During his time on the hardwood, Irvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. garnered nearly every accolade possible. The point guard won the 1979 NCAA National Championship with the Michigan State Spartans before the Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft.
Johnson spent his entire NBA career as a Laker player, winning five NBA championships over 13 seasons. Along with his team’s many victories, Johnson has received a number of personal awards. Here’s a look at all the times Magic has been voted MVP:
1980 NBA Finals MVP Magic Johnson
Often considered the greatest point guard of all time, Johnson was known to put on a show with his signature no-look and behind-the-back passes. The flair he brought to hardwood wasn’t just for show. The Lansing, Michigan native’s skill has also led him to numerous championships and MVP awards throughout his career.
At the age of 20, Johnson not only led the Lakers to an NBA championship during his rookie season, but was also named the NBA Finals MVP.
Winning the MVP award during the 1980 NBA Finals made Johnson the first rookie to win the honor—a feat that has yet to be repeated. Johnson celebrated with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals during the final game of the 1980 NBA Championship Series.
After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suffered a severe ankle sprain in Game 5, Johnson had to play a new role in Game 6. As the team’s starting point guard, he moved to center field, which Abdul-Jabbar was in control of. Fortunately for the Lakers, Johnson excelled under pressure and led Los Angeles to victory during Game 6, securing a 4-2 Lakers championship victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The ultimate Magic Johnson MVP performances
After winning his first Finals Player of the Year award in his rookie season, Johnson went on to win it two more times. The second time Johnson won the Finals MVP award in his career was in the 1982 season. During the Championship Series, the Lakers once again faced the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the six-game series, Johnson averaged 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. During Game 6, the Lakers scored a 114-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and won the championship series 4-2.
Johnson’s third and final Finals MVP victory came in the 1987 season. With the defending champion Boston Celtics facing them, Johnson and the Lakers had their business cut out for them. Johnson put up 26 points and 17 assists during the fifth game.
Base followed up this performance with a triple-double in Game 6 with 14 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. In the end, the Lakers beat the Celtics 106-93 in Game 6, winning the series 4-2.
Three seasons Johnson MVP in the NBA
Along with three NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, Johnson also earned three NBA Most Valuable Player awards during his career. However, unlike his Finals MVP victories, his league MVP victories did not flag up until later in his career. The Magic’s first league Most Valuable Player nod came in the 1987 season. Johnson averaged 23.9 points, 12.2 assists, and 6.3 rebounds in 80 games during the 1986-87 season. He also earned his third Finals MVP Award and fourth NBA Championship.
Johnson’s last two major league MVP wins came in back-to-back seasons. His winning of League Two Player of the Year came in the 1988–89 season, and he was named League Player of the Year for the third and final time during the 1989–90 season. While Johnson reached the NBA Championship Series in 1989, the Lakers fell short of the championship, losing to the Detroit Pistons in a devastating 4-0 performance.
The following year, the Lakers failed to reach the Championship Series. Of course, the 1990 Finals was the first year since 1979 that neither of the NBA’s two powerhouses, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, made it to the Championship Series.
Even though the Detroit Pistons won the 1990 Championship Series against the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1, the Magic still had a great regular season. He averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game across 79 regular season games, leading him to win his third and final league MVP award.
Stats from basketball reference.
