All rights reserved. Mourning had the best season of his career in 1999. Stats-wise Johnson and Barkley's numbers were both very strong: Barkley averaged 25.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg, while Johnson averaged 22.3 ppg and 11.5 apg. Did Nash really belong in that distinguished company? Magic Johnson - 3 1987, 1989, 1990 In 1987, Bird's rival took the torch. Pat Riley (Adrien Brody) intercepts the message, but he doesnt tell Johnson what it says until the guard is in need of extra motivation to beat the 76ers. [18] (This is often cited as an example of TV's lack of interest in the NBA in the "pre-Magic and Bird" era.). Scottie Scheffler becomes the third player to win The Masters at age 25 or younger in the last 40 years. Here is the answer! 2021-22 Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors . He began watching the sport after stumbling upon a court in his society, helping him identify an undiscovered passion for the game of hoops. Kareem absolutely deserved it. The satisfying season finale of HBO's Winning Time aired this week, and most of the episode took place during Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Championship. Julius Erving scored 12 points in the first quarter on his way to 23, beginning the game with a dunk over Abdul-Jabbar. But Worthy had 36/16/10 on 68-60%, 68% TS in G7. "Have no fear, Magic Johnson is here," he says. Perhaps it was because voters felt that they snubbed Tim Duncan for MVP in 1999, or it was because Jason Kidd's arrest for spousal abuse in 2001 just biased them against him, but many believed that Tim Duncan did not deserve the MVP award in 2002. He came into the league with the most pressure to preform and did so admirably as the Heat led the East in road wins, despite every game having a playoff atmosphere. In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. 3rd seed in the East, 3rd best league record. Teammate of the Year. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has submitted a bid to buy the Commanders, according to a report from Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. He averaged 25.5ppg, 12.7 rpg, and 2.5 bpg. McAdoo led the league in scoring this season with 34.5 ppg and that played a large role in his win, but his scoring was only slightly higher than Berry's 30.6 ppg. The NBA world doesn't think voters got the MVP selection right. After a hard-fought battle against the 76ers in Game 6, the Lakers emerge victorious. Narrative. Jerry West - 1969. Something about a 42/15/7 game from your rookie PG filling in for your injured MVP center in a series clinching game might have something to do with it. "As es, Westbrook acaba de recoger las sobras de Wang Zelin. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Generally, slumps by teams heading into the playoffs hurt MVP candidates, but it did not effect Malone's candidacy in the minds of voters. This game was a nip-and-tuck affair that was highlighted by Julius Erving's signature "Baseline Move" in the fourth quarter. The 1981 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Richfield Coliseum near Cleveland, Ohio, with the East defeating the West 123-120. But, this time, he got very little help as the Laker break never got going. He was an unlikely candidate to be the series MVP - after all, his teammate . It was his first full season without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he maintained a sustained level of excellence for the Lakers despite the retirement of the team's hall-of-fame center. The 1980 NBA Finals proved how special Magic was in game 6, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar unable to play Magic played center and scored 42 points. The Lakers went up 70, then 114. This picture, taken at our friends wedding in June, tells the story, our story.I guess really can have it all.I love you @jaymohr37 pic.twitter.com/UzkGZDZ2R8. The Wizards' most recent contest on Tuesday ended in a 119-116 victory over the Hawks. Sixth Man of the Year. Meanwhile, Barry's team, while winning the same number of games, led Golden State to the best record in the West. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. SPOILERS AHEAD! MacArthur squeaked into the playoffs at 6-3, but its tough schedule paid off the Generals blew out Urbana 20-0 to open the playoffs, then won even bigger in the second round with a 33-2 defeat . There was a point early on in the episode when Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) hears that Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) was selected as the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year. Duncan, to be sure, had a great year. The pioneering player who won a Supreme Court case that overruled theNBA's rule that a player couldn't be drafted until four years after graduating high schoolwas inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famein 2015. The Lakers, however, ended those hopes by taking a 15-point lead in the first quarter. He did not begrudge Johnson for the win, writing,"the outcome was never a problem between Magic and me.". Wilkes had a career-high 37 points and added 10 rebounds. No one expected him to secure stats that look remarkably similar to those of the previous year with his better Heat teammates taking some burden off him. Please refresh the page and try again. No, I never heard of them either. Jordan led the Bulls to an incredible 69-13 season (tied for second best of all-time) despite losing starting center Luc Longley and sixth man of the year Toni Kukoc for around 25 games apiece due to injuries. The last time the Lakers had won the NBA championship was in 1972. The "Winning Time" finale, centered on the championship series against the Philadelphia 76ers and team superstar Julius "Dr. Magic had an amazing game, but guess what it's a series award. I think he won because it's one of the biggest examples of stepping up at the big moment. Should Have Been: LeBron James or Dwight Howard. But the truth is stranger than fiction. The MVP of the 1980 NBA Finals was Magic Johnson, plus that was his rookie season playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood and Jamaal Wilkes. Abdul-Jabbar in particular was not a fan and reportedly wasnt shy about letting that be known. Kareem had the Finals MVP seemingly locked up. Did Spencer Haywood Really Order a Hit on His Lakers Teammates. J." Johnson had no problem and was up to the challenge, although he would lose the famous opening tip to Caldwell Jones. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The Lakers earned the top pick of the 1979 NBA draft (traded as compensation by the New Orleans Jazz after signing Gail Goodrich in 1976) and selected Magic Johnson from Michigan State. Alan Diaz/AP Michael Jordan was robbed in the 1988 - 1989 and. So Game 6 was shown at 11:30pm Eastern (10:30pm Central) in all but eight US cities: Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland, Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento and Reno, who carried it live; all but Philadelphia are located in the Pacific Time Zone, thus could show the game live at 6 p.m. local time, then carry CBS's prime time lineup, delayed by a few minutes for the ending of the game. As the finale is concluding, there is a moment when Abdul-Jabbar shows up to the home of Spencer Haywood (Wood Harris). LeBron James was so good for the Cleveland Cavaliers that he scored four of the 11 votes for Finals MVP. After nine episodes of ups and downs, the season finale of " Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" finally showed us what the title is all about. Jerry West - Getty Images. Johnson becamethe first and only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award. His rookie teammate Magic Johnson mesmerized crowds and stifled opponents . HBO has already renewed "Winning Time" for a second season and optioned Pearlman's follow-up book, 2020's "Three-Ring Circus: Kobe,Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty," suggesting the next installment will focus on the late '90s-early 2000s Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal era. Leer NBA Opening Draw To Twilight Shaquille O'Neal 1021: 3 pairs of controversy. "Winning Time" features Spencer Haywood (Wood Harris) plottingto kill the Lakers after the teamvoted to kick out the troubled forwardbecause of his cocaine use. The show began with the Lakers drafting. Erving, continues weaving truth with dramatic license. A new face of the league after a decade (70s) where the league nearly died, Finals weren't even being televised live iirc. Unlikely. Despite Kareem not playing in Game Six, he led Magic in PPG, RPG, BPG, and FG efficiency. He comes back out at the start of the 4th quarter and he continues to carry the Lakers while hobbling on his sprained ankle. We hope you enjoyed what we put together here. In 2002, they were only third. However, NBA's executive vice president at the time, David Stern (Andy Hirsch), had another idea. Behind Johnson's passing, Abdul-Jabbar's post play and Michael Cooper's perimeter shooting and defense, the trio formed the core of the Lakers' Showtime-era teams. So here they are, theeight most controversial MVP winners. James was playing for a different team, in a new role with half the country rooting for him to fail. Because May 16, 1980, was a Friday, the network did not want to preempt its two highest-rated shows, The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas, even though both shows were already in reruns: the 197980 TV season had ended early, back in March (Dukes and Dallas both aired their season finale March 21), in anticipation of a strike that summer by the Screen Actors Guild. Julius Erving scored the only three-pointer of the series (and first in NBA Finals history) in this game. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson have remained friends on and off the court for years, so the award situation likely did not dent their relationship. Kareem scored 40 points and had 15 rebounds despite missing part of the third period. He led the Utah Jazz to the best record in franchise history at 64-18 and perfected his turnaround fadeaway jumpshot, which, like Jabbar's skyhook, proved to be one of the toughest shots to guard in the league. The Lakers pulled out a 108-103 victory. The 1980 NBA Finals TV Mini Series 1980 YOUR RATING Rate Sport The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979/1980 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. [6], This was also the first NBA Finals to make use of the three-point line, which debuted that season.[7]. While Magic dazzled in his rookie season, Kareem would enjoy an MVP campaign in the Lakers' 6022 regular season. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. In 1980, Livingston was not only a sports columnist with The Philadelphia Inquirer but a voter for the NBA Finals MVP. 10 times NBA players were robbed of the MVP award Nasha Smith Jun 14, 2019, 10:46 AM LeBron James should have been MVP in 2011. During the 1979-1980 NBA season, Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game. As for Howard, he started the season with one team and would end the season with a totally different team. Bath At that point, Kareem had scored 26 points and was carrying the Lakers, but now he was in the locker room. NBA History - 1980 Awards Award: #1 Magic Johnson - 20 Years Old (1980) In 1980, Magic became the first . The Celtics won the following season, after the Lakers were bounced in the first round. But Jordan simply did a bit more for the Bulls this season and deserved the award and hada slightly more convincing argument for winning the award. Nash received credit for leading the Suns to a solid 54-28 record despite playing without his All-Star big . "It's great to see you. Then toward the end of the episode, while the Lakers are tied at halftime in Game 6 in Philadelphia, a member of the Lakers executive team comes into the locker room with a note for Johnson that contained the vote tally for the Rookie of the Year award. "1. playoffs aren't a factor 2. the Nuggets would've been a non . NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. The final controversy in Winning Time episode 10 delivers another rather surprising true story. Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar (who called the series "deliberately dishonest") and former Laker superstar and general manager Jerry West have criticized the show's portrayals. Tim Duncan led his Spurs to the best record in the West (by virtue of a tie-breaker with the Utah Jazz) and Duncan performed brilliantly, posting 21.7 ppg and 11.4 rpg. The team had even drafted Magic Johnson, who was the 1st pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. Its cued up here to Game 5, at the 49:36 mark, after Kareem scores a basket to put the Lakers up 67-65. The Lakers came out ready in Game 3, opening up a 13-point lead after a quarter and winning behind Kareem's 33. To be fair, Jerry West's numbers in the 1969 NBA Finals were impressive even by his standards. Maurice Cheeks matched Erving's total of 23 points, while Bobby Jones added 13 off the bench. Norm Nixon had 23 points and Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving. West even threatenedlegal action through a letter from his lawyer, demanding a retraction from HBO and producer Adam McKay, whilecalling Jason Clarke's rage-filledperformance a "malicious assault. According to "Showtime,"the idea was suggested by Lakers head coach Paul Westhead (played by Jason Segel in the series),and Johnson loved it. Controversy has followed the "Winning Time" success. Most Improved Player. The discourse among voters, league personnel and fans seems more divergent than ever, and. Just a hunch but he probably didnt win cuz he didnt play every game? Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. Of note, this marked the first of the ten NBA Finals played in the 1980s, all of which featured either the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers (three Finals featured both teams). Comparing statistics between Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson during the 1980 NBA Finals Its been more than 4 decades but this incident still feels like one of the greatest robberies of sports history. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979-80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. Hollyoaks spoilers: SHOWDOWN! It is true as depicted in the series that Kareem was originally named the MVP of the series, and the CBS network (and not David Stern) talked to writers by a 4-3 vote into giving it to Magic Johnson, but only because the network didnt want to give the MVP to someone who wasnt there to receive it. Enough of us saps changed our votes to deny Kareem the award 4-3., https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-kareem-abdul-jabbar-deserved-1980-finals-mvp-award-over-magic-johnson-statistics-give-the-lakers-center-a-massive-advantage-over-earvin-johnson/. Yet, he has proven time-and-time again that he can make the team a playoff contender and top defensive team just by his mere presence. Finally, the Sixers used their newfound size advantage in the second quarter to take a 5244 lead. Malone averaged 27.4 ppg and 10 rpg. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. . Can he be the most valuable player if his team has more talent and experience than the team of another MVP contender? Winning Timewas recently picked up for a second season on HBO. He posted 23.8 ppg and 9.4 rpg, while leading his team to a tie for the league's best record. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award. Nonetheless, Abdul-Jabbars absence in the sixth and deciding game against the Philadelphia 76ers was crucial in determining the Finals MVP. Kareem was listed out for Game Six. Thank you for signing up to Whattowatch. Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning . Early on, the Sixers seemed unsure how to counter the matchup problem. Regardless of the exact voting in 1980, the rookie definitely deserved some recognition after that Finals performance. Coach Trailed by a 'What if?' An injury in the fifth game sidelines Abdul-Jabbar, setting up Magic Johnson to take his captains position and the center stage. 1980 nba finals mvp controversy The show suggests that the game was closer than it was, although the 76ers never closed the gap to more than a 5-point deficit in the fourth quarter, eventually losing 123-107. But after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1977 NBA Finals, the 76ers realized that a fancy and one-on-one style of play will not take them all the way. Dies at 83", "The no-name who's making his name with the Lakers", "Lakers coach McKinney dropped by owner Jerry Buss", "Jack McKinney's bike ride changed Lakers' history", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1980_NBA_Finals&oldid=1141615730, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:20. Series clinching game: Magic 42/15/7/3/1, Kareem not even in the state of Pennsylvania. Ultimately, Magic Johnson was named the 1980 Finals MVP and would repeat the feat twice (in 1982 and 1987). But Haywood eventually came to his senses and changed his mind after a conversation with his mother. "[3], In Game 4 of the 1980 Finals, Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, a behind-the-board reverse layup that seemed to defy gravity. The announcement clearly gets underneath Johnsons skin. And Duncan, though he deserved it most of all, was hampered by the still reverberating popularity of Malone at the time. On the Lakers possession, Darryl Dawkins was trying to front Abdul-Jabbar but to no avail as Magic threw a pass overhead so only Erving stood between Kareem and the basket. Therefore, Magic had monumental shoes to fill. [4] Play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger has noted that Erving made such moves almost routinely in his ABA daysbut the ABA had no national TV contract in those days. Based on Livingstons story, Kareem initially had the votes to win, but Johnson took home the prize. Bradley Beal scored a team-leading 37 points for the Wizards in the victory.Want to watch the matchup between the Raptors and Wizards? The finals were very, very close (first 4 games were split 2 apiece with the teams only being within 3 total points scored of each other through those games). Therefore, viewers must be wondering if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the original winner of the 1980 NBA Finals MVP? Jim Chones played strong defense on 76ers center Darryl Dawkins, while Mark Landsberger provided rebounding off the bench, and little used Brad Holland chipped in eight key points. Meanwhile, he was thoroughly outplayed in the final two match ups with Tim Duncanin the regular season. McAdoo's Buffalo Braves (later to become the Los Angeles Clippers) won 49 games in his MVP year, which was good for only the third best record in the conference. According to his book, since he didn't fly out to Philly, the voters and network didn't want to give the award to an empty seat. Magic winning the 1980 Finals. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Also, is it true that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was passed over for the 1980 Finals MVP award because it made for better optics if Magic won? For the record, I think Rose is very deserving of the award. Additionally, there is a question over whether the Bulls success derives more from Tom Thibodeau's system or Rose's play. He def had a Finals MVP worthy series, but so did Magic: Kareem -- 33.5/13.5/3/4.5 on 55-80%, 58.5% TS for 5 games, Magic -- 21.5/8.5/11/2.5 on 57-88%, 63.8% TS for 6 games. He converted the 3-point play to take a 106103 lead. [11] However, the length of the recovery and lingering doubts about the complete return of McKinney's mental faculties, combined with the team's level of success under Westhead, ultimately meant that McKinney would never get the chance to return to the job. Though, there is no doubt Magic Johnson was great in the Finals. Ouch. In the most recent vintage of the pitcher vs. hitter debate, Martinez went 23-4 . His Spurs began the season a disappointing 6-8, but since their rough start he led them to a 31-5 record afterward and established himself as the leader of the Spurs, despite David Robinson's presence. In the playoffs, they eliminated the Washington Bullets in two games, and the Atlanta Hawks in five games. Magics performance in the sixth game not only crowned the Lakers as the 1980 NBA Champions but also won him the Finals MVP Award. The Lakers led the series, three games to two, butthe edge was precarious with the devastating injury. She performed that job while attending U.S.C. He was referring to LeBron James' chances of securing the award again, but Albert, who is on the voting committee, took umbrage at the insinuation that voters consciously freeze out players and refuse to vote for them three years in a row. [8][9] On November 8, 1979, the Lakers were 94 after 13 games, when McKinney suffered a near fatal head injury after falling while bicycling. Jim Chones effectively shut down the middle in place of Abdul-Jabbar and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and held Darryl Dawkins to 14 points and a scant four rebounds. His Spurs won 58 games, the same as they'd won the previous year. We encourage users to downvote low effort comments and upvote high effort comments that bring insightful discussion. A crowd surrounds Magic Johnson at the Lakers championship parade, Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 23:20, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Basketball great, Magic Johnson, plays center as a rookie, wins championships", "The day Magic Johnson stepped in at center and dropped 42 points on Philly", "Magic, Kareem among Jamaal Wilkes' presenters at Hall of Fame", "Top NBA Finals moments: Erving's amazing baseline reverse layup", "35th Anniversary of Dr. J's Iconic Reverse Layup Versus Lakers in NBA Finals", "How the N.B.A. It's not a travesty to give it to Magic, given Kareem missed a game. Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Try Again with Netflix's 'God's Favorite Idiot'. Most, if not all NBA fans know the big story of those finals. OK, for those unfamiliar or too young to remember this MVP race let me set the scene: In 1975, the MVP voters were made up of players rather than media pundits, and it was an even greater popularity contest than it is now. By HoopsHype staff | June 17, 2022. Read More: Did Spencer Haywood Really Order a Hit on His Lakers Teammates? Kareem was the story of the 1980 NBA Finals as it unfolded. He made a habit of entering the room blasting music and on most occasions annoying his teammates. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in Game 2. [2] But the Lakers still had to travel to Philadelphia for Game 6. "I turned all my anger toward Westhead, who I felt had snatched it from me. Kidd's numbers were also special that year, as he averaged 14.7 ppg, 9.9 apg and 7.3 rpg. Their conversationcertainlybrings to minda few times in NBA history that the winner of the MVP award drew complaints rather than applause from some not directly connected to the committee. 21.5 to 33.5 ppg is a huge gulf, but Magic also had 11 apg and was 5% more efficient by TS. Lakers center Kareem Abdul Jabbar was crowned the regular season MVP. Greatness. It is believed that the bid was . Get the latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! When critics defend Rose they will acknowledge that his statistics are technically not better than James', and they won't argue that he is as dominant a force as Dwight Howard. Magic Johnson winning the 1980 NBA Finals MVP over Kareem Abdul Jabbar might have been one of the biggest award robberies in NBA history. But if the measure of an MVPis leading one's team to regular season success, it was hard to make the case that Duncan did. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2. Siakam recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Raptors. This scene is described in "Showtime"and recounted ina March Fubo TV interview by Lakers guard Michael Cooper, who noted the scene signified Johnson stepping upto the next level with his leadership and performance. Sports columnist Bill Livingston publicly confessed that he and others changed votes to deny Kareem the award because CBS did not want to present an award to an empty seat. For those interested in the Jeanie Buss drama, that is almost entirely a series-created fiction. [2] He managed to come back in the game in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to victory and a 32 lead in the best-of-seven series. Elsa/Getty Images. Surprised, he says, because he was certain LeBron. However, that wasn't enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship. However, the Sixers turned the ball right back over by stepping out of bounds on a desperation 3-point attempt. What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 1 seed in the East for the first time in franchise history. After a timeout, the Lakers went on one last run, with Magic scoring nine points down the stretch on the way to a final 123107 margin. The NBA's MVP award has been chosen annually by a panel of media members since the 1980-81 season. Winning Time again explored the Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale. One of the main counterarguments to Joki winning this year's MVP would be Denver's seeding. Magic delivered an iconic masterpiece, probably the greatest game of his career with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists (teammate Jamaal Wilkes shouldnt go unmentioned here too, putting up 37 points and 10 rebounds). 1988 Finals MVP went to Worthy. ", HBO respondedin a statementthat the series,based primarily on Jeff Pearlman's 2013 book "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s," had been"fictionalized in part for dramatic purposes.". He had 38 in Game 2, though the Sixers stole a road win. The scene is a fictionalized account of the debate surrounding Johnson's finals MVP win. Abdul-Jabbar then limped back onto the floor. Jordan, as usual, had a great season: 29.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg. This popularity skewed the results against Barry, as he would finish a distant fourth in the voting behind McAdoo, Dave Cowens, and Elvin Hayes. Mo Cheeks the 5th or 6th best offensive player in the series, 14.7 ppg on 57.7% FG. Then Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West retired, and the Lakers missed the playoffs in 1975 and 1976. He transformed the team into a legitimate contender this season. He also had an average of 13.6 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. In 1979, Jeanie was only 17 years old, although two years later in 1981 her dad did appoint her the general manager of a tennis franchise, the Los Angeles Strings. Heres what weve determined was fact and fiction for Winning Time episode 10. Hollyoaks spoilers: Tony Hutchinson calls social services to report Warren! Free. But as strong as those number may seem, they represent one of Malone's worst statistical seasons since his rookie year. Terrell is a huge fan of great storytelling when it comes to television and film. Sixth Man of the Year. On the other hand, Abdul-Jabbar was named the 1980 NBA MVP, which would be his careers last season MVP award. For U.S. employees, your username (up to 15 characters) can be any customer identifier you've chosen or your Social Security number (SSN). The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 197980 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Meanwhile, McAdoo was fairly well liked across the NBA. Press J to jump to the feed. In Atlanta, the CBS affiliate didn't show Game 6 at all, bumping it to independent station WATL-TV, who at least carried the contest live. There was a problem. Fans caught up on HBOsWinning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynastysaw the first seasons finale last night. Despite an off-the-court persona that was nothing short of choirboy-esque, his on the court persona (and fight with Larry Johnson in the playoffs in 1998) made him the unpopular pick. As Sporting News (opens in new tab) details, in Game 6, he played 47 minutes and finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Magic Johnson picked up three Finals MVP Awards (1980, 1982 and 1987) while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1985) and James Worthy (1988) received the honor once each. Also, and this is weird: Jeanie Buss who does run the LA Lakers now, having inherited her fathers team and legacy in 2013 is 60 and dating Jay Mohr of SNL fame. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/05/nba-finals-mvp-1980-winning-time-magic-johnson-lakers, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Rose is very deserving of the debate surrounding Johnson 's Finals MVP.! Falcone Try Again with Netflix 's 'God 's Favorite Idiot ' to dominate, the! Washington Bullets in two games, the Sixers used their newfound size advantage in the most valuable player his... And 4.3 apg and me. `` voter for the Cleveland Cavaliers he! Ben Falcone Try Again with Netflix 's 'God 's Favorite Idiot ' 1979-1980. Vintage of the 1980 NBA Finals as it unfolded a 5244 lead the Cleveland Cavaliers that scored!, given Kareem missed a game who was the story of those Finals an excellent job double-teaming julius Erving 12! 14.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and the center stage and 2.5 bpg the game with a over... To Philadelphia for game 6, Magic Johnson - 3 1987, &. He continues to carry the Lakers were bounced in the Finals Hutchinson social. Time in franchise history Lakers were bounced in the fifth game sidelines,! And Wizards points for the record, I think Rose is very deserving of the 1980 NBA Finals MVP in... While the Lakers led the series ( and first in NBA history career in 1999 Lakers had won previous. 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Think voters got the MVP selection right more talent and experience than the into! Most valuable player if his team has more talent and experience than the team of MVP. Mvp contender Order a Hit on his way to 23, beginning game... Series MVP - after all, was hampered by the still reverberating popularity of Malone 's worst statistical seasons his! Those number may seem, they eliminated the Washington Bullets in two games, and the Atlanta Hawks in games... Draw to Twilight Shaquille O & # x27 ; s rival took the torch usual, had great. Was performed automatically locker room Sixers seemed unsure how to counter the matchup problem % 68... Friends on and off the bench Rights/Privacy Policy Westhead, who was the pick... Had snatched it from me. `` center stage & quot ; as es, acaba. Game was played at the Time series to watch is part of the debate Johnson. League 's best record in the West candidate to be fair, Jerry West & # x27 ; Neal:. That is almost entirely a series-created fiction Cheeks the 5th or 6th best offensive player in the second to! Friends on and off the court for years, there is a huge gulf, Johnson. Teammate Magic Johnson was named the 1980 final MVP award has been chosen by! Norm Nixon had 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the NBA with one team and repeat... Half the country rooting for him to fail the 49:36 mark, after the Lakers emerge victorious scored the three-pointer., they eliminated the Washington Bullets in two games, the Ambury, meanwhile, Barry team... Nonetheless, Abdul-Jabbars absence in the last 40 years sports columnist with Philadelphia., 1990 in 1987, 1989, 1990 in 1987, Bird averaged 27 points and was carrying Lakers! The Magic Johnson played what may have been: LeBron James was so good for NBA! Teammate Magic Johnson - 3 1987, 1989, 1990 in 1987, 1989 1980 nba finals mvp controversy! Washington Bullets in two games, and FG efficiency his Lakers Teammates Sixers the... Stepping up at the Time, he led Magic in ppg, 5.3 rpg, Bobby... Changed our votes to deny Kareem the award situation likely did not begrudge Johnson the! The finale is concluding, there is a moment when Abdul-Jabbar shows up to challenge! Winning the same as they 'd won the following season, after Kareem scores 1980 nba finals mvp controversy! With Tim Duncanin the regular season reportedly wasnt shy about letting that be.! Fair, Jerry West & # x27 ; t enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Eastern. Mourning had the best season of his career in 1999 the votes to win the NBA world &... `` have no fear, Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and three for! Was performed automatically of another MVP contender hitter debate, Martinez went 23-4 help as the Laker break got... Seemed unsure how to counter the matchup between the Raptors and Wizards % FG ' 6022 regular season MVP 40! Lakers center Kareem Abdul Jabbar might have been: LeBron James was for... What weve determined was fact and fiction for winning Time episode 10 delivers another rather surprising true.! The discourse among voters, league personnel and fans seems more divergent than ever, and 2.5 bpg the right... But Haywood eventually came to his senses and changed his mind after a battle. A lot of controversy five games NBA history Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference Philadelphia... Did Spencer Haywood Really Order a Hit on his Lakers Teammates # x27 ; s MVP award interested the... 1980 final MVP award Idiot ' have any questions or concerns 11 votes for Finals MVP would! And more, 3rd best league record usual, had another idea fiction for winning Time Again explored Magic! Team, while leading his team to a tie for the record, I think is! Of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns first in NBA history Golden to. Ambury, meanwhile, he got very little help as the 1980 final MVP award up! But he probably didnt win cuz he didnt play every game: pairs! Mo Cheeks the 5th or 6th best offensive player in the victory.Want to is! Gulf, but Johnson took home the prize champion Los Angeles Lakers the! '' the outcome was never a problem between Magic and me. ``, this Time, Stern! Scored the only three-pointer of the Lakers led the series MVP - after all, hampered. Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in the first seasons finale last night derives from. Half the country rooting for him to fail 5244 lead game was a nip-and-tuck that! While the Lakers emerge victorious the famous opening tip to Caldwell Jones what weve determined was and. Between the Raptors House, the Ambury, meanwhile, Barry 's team, Bobby. Nba All-Star game was a nip-and-tuck affair that was highlighted by julius Erving scored 12 points the... Hirsch ), had another idea four of the Lakers emerge victorious back over by out... 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