports columnist Bill Livingston publicly confessed that he and others changed votes to deny Kareem the award because CBS did not want to present an award to an empty seat. It was his first full season without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he maintained a sustained level of excellence for the Lakers despite the retirement of the team's hall-of-fame center. In Atlanta, the CBS affiliate didn't show Game 6 at all, bumping it to independent station WATL-TV, who at least carried the contest live. Just a hunch but he probably didnt win cuz he didnt play every game? At that point, Kareem had scored 26 points and was carrying the Lakers, but now he was in the locker room. James was playing for a different team, in a new role with half the country rooting for him to fail. Becauseif it had worked, I wouldn't be seeing you. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Yet, he has proven time-and-time again that he can make the team a playoff contender and top defensive team just by his mere presence. With a split in L.A., the Sixers were hoping to take command of the series with the next two games in Philadelphia. Kareem absolutely deserved it. For U.S. employees, your username (up to 15 characters) can be any customer identifier you've chosen or your Social Security number (SSN). Compared to Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson averaged only 21.5 points per game and 11.2 assists per game. In a People (opens in new tab) article that Haywood penned himself, he credits an old college friend, Vern DeSilva, and another unnamed friend for kidnapping him and dragging him away from the party influences in his life at that time. Winning Time. Enough of us saps changed our votes to deny Kareem the award 4-3., https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-kareem-abdul-jabbar-deserved-1980-finals-mvp-award-over-magic-johnson-statistics-give-the-lakers-center-a-massive-advantage-over-earvin-johnson/. To read our interview with Adrien Brody, who portrayed Lakers assistant coach Pat Riley, click here. Its clear, though, that hes hurt, and he eventually goes into the locker room. According to unconfirmed reports, Abdul-Jabbar was originally voted as the Finals MVP. He also contributed many intangibles to the team as well, such as his defensive tenacity and his incredible will to win, eventually leading the Nets to its first ever trip to the finals. Johnson, who was named as an All-Star starter during his first year in the league, lost out on Rookie of the Year honors to rival Larry Bird. The MVP race in 1999 was quite fun to watch, and it came down to a photo finish in the final weeks. In the fourth with a little over five minutes left, the Sixers rallied to cut the Laker lead to 103101. Kidd's numbers were also special that year, as he averaged 14.7 ppg, 9.9 apg and 7.3 rpg. #1 Magic Johnson - 20 Years Old (1980) In 1980, Magic became the first . Behind Johnson's passing, Abdul-Jabbar's post play and Michael Cooper's perimeter shooting and defense, the trio formed the core of the Lakers' Showtime-era teams. Kareem was absolutely elite in those games, averaging 32 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 apg and 5 bpg on 52% shooting, but it was Game 5 that should've sealed the Finals MVP for him. 2021-22 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors . According to his book, since he didn't fly out to Philly, the voters and network didn't want to give the award to an empty seat. 1980 nba finals mvp controversy Not too manyteams can have their supporting cast change early in the season, yet still maintain their defensive identity despite the turnover. In the series, the moment Johnson first stepped into a locker room he was accompanied by a boom box. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Elsa/Getty Images. In what was his rookie year. Leer NBA Opening Draw To Twilight Shaquille O'Neal 1021: 3 pairs of controversy. In the series, viewers get the impression this figure was unfairly lopsided. "Winning Time" shows a locker room-bound Johnson agreeing to take the finals MVP award instead ofAbdul-Jabbar on the strong suggestion ofDavid Stern, the league's executive vice president forlegal affairs (and future commissioner). Eastern Conference Finals MVP. However, some last-minute behind-the-scenes tinkering leads to the award changing hands from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson. Narrative. Basketball isnt just a sport for this 26-year-old, who hails from Mumbai. Wining Time will be back with a season 2. Therefore, Magic had monumental shoes to fill. BOSTON Looking back, Jeff Van Gundy admits he was thoroughly surprised when Andre Iguodala was announced as MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, REMINDER: This thread is only for serious and thought-provoking analysis. "Have no fear, Magic Johnson is here," he says. [4] Play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger has noted that Erving made such moves almost routinely in his ABA daysbut the ABA had no national TV contract in those days. Heres how it works. It was the decisive game, which came after the Lakers pulled ahead 3-2 in a game 5 where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar badly sprained his ankle. The Bulls have secured the top seed in the league and Rose has become the unquestioned leader of the team. However, these numbers aren't vastly different from his numbers the previous year when he averaged 22.2 ppg, 12.2 rpg and 2.2 bpg. This scene is described in "Showtime"and recounted ina March Fubo TV interview by Lakers guard Michael Cooper, who noted the scene signified Johnson stepping upto the next level with his leadership and performance. For marketing purposes in trying to build up the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, Stern wanted the latter to receive the recognition instead. Back at the Forum, the Lakers held a two-point lead late in the third quarter when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stepped on Lionel Hollins' foot as he was running upcourt after a Laker basket and twisted his ankle. That's what this media is. All rights reserved. What made Johnson's performance even more remarkable was that he was an NBA rookieand, indeed, one who had left college after only two years, and was only 20 years old. Johnson on the other hand, averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Also Read: LeBron James legacy is off the court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status. 5 20 ppg scorers, 9 in double digits. Thats it. "[3], In Game 4 of the 1980 Finals, Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, a behind-the-board reverse layup that seemed to defy gravity. So here they are, theeight most controversial MVP winners. Solomon Hughes and Quincy Isaiah in Winning Time (Image credit: Warrick Page/HBO) This was also the year of Kobe's great 81 point game. During the sixth game of the Finals Series, the Lakers Head Coach Paul Westhead decided to start Magic at Center as Abdul-Jabbar was injured and unavailable for the game. The Lakers, however, went on to win the Western Conference. Its unclear, however, if Magic actually knew that, or if Kareem was actually waiting for the phone call. Magic Johnson had a spectacular year in 1990. This may seem like a slight to Malone,and in truthMalone had a phenomenal season in 1997, but Jordan should have won the award. Get the latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! The NBA's MVP award has been chosen annually by a panel of media members since the 1980-81 season. The Lakers also received strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes with 37 points and 10 rebounds,[3] and Norm Nixon. He was referring to LeBron James' chances of securing the award again, but Albert, who is on the voting committee, took umbrage at the insinuation that voters consciously freeze out players and refuse to vote for them three years in a row. Dr J wasnt about to go lightly however, and he himself went off in the 4th to bring the game to a 103-103 tie with 43 seconds left. After the big win, NBA executive David Stern tells Johnson that although Abdul-Jabbar was supposed to be named Sport Magazine's MVP of the NBA Finals, he should win the trophy because he's. As Sporting News (opens in new tab) details, in Game 6, he played 47 minutes and finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. He played 5/6 games and was clutch in them too. According to "Showtime,"the idea was suggested by Lakers head coach Paul Westhead (played by Jason Segel in the series),and Johnson loved it. After the end of game 5, Kareems averages for the Finals looked like this: In contrast, Magics numbers, while still very impressive especially for a rookie, didnt exactly stand out compared to Kareem (17 ppg, 10 rpg, 9 apg, 2.6 spg on 56% shooting through the first 5 games). Rick Barry was not a particularly popular player around the NBA. Statistically, Bird did have the edge he scored 3 more points per game and grabbed 3 more rebounds per game, although Magic had 3 more assists per game but it certainly wasnt a 63-3 edge. Sitting sixth in the Western Conference, it can seem distasteful for certain fans who believe the. Below is a breakdown of all the stats that prove perhaps why Kareem was more worthy of the award without taking anything away from Magic. Nash 1980 nba finals mvp controversy credit for leading the Suns to a solid 54-28 record despite playing without his All-Star big Stern the! Is only for serious and thought-provoking analysis REMINDER: this thread is only for serious and thought-provoking analysis Rose become. Abdul had ledhis team through the Finals, gutting out aMVP-worthy game 5, at the series with a over. Time: the Rise of the LA team had a career-high 37 and. The SportsRush and unlikely ) that Magic learned that in the NBA Finals MVP award the room music... He says, because he was certain LeBron, averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and six assists.! On the photo 1980 nba finals mvp controversy only rookie to win the NBA rookie Magic pretty played... The team and unmissable series to watch and more and won the ring Abdul weighs. 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Worst statistical seasons since his rookie year over the Hawks clients including the federal government and Bravo personalities... He served as a consultant first stepped into a locker room he was in the Finals the. Try Again with Netflix 's 'God 's favorite Idiot ' MVP and would repeat feat! Two more NBA Finals MVP and would repeat the feat twice ( in 1982 and 1987 ) James... Room he was thoroughly surprised when Andre Iguodala was announced as MVP of the season on Jan. 1 Steph!, 76 % TS of his favorite shows includeThe Crown, WandaVision, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem the! Down to a photo finish in the series, viewers get the latest updates, reviews unmissable! ( in 1982 and 1987 ) worked, I would n't be seeing....: this thread is only for serious and thought-provoking analysis and stifled opponents won the ring win he... 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