NBA legend Magic Johnson is one of the most famous basketballers to ever suit up in a Hungry Jack’s NBL uniform.
Back in November 2002, during a United States exhibition tour, the five-time NBA champion and three-time MVP famously suited up for the NBL's Canberra Cannons against Johnson's former college side, the Michigan State Spartans.
The fixture all came to fruition, thanks to NBL legend Cal Bruton's relationship with Johnson, which started when the two-time NBL champion was at the Perth Wildcats.
A subsequent business trip to the US then allowed him to forge a relationship with the former Los Angeles Laker, who, years later, called Bruton (then in charge of the Cannons) when a European team had pulled out of an exhibition game.
"That's when he \[Johnson\] contacted me and said, could I raise the money to bring a team here. I couldn't say no. I just had to find a way to get the money. I think we had three weeks, that's all we had," Bruton said to the _Canberra Times_ in 2002.
Behind jersey auctions and other fundraisers, Bruton raised the money, and the tour was on.
“Before you knew it, we were off on a whirlwind tour of the US,” Bruton said.
The Cannons won the fixture 104-85, with Johnson recording 12 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
But as NBL legend Cal Bruton, who was pivotal in making the fixture happen, said to the Canberra Times, this was about more than numbers.
"For us to create an opportunity to connect us with the NBA was absolutely huge, and potentially a game-changer for Australian basketball. In the end, it was that," Bruton said to the Canberra Times in 2002.
Re-live that magic moment in NBL history below:
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