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Irvin Johnson (Magic Johnson)Basketball player
Date of Birth: 14.08.1959
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Irvin Johnson (Magic Johnson)
- Rising Star in the NBA
- Stepping Up in the NBA Finals
- A Dominant Force in the NBA
- Olympic Success and Final Return
Biography of Irvin Johnson (Magic Johnson)
Irvin Johnson, also known as Magic Johnson, was a basketball player who gained the nickname "Magic" from his incredible ball handling skills. He was born on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. At the age of 20, he left his studies at Michigan State University after receiving an invitation to play for the Los Angeles Lakers alongside the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Rising Star in the NBA
In his first season, Magic Johnson amazed experts and fans with his exceptional talent. He was a truly versatile basketball player who effortlessly excelled in any position on the court. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he possessed ball-handling skills that many defenders envied. Magic was also unmatched in his ability to make precise passes or intercept opponents' passes. Weighing 225 pounds, he was effective in the role of a forward, fighting for rebounds under both baskets and finishing attacks with accurate shots from any position.
Stepping Up in the NBA Finals
In his debut season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson had the opportunity to showcase his skills as a center. In the 1980 NBA Finals series against the Philadelphia 76ers, with the Lakers leading 3-2, Abdul-Jabbar was unable to play in the sixth game due to an injury. Lakers coach Paul Westhead chose Johnson to start in Abdul-Jabbar's place. Many believed that Philadelphia would win the sixth game on their home court against the weakened Lakers and that the championship would be decided in a seventh game in Los Angeles, where Abdul-Jabbar might have recovered from his injury. However, Magic had a different plan. Scoring 42 points in the sixth game, he helped his team secure a 123-107 victory and was named the MVP of the finals series.
A Dominant Force in the NBA
During his twelve years with the Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson led his team to the NBA Finals nine times, winning the championship five times. He was named the regular season MVP three times and the finals MVP three times. Magic set several records in the NBA, including 2,346 assists in playoff games, 584 assists, and 102 steals in NBA Finals games. By the end of the 1990-1991 season, he had scored a total of 17,239 points and made 9,921 assists. However, his basketball career came to an end when he announced his retirement after being diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
Olympic Success and Final Return
In 1992, Magic Johnson was part of the "Dream Team" that won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics. At the age of 36, he made a brief comeback to the Los Angeles Lakers for the second half of the 1995-1996 season. However, after the team's loss in the first round of the playoffs, Magic bid farewell to professional basketball for good.
