Magic Johnson

One of just three players to earn league MVP three times and Finals MVP three times, he’s the original “Unicorn,” possessing the size and skill even as a rookie to fill in at center in game six of the 1980 NBA Finals

FEATURED LISTS

When the game was theirs: Eight crucial games that defined the Bird vs. Magic rivalry

October 1, 2023

Their rivalry is still the pinnacle of the NBA for many, and their subsequent friendship still inspires. As we approach the 30th anniversary of their final NBA match-up, we take a look back at the eight most unforgettable games involving two of the game’s all-time greatest, Magic Johnson and Larry…

Leveling Up: Eight players who have won an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title

July 1, 2024

Itttttttt’s Showtime!: Ranking the 30 players who won a title as Magic Johnson’s Lakers teammate

April 11, 2024

Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record

January 21, 2023

Pressure valves: 23 NBA rookies who made a major impact in the postseason

May 1, 2022

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Larry Bird

Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Finals

Awards and honors

Pat Riley

Retirements and comebacks

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Dead air: Eight legendary NBA players who struggled as television broadcasters

Playing on television in front of millions is one thing when you’re on the court, but for these eight NBA legends, talking into the camera was the real challenge.

December 11, 2025August 25, 2026

Tough act to follow: 23 (mostly) forgotten NBA players who replaced departing legends

Everyone remembers the franchise legends but when those great ones departed, either to retire or join a different team, who were the unsung heroes taking their place in the lineup?

November 1, 2025August 17, 2026

Soles power: 16 notable signature basketball shoes

Many a Christmas tree featured one of these pairs of shoes under it over the years, after the 16 superstars listed below blessed the line with their donning of them and/or their name.

December 21, 2024August 25, 2026

You’re the best around: 80 greatest NBA players of the 1980s

We conclude our Totally ’80s series by ranking the 80 greatest players of the decade, based solely on statistics, accolades, and awards compiled between the ’80-’81 and ’88-’89 seasons.

July 21, 2024August 25, 2026

Leveling Up: Eight players who have won an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title

Only eight players in history have reached the ultimate goal at the international, amateur, and professional levels of basketball, and we detail them here.

July 1, 2024August 25, 2026

Who’s going to Disney World?: Seven controversial NBA Finals MVP choices

Starting with the first time it was awarded, the Finals MVP award has been an occasional source of controversy. Here are seven such cases, some of which forever altered the individual legacy of the players involved.

June 1, 2024August 19, 2026

Nothing to show for it: 20 notable players who were teammates with Magic Johnson or Larry Bird but didn’t win a title

We’ve previously ranked the players who earned a championship playing on Magic Johnson’s Lakers and Larry Bird’s Celtics, respectively. But what about the ballers that joined one of those warring dynasties expecting an all-but-guaranteed ring but instead walked away with nothing? Here are 20 notable ones.

May 21, 2024August 25, 2026

Itttttttt’s Showtime!: Ranking the 30 players who won a title as Magic Johnson’s Lakers teammate

In his first nine NBA seasons, Magic Johnson led the Lakers to seven NBA Finals appearances and five titles. Today, we rank the 30 players who were part of those championship runs with Johnson, based on their overall career (not just their time with the Lakers).

April 11, 2024September 4, 2026

Saving the best for last: 21 most exciting NCAA Tournament National Finals

Which men’s NCAA Tournament games had the most excitement, star power, incredible play, and historical significance? Here, we rank the top 21

April 1, 2024August 25, 2026

Don’t you forget about me: 80 basketball moments from the ’80s that changed the sport forever

As part of our Totally ’80s series, we explore the 80 most monumental, controversial, influential, unforgettable, and indescribable basketball moments from the 1980s.

January 11, 2024August 25, 2026

When the game was theirs: Eight crucial games that defined the Bird vs. Magic rivalry

October 1, 2023August 10, 2026

Better luck next time, kid: 19 greatest rookie performances that didn’t earn Rookie of the Year

Winning the Rookie of the Year award has kick started numerous legendary NBA careers but for these 19 players, their astonishing first year performance wasn’t enough to take home hardware.

April 11, 2023August 25, 2026

Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record

We crowned a new NBA three-point king during the ’21-’22 season and LeBron James will soon be the all-time leading scorer. They join an illustrious list of 16 players that currently hold one of the major NBA career statistical records.

January 21, 2023August 25, 2026

Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team

It’s the 30th anniversary of their triumphant gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the Dream Team continues to fascinate basketball fans of all ages. This includes plenty of enduring conspiracies, mistruths, and half-truths, 19 of which are debunked here.

July 21, 2022August 25, 2026

Pressure valves: 23 NBA rookies who made a major impact in the postseason

Some were superstars just continuing their domination while others were unheralded players stepping up at just the right time but either way, when the lights were turned up high and the pressure was cranked up, these NBA rookies came through in the playoffs.

May 1, 2022August 10, 2026

Noms de plume: 75 greatest NBA and ABA player nicknames

From the iconic to the cool to the slightly derisive, we count down the 75 greatest player nicknames in NBA history.

November 1, 2021August 25, 2026

Instant classics: 75 greatest games in NBA history

All the ultimate barn burners, buzzer beaters, back-and-forth battles, incredible moments, and individual dominance are present in this list of the 75 greatest games in NBA history.

October 21, 2021August 25, 2026

Gold standards: Ranking the 18 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball teams

From the original “dream team” that brought home gold from Berlin in 1936 (with James Naismith watching) to the legendary 1992 edition to the latest American champions in 2016, we rank the 18 U.S. men’s basketball teams based on both their performance at the Olympics and their roster as a whole.

July 21, 2021September 3, 2026

Summer reading list: 11 essential books about the NBA or ABA

Whether you’re hitting the beach or pool this summer or relaxing inside away from the heat, here’s a list of notable books about NBA and ABA history that you can enjoy.

July 1, 2021August 10, 2026

Hollow trophies: 14 early playoff exits by reigning league MVPs

The reigning MVP has led their team to the NBA or ABA championship 26 times in the history of the two leagues. But in these 15 examples, the ultimate regular season honor was sullied by subsequent postseason disappointment. Can Nikola Jokic avoid a similar fate in 2021?

May 11, 2021August 11, 2026

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Basketball, Listed

Magic Johnson

FEATURED LISTS

When the game was theirs: Eight crucial games that defined the Bird vs. Magic rivalry

Leveling Up: Eight players who have won an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title

Itttttttt’s Showtime!: Ranking the 30 players who won a title as Magic Johnson’s Lakers teammate

Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record

Pressure valves: 23 NBA rookies who made a major impact in the postseason

index

related topics

Larry Bird

Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Finals

Awards and honors

Pat Riley

Retirements and comebacks

FULL archive

Dead air: Eight legendary NBA players who struggled as television broadcasters

Tough act to follow: 23 (mostly) forgotten NBA players who replaced departing legends

Soles power: 16 notable signature basketball shoes

You’re the best around: 80 greatest NBA players of the 1980s

Leveling Up: Eight players who have won an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title

Who’s going to Disney World?: Seven controversial NBA Finals MVP choices

Nothing to show for it: 20 notable players who were teammates with Magic Johnson or Larry Bird but didn’t win a title

Itttttttt’s Showtime!: Ranking the 30 players who won a title as Magic Johnson’s Lakers teammate

Saving the best for last: 21 most exciting NCAA Tournament National Finals

Don’t you forget about me: 80 basketball moments from the ’80s that changed the sport forever

When the game was theirs: Eight crucial games that defined the Bird vs. Magic rivalry

Better luck next time, kid: 19 greatest rookie performances that didn’t earn Rookie of the Year

Leaders of the pack: 16 players who hold a major NBA statistical career record

Dream interpretations: Debunking 19 myths about the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team

Pressure valves: 23 NBA rookies who made a major impact in the postseason

Noms de plume: 75 greatest NBA and ABA player nicknames

Instant classics: 75 greatest games in NBA history

Gold standards: Ranking the 18 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball teams

Summer reading list: 11 essential books about the NBA or ABA

Hollow trophies: 14 early playoff exits by reigning league MVPs