The era was the 1978-79 season– Michigan State University had entered the NCAA tournament. The team was about to face Indiana State, led by senior Larry Bird, in the championship game.
This game was the most-watched college basketball match ever. And in this considerable exposure, one name emerged that led to Michigan State’s victory over Indiana State by 75-64. Magic Johnson was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
Within his two-year college basketball career, he averaged 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. By the end of the season, he was selected to the 1978-79 All-American team based on his stats. And just like that, he entered the 1979 NBA draft.
How Did the Lakers Get the First Pick for Magic Johnson?
Johnson’s fate has been working behind the scenes for three years before the player was drafted. In 1976, the Lakers team agreed on Gail Goodrich signing with the Utah Jazz. But in exchange, the Lakers asked for two first-round picks and a second, including the first overall pick in 1979.
All eyes were on Johnson when he entered the 1979 NBA draft. And the Lakers dealing for the first overall pick landed them Johnson in their team. This marked the history of the Lakers’s glory and the never-ending partnership.
Did Magic Johnson Ask to Be Traded?
The Lakers’ history would have taken a different course had it not been for the one crucial decision.
Johnson had a stellar season as a rookie in 1979, winning the NBA championship. He was thrilled to be drafted into a team where he could share the playoff with Kareem Abdul Jabar. The two formed a strong partnership on the strategic front.
But in 1980, Jabar suffered an unfortunate ankle injury. This was the moment that Johnson had to prove his reliability. And so he put in his heart and soul, leading the game with his personal best stats of 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists in the clincher.
And just at the peak of his form, Johnson was challenged with a jinx– the “injury jinx!” He suffered through a series of complications, but one of the critical ones was when he tore cartilage in his left knee during the 1980-81 season. He was limited to only 37 games that season.
Meanwhile, the Lakers had replaced Coach Jack Mckinny after he met with a near-fatal bicycle accident. Then came coach Paul Westhead into the picture. The no-bullshit, aggressive, and authoritative coach was widely known for his unorthodox, run-and-gun style called “The System.”
And now, Johnson made a comeback after his injury in the 1981 NBA Playoffs. Fans cheered for his return, but he couldn’t create the same magic as before. The Lakers lost to the Rockets in the first round. During the final game of the best-of-three, Johnson struggled on the field with a score of 10 points on 2-14 shooting.
And later the same season, Johnson signed a 25-year, $25 million contract with Los Angeles Lakers. Even by today’s standards, this was the most influential deal for a rookie player that was not even awarded to the seasoned players of the team. Rumors had it that some players thought this deal was more than just acquiring a player; it felt like Johnson was getting a part of the Lakers team. Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss once remarked–
“Magic may even be my coach, general manager, or maybe he’ll run the team and I’ll just sit back and watch. Magic is a bright kid, and I plan to make him my protege. I’ll teach him the business aspect of sports after his career is over. What it comes down to is that Magic is part of the family.”
But then, the team dynamics seemed like clashes of the Titans, as Johnson and Westhead couldn’t see eye-to-eye on team strategies. Johnson wanted to play with the fast-paced offense game plan, while Westhead was steadfast on running the offense through Abdul Jabar.
And then came the infamous Lakers vs. Jazz games, where the palpable tension between the coach and the player was so evident. Although the Lakers won over the Jazz by 113-110, Johnson was tipped over with frustration.
He told the New York Times, “I can’t play here anymore. I want to leave. I want to be traded.”
These famous words are etched in the Lakers’ chapter.
Within 24 hours, Coach Paul Westhead was fired from the team.
Buss told The Times–
“Obviously, it was a difficult decision for us.”
“There is no way to criticize anybody. I was disappointed in not seeing an exciting team once again. This started after the first or second game.”
Buss vehemently denied that Johnson’s statement had anything to do with Westhead’s removal. He said that he was planning on firing the coach prior to the match.
However, people did not digest this claim. Everyone, including the media, saw Johnson as a villain. Even his teammates expressed their concerns about whether their job was secure. Jamaal Wilkes even questioned, “If [Magic] got mad at a player, would that player be gone the next day?”
Johnson was collectively booed by the audience in the next match.
Buss replaced Westhead with Coach Pat Riley. Ironically, this proved to be a great decision as the collaboration between Riley and Johnson won them several championships in the future.
There shall be several what-ifs to this decision– what if Johnson actually left the Lakers? What would be the team’s fate to lose one of the greatest players in NBA history?
Winning Time, the show on Max, has brilliantly portrayed the events; Jason Segel as Westhead is the highlight of the show.
What are your thoughts on this chapter of NBA history? Do you think Johnson’s statement fired Westhead? Did you agree with Westhead’s tactics?
Let us know in the comments section below.
