Magic Johnson portrait
Magic
Johnson
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DEF
19.5 PPG 7.2 RPG 11.2 APG

Magic Johnson

The #1 pick of the 1979 NBA Draft

Position
Point guard
Height
6'9"
Born
14 August 1959
Drafted
1979, 1st overall — Los Angeles Lakers
Team
Los Angeles Lakers
Career
13 seasons, 1979-80 to 1995-96
Averages
19.5 PPG · 7.2 RPG · 11.2 APG
  • 5× NBA champion
  • 3× Finals MVP
  • 3× MVP

The first pick in 1979, a 6'9" point guard from Michigan State, and an NBA champion and Finals MVP as a rookie. Magic Johnson won five titles in the 1980s, three MVPs and three Finals MVPs, retired in November 1991 after announcing he was HIV-positive, and came back for one more season in 1996.

Magic Johnson's NBA career

Every season, the team and what he won.

Magic Johnson's NBA career by season: team, honours and selections.
SeasonTeamHonours
1979-80Los Angeles LakersNBA champion, Finals MVP, All-Star
1980-81Los Angeles LakersKnee injury; played 37 games.
1981-82Los Angeles LakersNBA champion, Finals MVP, All-Star, All-NBA Second Team
1982-83Los Angeles LakersAll-Star, All-NBA First Team
1983-84Los Angeles LakersAll-Star, All-NBA First Team
1984-85Los Angeles LakersNBA champion, All-Star, All-NBA First Team
1985-86Los Angeles LakersAll-Star, All-NBA First Team
1986-87Los Angeles LakersNBA champion, Finals MVP, MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team
1987-88Los Angeles LakersNBA champion, All-Star, All-NBA First Team
1988-89Los Angeles LakersMVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team
1989-90Los Angeles LakersMVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team
1990-91Los Angeles LakersAll-Star, All-NBA First Team
1991-92—All-StarRetired in November after announcing he was HIV-positive; voted into the All-Star Game anyway and named its MVP.
1992-93 to 1994-95—Retired.
1995-96Los Angeles LakersCame back in January and played 32 games.

Career achievements

5Championships
3MVPs
3Finals MVPs
12All-Star selections
10All-NBA teams
17,707Career points
6,559Career rebounds
10,141Career assists
3,701Playoff points

Championships

  • 1980 Los Angeles Lakers
  • 1982 Los Angeles Lakers
  • 1985 Los Angeles Lakers
  • 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
  • 1988 Los Angeles Lakers

Milestones

  • 11.2 assists per game, the highest career average in NBA history.
  • Finals MVP as a rookie in 1980, with 42 points in the clinching Game 6 while starting at center.
  • All-Star Game MVP in 1992, three months after he retired.
  • Olympic gold with the 1992 Dream Team.

Draft history

Draft
1979 NBA Draft
Pick
1st overall
Team
Los Angeles Lakers
From
Michigan State
Age
19 on draft night

The Lakers held the pick from the Jazz, compensation for Gail Goodrich's move to New Orleans in 1976.

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