Ranking the top 50 players in NBA history…
Magic revolutionized the point guard position with size and vision, and he was the orchestrator of the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers from the 1980s that remain iconic in the annals of NBA history.
Selected No. 1 overall by the Lakers in 1979 out of Michigan State, where he won an NCAA title, Johnson played 13 NBA seasons (1979-1991, 1996) with a flash and exuberance that the league hasn’t quite seen since.
Magic averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game in his career and did a whole lot of winning.
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A 12-time All-Star, Johnson won five championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988), earning three Finals MVPs (1980, 1982, 1987). He also secured three NBA MVPs (1987, 1989, 1990) and led the league in assists four times.
Famous for his [no-look passes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cEYGS8rc3I) and entertaining fast breaks, Johnson was a sensation from the moment he stepped on an NBA floor. As a rookie, he won Finals MVP in 1980, filling in at center during the most pivotal moment.
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Magic’s rivalry with Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird boosted NBA popularity to a degree unseen prior.
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Johnson’s charisma and playmaking influenced LeBron James and others. His career symbolized joy in basketball, and he was one of the most prolific winners the league has ever hosted.
Featured image via Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports copyright (c) Malcolm Emmons