A deeper look into the greatness of Magic Johnson, and his case for the title of Greatest Of All Time.
-GOAT Series: Episode 7/9
Check out Wilt's GOAT Video here! • Why WILT CHAMBERLAIN I...
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Check out Kobe's GOAT Video here! • Why KOBE BRYANT Is The...
Check out Kareem's GOAT Video here! • Why KAREEM ABDUL-JABBA...
Check out LeBron's GOAT Video here! • Why Michael Jordan Is ...
Check out Jordan's GOAT Video here! • Why Michael Jordan Is ...
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The game of Basketball has been my passion since I was 5 years old. I grew up as a kid watching my dad's recorded VHS tapes of playoff games through the 70s and 80s, and collected all the Basketball cards. Something about the game and what it represents just hooked me from a very young age.
My love for the game only continues to grow as time goes on. I love studying and analyzing the game, with an unbiased perspective. Feel free to subscribe, follow me on social media, and celebrate this amazing game and it's rich history with me!
I post videos every week on NBA history, predictions, hypothetical scenarios and current NBA topics.
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Intro Music: Turn On - RW Smith • Turn On - RW Smith (No...
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#Lakers #MagicJohnson #NBA
The GOAT Series is back! Thanks to all who requested its return. Check the video's description for the other GOAT vids. --If Magic never retired early, and had a full career instead, how would this have effected his legacy??
THEE GREATEST PG OF ALL TIME and it's not even close NUMBERS DON'T LIE 59Magic Johnson 40506* 38Jerry West 27995* - Gail Goodrich was the shooting Guard 62John Stockton 26872 38Oscar Robertson 25706* 88Stephen Curry 23377 - Active, projected to be 2nd all time if he plays out his contract with no major injury 82Tony Parker 23409 73Jason Kidd 23202 85Chris Paul 19205 - Active, has a chance for the top 5 but unlikely 74Steve Nash 19272 54Dennis Johnson 19200* 68Gary Payton 19048 61Isiah Thomas 18358* 45Walt Frazier 18260* 88Russell Westbrook 17749 - Active, projected to be top 10 all time 28Bob Cousy 17425* 76Chauncey Billups 17007 63Terry Porter 16054 56Maurice Cheeks 15490* 66Kevin Johnson 15309 65Mark Jackson 14943 86Rajon Rondo 13050 46Jo Jo White 13006* 74Derek Fisher 12491 69Sam Cassell 12160 37Lenny Wilkens 12036* 53Gus Williams 11948* 86Kyle Lowry 11331 61Derek Harper 11286 92Kyrie Irving 10577 - Active, rare to be on this list at his age 55Norm Nixon 10934*
I still don't think anyone stops that Bulls dynasty once MJ & Pippen really started rolling in the triangle and they added complimentary pieces. Even with Kobe & Shaq too... as keep in mind they didn't really peak until the early 2000's. You'd have a premature Kobe/Shaq and an old Magic, not three greats in their primes. They also benefited from a weakened league as players from the 80's & 90's, the golden age of hoops imo, began stepping down. That Spurs team that became a dynasty was hardly a dominant team. That group wins 0 rings playing through the Lakers/Celtics, Pistons, and Bulls dynasties of the previous era... other than when Jordan was playing baseball. A lot of people won't wanna hear this but I'm keeping it 💯 here. The league is just now recovering imo, improving and moving forward. The EC is getting stronger. There's more parity. And plenty of young stars. I think the league is poised for another boom.
Jonny Arnett -NBA KZheadr Great video! Watched the first 6 and was wondering how you could have GOAT videos for Kobe & LeBron but not Magic & Bird. Looking forward to the one for Bird.
Billy Badass It’s because I was talking specifically about the narrative of Magic being clutch. He is, BUT I knew someone would bring up “Tragic Johnson” if I didn’t. Every player has had moments where he came up short of the moment, but more often than not, Magic was clutch. That was simply my point
a goat series about larry bird?
SHOWTIME! Definitely one of the greatest ever. Started watching basketball in the mid 70's and consider Ervin Magic Johnson the most exciting player I've ever seen. When I hear people talking about who they think is the GOAT, I think people undervalue Magic's ability to instantly make everyone around himself better. 👏
Earvin... isn't it?
Yep, typing on a tiny phone can be difficult when in a hurry 😄
MJ considered to be the GOAT. I just imagine what could have been if Magic didn't retire on 91-92 season. MJ may not have 6 titles
@@billybadass3056 it really isn't. When Chicago beat the Lakers in 91 Worthy and Byron Scott were both hurt. Both of whom were playing some the best ball of their career throughout those playoffs before getting hurt in the Western Conference Finals. Do some research
@@mprattyh3 Worthy got hurt after being down 3-1
Magic Johnson was so smooth that he made the whole team look good . I wish I can be as smooth as magic
donnie reiter if you John Stockton has the same teammates Magic Johnson had. Stockton would have had the same success as Magic
@@shawnwalsh6998 you couldn't be more wrong
San Diego Stockton is a top 5 pg of all time. What are YOU smoking?
It's one thing to be smooth, it's another to be smooth at magic's pace. G-O-A-T? I go back and forth, btwn Magic n Bird. Would have love to see Wilt in his prime.
@@shawnwalsh6998 hate to tell you this has nothing to do with Stockton, and only if that's the word if, he never had that, so it's irrelevant just like your comment
Magic is my favorite player of all-time... always the GOAT in my mind.
Original 6 foot 8 inches point guard ; Michigan state & l.a laker Ervin 🎩 magic johnson
The greatest performance in the shortest amount of time. No doubt. GOAT.
GREAT, GREAT argument for Magic Johnson!!!
Without Magic, there is no Showtime. Magic single-handedly made Kareem viable past his mid-30's.
Magic never won a title without Kareem
@San Diego 1000% agree
San Diego dude it’s kind of uncanny how similar your top 10 list is to mine. Personally I have LeBron above Duncan but not by very much at all. Dope list
1. MJ 2. Kareem 3. LeBron 4. Wilt 5. Magic 6. Bird 7. Russell 8. Kobe 9. Duncan 10. Hakeem 11. Shaq 12. Oscar 13. Dr. J 14. Stockton 15. Isiah 16. Karl 17. Moses 18. Pippen 19. Iverson 20. West
@@vb2388 Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant should be on the list and John Stockton way off.
GREATEST, most exciting passer EVER!!!!!!
20 points & 11 assists in a 12 year career with the LA Lakers
Theres no one in today's modern game that's even close to magic or birds passing ability.
Yes there is. And he's the GOAT
No leborn passing ability is around their level
@@user-bh4yc6dp4s to this day watching highlights of magic and bird passing I get faked out....seriously...you have no idea where thier going to pass the ball...can't say that about any other players before or since...it's not close
Lebron has been severely overrated as a passer and underrated as a scorer. Not on Magic’s or Birds level when it comes to passing. Lebron is an excellent passer. But Larry and definitely Magic are on a different level
jokic
When Magic comeback in 96 he was still putting up great numbers. If he waited for a few more seasons and retired in 2000 and get a 6th ring that would be incredible
The only reason why he could have done that is when MJ would retire. MJ already beat a prime Magic at 31 in '91. He wouldn't have become better then that while MJ was rising. Still give me Magic over MJ any day. He just isn't the goat.
@@dmjdebruin that wasn’t prime Magic. He had documented fatigue issues in the 91 finals. Prime Magic you can full court press all game and he wouldn’t miss a beat. In 91, he was clearly gassed and the Bulls huddle mentions it several times. So did NBC. I suspect he already had HIV.
If Bird isn't in the league Magic has six titles. Bird would have five if no Magic. Magic is definitely a little overlooked though. So is Kareem.
Bro Magic went to 9 finals and only lost 1 to Bird. So he still could've had 6
@@jdabeast911 True dat
Kareem so underrated
I don't think Kareem is underrated anymore he's mentioned as one of the best l. Kareem wouldn't have gotten those chips without magic
Same for Kobe & Tim Duncan. And Steph & LeBron. One of them gets to Six
There was no way for the Sixers to figure out that game 6 in 1980 .
Billy Badass right on
@@billybadass3056 because they had Rebound God Moses Malone
My first ever favorite player. Next was Eddie Jones until Kobe Bryant came into the league. Respect to Magic Johnson...as an NBA player...not just a basketball player...but an NBA ENTERTAINMENT player...hes right there with Jordan. The flash and style...Championship caliber play...pure entertainment plus greatness. That's what being an NBA player at its best is all about. The entertainment factor.
ryublueblanka I'm a Gen-Xer. Magic, Bird, and Jordan are the top three ever, in my book. I hold the 1980's as basketball's golden age. These three men were cold-blooded killers, obsessive winners. True leaders. CLUTCH. They each amassed individual awards, but all they ever cared about were NBA Titles.
@@jasoncall3731 bandwagon fan. You never even seen them play.
Mr.E I grew up watching them play. Thanks for your comment.
The most beautiful player to watch !
You create terrific content, Jonny.
I don't know if Magic is the Greatest, for sure he is in my Mt. Rushmore
A true leader and #1 LAKER for sure winning his rookie year without KAREEM is big
@@etxsports5836 is not big, is Huge, Legendary!🤗🇮🇹
@@etxsports5836 nope kobe
@@yossimelamed9555 No magic period.
If Magic hadn't retired from the league in 1991 & Michael hadn't retired in 1993, they would've competed against each other for championships in the 90s Olajuwon & Drexler wouldn't have gotten those championships for the Rockets 🚀
Fun Fact - Did You all know that Magic Johnson came within 0.5 A and 0.5 Rebounds per game of averaging a triple double in 1982? He was nearly the second guy in history to do that. What makes MJ's case so much better than Oscar Robertson, is that he didn't have the frantic pace of play of the 1961-62 seasons to inflate his stats like Oscar did.
Highest assists per game average in league history Best Laker ever Real *King* of LA 👑 He made his teammates better
Yep, the true #1All-time LAKER, and won rookie yr without injured Kareem
I totally agree, but in the discussion as the Lakers G.o.a.t Bryant is very very close
Aleksandra e Andrei Gazdovici Stop. Kobe Bryant was the greatest Laker but he was not the best player in the Lakers’ franchise history. It’s Magic Johnson,Kareem Abdul Jabbar,Shaq,Wilt then Kobrick.
@Jayden Jee The fact that you used the word “kobrick” already lets us know that Kobe must’ve done something to you for you to have such a hatred against him that clouds your judgement. Your opinion literally doesn’t mean jack shit
@@etxsports5836 Magic is my all-time favorite player but he didn't win Rookie of the Year. Bird did by a landslide
Magic Johnson made the game fun to watch and also made you get out there and run SHOWTIME!!!!!
That game 6 performance in the 1980 finals is in my opinion the greatest individual performance of all time. Imagine if a rookie won the Finals MVP today! Social Media would go crazy...
Exactly that's why he's the #1 LAKERS and #1 PG OVER STEPH, Stockton, J.kidd, CP3, Kyrie, Harden, IVERSON, Steve Nash, LILLARD, Mark Jackson, GARY PAYTON, Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Rondo,Jason Williams, Westbrook, Kevin Johnson, D.Rose,Penny, Tim HARDAWAY, Chauncey BILLOPS, Mike BIBBY, etc,etc
Love Magic and think he's the GOAT, but, that's not even Top 5. ,#1. LeBron James, Gamy6 in 2012 vs Celtics. 46, 15,7, 17-25 field goals with season and legacy on the line,and no Bosh. 2. LeBron James, Game 5 2016; vs Warriors, same circumstances, 41, 16, 8 on the road, too. Both were elimination games. 3. Kareem Abdul Jabbar,1985 Game 2 vs Boston, 32, 18, career on the line. 4. Larry Bird, 1984 Finals in LA, down 2-1, legacy vs Magic on the line, 32, 20 rebounds, clutch play and big balls all night. Made the Lakers blink. 5. Michael Jordan, Game 2, 1987 2nd round, 46 points against the Pistons, forced the introduction of the Jordan Rules.
@@emmanuelenyinwa1443 LeBron had 10+ years in the game, Magic did this as a rookie, playing a different position than he played all year, with the Lakers #1 player gone... Bron still had D Wade and Kyrie and Love during those games.
i just love the intro music
I came like 9 times during this video, Jordan is no doubt the GOAT, be Earvin Magic Johnson will always be my favorite player of all time. Always. I grew up watching him and he was an idol too me. He was a TEAM PLAYER and made his teammates better. He was the epitome of unselfish. Magic’s beautiful personality of the court also makes him shine as my favorite basketball player of all time. Number 32 baby. If you agree like this comment below. Side note: Magic, Worthy, Byron Scott, Perkins, Divac, what year was that team?
91-92 team, i believe lol
By far my favorite basketball player. 6'9" point guard. And can play all positions.
Well said! There's a viable argument that if he never retired his numbers would have been undeniable. I had the privilege of witnessing his mini comeback back in 95-96. He played well with Eddie, Van Exel and Vlade (old teammate) but after awhile he wanted the ball out of Van Exel's hands and it just seemed like there were too many cooks in the kitchen. In alternate universe land, Van Exel either would have been groomed as his successor or not drafted by the Lakers at all. In my opinion, given his shape and level of play at the time of his retirement, he genuinely could have played with Kobe and Shaq for two or three seasons. Ironically, he probably would have been the deciding factor with the Lakers finally beating the Jazz en route to facing the Bulls in the Finals. Man, I just got chills writing that. Lol.
5:15 that was a smooth as pass
Magic is the man. His Airness and Magic are 1 and 2 in my opinion.
My favorite player of all-time and, in my humble opinion, the second best player ever
Imagine if Larry's body didn't fall apart as well, we were robbed of more Lakers celtics finals.
Yeah... us Celtics fans weren't only robbed of extra rings, but also what would have been an amazing series(or more)
My all time starting 5: Magic, Jordan, Bird, Russell, Wilt Second team: Stockton, Kobe, LeBron, Olajuwon, Kareem
Fantastic job on these videos! Magic is my favorite player of all time.
I was a Magic Johnson fan. I grew u in the 8's I hated it when he scored more than 25 pts. Because when Magic scored more than 25, he usually had less assists. I always looked at his assists first before I checked his points. And I used to think Magic was subpar when he just dished out 11 assists in a game. Why? Magis was far more efficient when he was dishing more assists than scoring points.
Magic: GOAT. 10% Sentiment. 90% fact
I didn’t see much of Kareem but Magic is my second pick for GOAT behind Jordan.
Same
Okay, so you're a head coach. You have someone come to you and say, you can have one player for ten years. One guy averages 30PPG and just under 6AST and RBD during that span. The other averages 20PPG, 11AST and 7RBD during that span. Almost seems obvious. I would definitely take the guy that's responsible for a minimum of 42 points a game, and more rebounds than just about anybody you could put in front of me And, as this guy said, imagine if the other players never forced Magic out. He would have played 17-19 seasons, and he would have been dominant the whole time and may have wound up with as many as 7 or 8 chips. Magic was the best the game ever saw.
And that game six was on the road
Wonderfully said.
I couldn’t play with magic . He passes too well 😂. I wouldn’t know what to do off his unexpected passes
You will get use to it. In practice. He would confuse you. Gotta stay alert
I love it! I watched almost every game of Magic's career and still think he had the best overall game that I was witness to. I know that isn't the most popular opinion but I saw it happen.
Magic played all 5 positions in the Championship series the best performance by a player in a team format. He is the goat. Worthy said he made everyone better just like he made Kareem better and everyone else on the team
@@coryburns9161 magic is what lebron claims he is,a all position player
@@yossimelamed9555 LeBron claimed that huh is that what you believe
@@coryburns9161 what’s your question
@@yossimelamed9555 I asked what do you believe
Love the video man thank you
Definitely a top 5 player ever
Lol, no 1. Michael Jordan 2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3. Tim Duncan 4. LeBron James 5. Kobe Bryant
Abu Hassan Duncan at 3. WTF?!?!
@@fortnitejake850 Prime Duncan was a better player than LeBron & didn't joined a stacked deck for ring chasing.
@@abuhassan8849 Where is Wilt Chamberlain?
@@Legenda20SLO He won only 1 ring as the 1st option while dominating against milkmens in his prime.
Couldn’t agree more!!!
He was cut short in his prime life is unfair but fair we will never know but great video I love magic Johnson he is the guy that inspired me to watch basketball and love basketball and my book he’s the greatest of all time
I can barely pay attention to what you're saying. A testament to Magic's dazzling moves! Great video, as always!
This Is Amazing....Thank You, this is a Masterpiece...!!! He’s GOAT Level...!!!
Magic broke defenses apart with just his passing. Made the teams he faced look like g-league level wit those passing moments
Great video!
This was the greatest video of all time!
wow!!!!! this was an amazing what if? the facts that could've been. I had an idea of Magic's greatness, but not like this. Bravo!
wish you've mentioned his comeback in '96, still was great and would've added a lot to this "what if" you' ve shown.
great video
I feel like some people don’t realize how good magic really was. Many people forget that when Kareem went to the lakers he wasn’t winning anything till magic came. The fact that magic came and immediately brought the lakers to the finals and won finals mvp and stepped up when Kareem got injured and he chose to play center and dropped 42 to win the series says a lot and the fact he did all of that as a rookie says a lot and even after 89 when Kareem retired he brought la to the finals again in 91
You do a great job
Funny thing is that a lot of the contenders for Greatest had relatively short careers. Magic had 12 seasons, Bird had 13, Russell had 13, Wilt had 14. Even Jordan only had 13 seasons if you don't count his time with the Wizards. And that's not even counting seasons mostly lost to injury (or Minor League Baseball).
To let people know how different things are now, that game six where he scored 40, that was on tape delay in the east, the game was played on tv well after midnight. Can you imagine the nba f’ing off that many viewers today?
I remember that, but I think it was just a 9pm west coast start...not a tape delay. Every series was like that and it was beyond stupid. They literally wrote off half of the country when they scheduled the start times.
@@phattygoodness7347 Game 6 was played in Philadelphia and was broadcast on tape delay for most of the country - LA and Philadelphia played it live, along with a few other cities in the Western time zone. Tape delay of NBA finals was a CBS practice back then, largely because the NBA sucked (business wise) in the late 70s - tv ratings were poor and there was a real possibility the NBA could fold. Magic & Bird were the beginning of NBA restoration and eventual super success.
John Stockton started in double the games though. His prime year assist numbers are insane. Though I’ll probably be watching Magic’s highlight reels til the end.
He averaged 20 whilst taking half the shots Jordan did. And had far more assists. Think about that.
Interesting point. Is that true? If so...that's a nice fact. 🤔
@@Romamb well assist stats are overrated and MJ is a top fifteen passer no argument about that but not the GOAT of passing like Magic (or maybe Nash) but yeah MJ average 22.9 field goal attempts a game over his career compared to Magic's 13.2 attempts although he also scored less than 2/3 of the points MJ did but considering mj played in expansion era, the gap is a little bit justified yet theres also the fact that Magic's averages would be drastically lower if he played till 95 or 96 for rest of his career
@@harmanjotsingh4230 not true imo. First of all Mj is not even close to a top 15 passer ever. Not even top 30. But he by far like literally 0 debate the greatest scorer ever while Magic is by far the greatest no debate the greatest passer ever. Imo averaging 11 assists for a career is just as and actually probably harder than averaging 30 for a career.
Magic really embodied the showtime mentality, and played to entertain
I saw a lot of players who could be considered the GOAT, and I put Magic ahead of MJ in that regard but realistically no one is close to Wilt.
If Magic is not the best ever, he sure is the best Laker ever
And the best PG ever. For me, only Jordan and Bird are in the same tier.These 3 guys are the GOAT.
The 3 kings we're MAGIC, Bird, and ISAIAH whom DEFEATED Bird and Magic then Jordan took the throne.
@@RoChede i totally agree, but (don't be Mad at me🤣)in this tier i personally include LeBron James)🤗
Aleksandra e Andrei Gazdovici Go make a sandwich. LeBron lost his credibility after the last two years.
@@jaydenjee427 i said it's my opinion...by the way, why i have to make a sandwich?🤣 And i am not hungry, here in Italy is 2.30 am🤗🇮🇹
Magic is low key a goat like a goat goat
I miss the Showtime days.
I was one of the few dozen people going to Laker games in the 70s, the 79/80 season was nothing short of MAGICAL. The only thing I miss about those post West / pre Magic years were the $2.75 student discount tickets with your choice of open seats at the Forum XD
He’s the GOAT! The NBA wouldn’t be the NBA without him. He made every player he played with look good… he could do anything he wanted on the court… he made the NBA .. GOAT
I totally agree
Magic, Jordan and Lebron will always be my top 3. They have the best playoff performances ever (80 Finals G6, 86 ECQF G2, 07 ECF G5), they have the 3 of the 4 highest playoff win % (think kawhi is #1) and are the only players to have both 3 MVPs and 3 Finals MVPs. Magic won a Finals MVP as a rookie after beating Bird in the NCAA championship.
Magic is my all time favourite
If you take all of the arguable GOATs, clone them 5 times, and then match them up against each other, The Magic Five is a pretty solid bet to beat all of the other teams.
when stockton played, the jazz were a good team, sometimes contenders when magic played, the lakers were contenders
Let me finish that for you when stockton played, the jazz were a good team, sometimes contenders when magic played, the lakers were contenders, sometimes champions
While I do believe Magic was better than Stockton, Magic did have better supporting casts too
@@jasonturner6459 - Yup. Stockton is in top my 3 favorite players. But creating a starting five, I'd have to take Magic over Stockton. The man is 6'9. But that's how great Stockton is -- to be mentioned with Magic.
Really good video, keep up the good work
Dang man you’ve been uploading so much gold so quickly. Keep blowing up 🔥
i agree.. I was looking at Lebrons highlights... like 3 mins of it... Jordan a few more.... Magic's went on... and on... and on.... The Goat
100% agreed magic is the goat......when ever he lost to a team in the finals he pretty much came back for them but the bulls got him right before the hiv.no hiv the lakers not in turmoil could of retooled a little and came back and beat the bulls.and i believe they would have.jerry west always added the pieces they needed to come back and win.
Found your channel through that video you did on Reggie, which I loved, and I really dig your stuff, this GOAT series in particular. Most of your stuff that I've seen so far has been well argued and you know your shit, and if you're taking suggestions, I'd love it if you'd consider doing a how good was he video on Drazen Petrovic. I know LeBron, Reggie and a few other legends gave him his well deserved props, but I don't think people are that aware of him outside of Europe, especially the younger generation of fans so it'd be cool to see you do a video on him. Even though he had three seasons in the NBA, not counting the Portland ones because they were absolute garbage since the Blazers didn't utilize him at all, but what he did with the Nets was sick and he stood his ground against MJ and the rest proving he would have gone places if not for that unfortunate accident that ended his life.
Excellent suggestion, and I plan on doing one on Drazen. A lot of people either don't know about him, or don't realize how good he was
@@jonnyarnett Great, can't wait!
I remember watching Magic with my team mates I have never seen basketball like that the thrill and excitement of magics game for me surpassed what Jordon did .
Magic Johnson is legendary, top 5 all time, greatest passer ever and it's not even close also a damn good scorer!
Magic kobe and shaq that would have been amazing
how did i not find your KZhead channel earlier?
Let's also not forget, the 1987 Lakers have the greatest offense in NBA history, and Magic was both the leading scorer and passer of that team. In other words, he was the creator of that team's offense, and that team, at its very best, could drop 155 points on you.
I feel like Wilt Chamberlain is the most underrated player in NBA history.😁
True
2:01 Tragic Bronson-Shaquille O'Neal
Im in awe that you can make a case for someone who most ppl would consider just an all time great and no where near a goat candidate
Actually Kareem did come back into the game AFTER he sprained his ankle and helped hold off the sixers and Dr J (who scored 15 of the last 19 sixer points) by scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter including the go ahead dunk and subsequent foul shot which gave the Lakers a 3 point lead and led to a sixer turnover when Henry Bibby stepped on the line when setting up for a 3 pointer to tie the game.