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.
| Season | Team | Honours |
|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA champion, Finals MVP, All-Star |
| 1980-81 | Los Angeles Lakers | Knee injury; played 37 games. |
| 1981-82 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA champion, Finals MVP, All-Star, All-NBA Second Team |
| 1982-83 | Los Angeles Lakers | All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1983-84 | Los Angeles Lakers | All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1984-85 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA champion, All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1985-86 | Los Angeles Lakers | All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1986-87 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA champion, Finals MVP, MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1987-88 | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA champion, All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1988-89 | Los Angeles Lakers | MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1989-90 | Los Angeles Lakers | MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team |
| 1990-91 | Los Angeles Lakers | All-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. |
| 1995-96 | Los Angeles Lakers | Came 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.
Explore Magic Johnson
- NBA Dynasty RedraftRebuild a franchise through five drafts and see what it wins.
- GOAT CalculatorWeigh Magic Johnson against the greatest players of all time.
DTM TV
Jordan's Iconic SwitcherooMichael Jordan switches hands in mid-air against Magic Johnson's Lakers in the 1991 Finals.
Magic Showtime JohnsonEight minutes of Magic Johnson running the Showtime Lakers.
