NBA Betting

NBA MVP Players

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

High School:

Lansing Everett (Lansing, MI), 1974-1977
High School Playing Highlights:

Named Associated Press and United Press All-State three years
McDonald's All-American (1976-77)

Michigan State University (Lansing, MI), 1977-79

College Playing Highlights:

Led Michigan State to NCAA Championship (1979)
Named NCAA Division I Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1979)
The Sporting News All-America First Team (1979)
All-America twice (1978-79)
All-Big Ten twice (1978-79)
Inducted into Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame (1992)

Pro:

Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80 through 1990-91)
Los Angeles Lakers (1995-96)

Pro Playing Highlights:

Led Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA Championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
Los Angeles Lakers franchise all-time assists leader with 10,141 and all-time steals leader with 1,724
Named NBA MVP three times (1987, 1989, 1990)
Awarded IBM Award for all-around contributions to team's success (1994)
All-NBA First Team nine times (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991) and Second Team once (1982)
NBA All-Rookie Team (1982)
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1992)
Selected first overall in 1979 NBA Draft
Led NBA with 3.43 steals per game (1981) and 2.67 steals per game (1982)
Holds career record for highest assists per game average with 11.2
Shares career record for most consecutive seasons leading league in steals with 2
NBA Finals MVP three times (1980, 1982, 1987)
Holds career playoff record for most assists (2,346)
Holds NBA Finals single-series record for highest assist per game average with 14.0 in 1985; and highest assists per game average by a rookie with 8.7 in 1980
Holds NBA Finals single-game records for most points by a rookie with 42 on May 6, 1980 vs. Philadelphia; and most assists in one half with 14 on June 19, 1988 vs. Detroit
Shares NBA Finals single-game record for most assists in one quarter with 8 (he did in four times)
Holds single-series playoff record for highest assists per game average with 17.0 in 1985
Shares single-game playoff records for most free throws made in one half with 19 on May 8, 1991 vs. Golden State; most assists with 24 on May 15, 1984 vs. Phoenix; and most assists in one half with 15 on May 3, 1985 vs. Portland
NBA All-Star twelve times (1980, 1982-1992)
NBA All-Star MVP twice (1990, 1992)
NBA All-Star-Holds career record for most assists with 127; holds career record for most three-point field goals made with 10; and hold single game record for most assists with 22 (1984, OT)
Broadcaster, NBC Sports (1992 through 1994)
Vice President, Los Angeles Lakers (1994-95 to present)
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history (1996)

Pro Coaching:

Los Angeles Lakers (1993-94) (5-13)
Other Career Highlights:

Broadcaster, NBC Sports (1992 through 1994)
Vice President, Los Angeles Lakers (1994-95 to present)
Member of U.S. Olympic gold medal team (1992)
Bio:

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a native of East Lansing, Michigan, was destined for greatness from the day he stepped onto the basketball court at Lansing Everett High School until he retired from the Los Angeles Lakers, winning championships at the high school, collegiate, professional and international levels. Following his All-America scholastic career, Johnson led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship in a classic battle against Indiana State's Larry Bird, a rivalry that would continue throughout the 1980s with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

The first overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft, Johnson was an immediate superstar, leading the Lakers to the 1980 NBA championship (the first of his five: 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) over the Philadelphia 76ers. In the NBA Finals, the rookie played all five positions – scored 42 points – and was named the NBA Finals MVP, the first of three selections (1980, 1982, 1987). A 12-time NBA All-Star in his 13-year career and MVP of the 1990 and 1992 games, Johnson was also named NBA MVP three times, in 1987, 1989 and 1990. He was named to the NBA's First-Team nine times and the second team once. The all-time assist (10,141) and steals (1,724) leader in Laker history, Johnson was the NBA's all-time leader in assists until the record was broken by Utah's John Stockton in 1995.