Magic Johnson EMOTIONAL NBA Return after his Retirement 1996.01.30 vs Warriors - 19 Pts, 10 Ast!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- Magic Johnson Full NBA COMEBACK Highlights 19 Pts 10 Ast 8 Reb | Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers | January 30, 1996 | 1995-96 NBA Season | HOH Throwback in HD
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This dude was in his mid-30s, hadn't played basketball in 5 years, and almost had a triple double in 27 minutes in his first game back. And a victory. What a legend.
At mid 30s, MJ was at his peak
@@ConstantineJoseph Magic johnson wasn't taking a break he was trying to survive a deadly illness. Plus MJ's 2nd retirement came at 34, he wasn't playing in his mid 30s. Almost every nba player peaks in their early 30s.
He was 37 years old. I hate when people say these dudes wouldn't be able to play in today's game. Late 90's and if healthy, was still able to play. Too bad injuries plagued him and not to mention HIV @@ConstantineJoseph
@@judasgamez1131 Back in the day the retirement age for most NBA players was around early to mid 30s.
For Magic to return especially from HIV which was a deadly serious lifelong disease, is some kind of a miracle itself.
With the advent of sports nutrition, disciplined program of training and recuperation, professional atheletes can prolong their careers for a good 2 to 5 more years in comparison to their predecessors.
Also the game isn't as rough and physical in comparison.
Michael Jordan on the other hand was already a physical specimen at the get go. He was always going to be that one off genius, prized athlete that would take it into his 30s
Magic could of played Point Forward with Shaq and Kobe a year later...
Mavers Mitchell “sometimes it’s not meant to be”
Mavers Mitchell that would have been legendary
Did that man say point forward
With Magic at that *point forward*....the '97 & '98 Lakers would have met the Bulls in The Finals
Yeah man wished we would see that
Crazy to think that he could have played with shaq and kobe
I mean he mightve retired before that regardless tbh
He wouldn’t have fucked tho
Zuriel Olivas id take not fucking over aids tf?😂
that baller kobe not AIDS but HIV
Joshua Rinosa same thing
He is like maybe 25% of himself at his prime, but even at this level he is doing so well
Honestly he probably wasn't playing that hard watching out for cuts. Cause aids suck.
@@asterphoenix3074 Magic Johnson has HIV. He doesn't have aids. No one was going to get HIV from him just from some little cut. Also, there' no way he's going to come back and not compete as hard as possible, it's not in his DNA. He didn't look as good as he did in 91' because he's obviously much older, heavier, and slower.
we'll never know the truth either. when I was a kid in HS in my mind I was all on board that it was the shear greatness of Magic but looking back years later, Dr. Buss gave Magic the keys to do anything he wanted which irked the team that bad that they ultimately bowed out with shame, when they were one of the better teams in the league with Magic and instantly an even matchup with pretty much anyone except the Bulls. So I'm 50/50 on what went wrong- Magic's alpha or if Magic was treated with too much entitlement to their detriment?
Magic's 96 comeback was actually pretty underrated looking back at it. Obviously he wasn't the same player, but was still very good and still a great passer and still showcased the unique ability to make his teammates better. They went 22-10 with him in the line up and went on to win 53 games that year. Had a disappointing 1st round exit though.
Makes you wonder what would've happened if he stuck around for another year with Kobe and Shaq
@@samuelstensgaard4828 Kobe was not playing much. But it would have been plenty lobs from magic to shaq.
That team wasn't exactly full of scrubs though. That Laker team is pretty deep with Van Excel, Ceballos, Divac and Eddie Jones who were All-Stars are some point too.
@@samuelstensgaard4828they might have not had the cap space or motivation to go after Shaq if Magic still remained. Probably Kobe as well. Remember that they had to clear out lots of players
that was an event that was in the making, deflating in the playoffs. all the drama and jealousy stuff caught up with them. hate to point the fingers but I'd put it mostly on Ceballos. Magic was alpha and they didn't like it, at least Ceballos in particular. Eddie never complained and Nick did invite Magic so only Ceballos had a legitimate argument if looking at if he had a say but the instant turnaround and regular season wins that would have been more the makings of a .500 team should have been something the team got excited about and make it about that uniform they wore and not individual stardom. How was that not more important? They'd have done some real damage if the team just got over themselves. Adding Magic made every matchup 1-5 on the court very very even.
Magic Johnson used to do things that kids today wouldn't believe.
I’ve seen the highlights chief I wouldn’t believe it cause it wouldn’t work. Bird was a much more skilled player Magic’s passing would be his only great attribute today he’s kinda slow lmfaoo
@@richwoerner5876 did you watch the right highlights? calling him slow is crazy 💀
@@richwoerner5876the prime Magic was so fast leading the show time squad, almost unstoppable.
Dude comes back after a four-year absence and almost picks up a triple double on 50% shooting. Just ridiculous.
Even past his prime he was a joy to watch. I remember this game and I remember I teared up because one of my childhood heroes was back.
2:48
Show this to your kids.
If this doesn't show you how great Magic was then idk what will.
legend has it that spree pooped his pants right when it happened
Magic Johnson is the best point guard in Nba history hands down
Curry is better
@@roundtable3501 Cmon man, magic has 0 Defense, watch more games......
@@roundtable3501 Based on your theory, my man Mr. Tripple Double Russell Westbrook will be better than Magic since he's better at scoring, rebounding, athletism and same good at defense and passing......
@@roundtable3501 Russell Westbrook was a two time scoring leader and you tell me Magic is a better scorer since his more efficient? Based on your theory Zion Williamson and Deandre Jordan will be the best scorer all time......
@@roundtable3501 Lol You said Magic was a good thief and that made him a better defensive player, do you know Curry was also the leader in steals in his second MVP season? And if you judge the defensive play based on steals, Iverson will also be considered as a great defensive player......
Man, tears still running down my eyes and It makes me so happy to watch this video and see how happy Magic was...
Thank God for let us to watch greatness..
I got a little emotional, too. Magic was my favorite player growing up.
Yeah, hate to mention one of the low points when Nick and Magic bumped the refs. That signaled the real essence of what mental state the team was in at that point. They really had the ingredients to make a scary playoff push because they were at least even if not an overmatch to all the western conference. They failed not because of their talent, but the unlocked bolts that did them in. I still say years later that it's crazy what Magic did do in terms of basketball being 6 years away from the game and probably, no I go on the record, his late comeback was more worthy of celebration than Jordan's Wizards tenure, when adding the sum of success.
Bro, how do you not tear up seeing that pop from the crowd after he ball faked Sprewell? That’s unconditional love right there.
tear up? I'm spitting my coke from laughing how silly he made Spree look!
I know i teared up and hugged my friends. Gave them kisses on the cheek. Especially in that game when rodman was rough with Magic. It made me cry
I bet people had to call in for work just to see this game. You can’t miss the return of Magic Johnson.
The effect of having a great selfless leader on your team shows here everyone is making the extra pass gotta love magic
Such an underrated moment in NBA history, the man ran the game just off Basketball IQ. 2:48 had to be the best moment, its like the crowd was just vibing and then realized OH YEAH im watching Magic
This video still makes me feel glad, Magic Johnson was a very complete player.....
When he came back seemed like he was able to Finish a Chapter yet to Finish. I still say he should have played 2 more years.
@@boogitybear2283 agree
GOAT PG
W
Darius hell no
@@russell9411 name somebody better
@@russell9411 We still waiting bitch.
Ballin Too We still waiting nigga
Magic and Bird’s careers ended too early smh
Because then basketball was played much harder than now, It was a real tough game, where real players like Bird couldn’t spend much time in the league because of his toughness.
Escribo Un name wrong
@@polmolina6184 Larry Bird got folded by gravel and Johnson caught HIV
Bird's back was done unfortunately and Magic we know. They could have played till the mid-late 90s if not for that.
Larry had a bad back somewhere in the late 80s and Magic got HIV. Shame really. Would have been really nice to see them play until around 97 or 98 at full health.
Top 5 player of all time and could have easily been considered the GOAT if he did not have to retire early. His career numbers would have been crazy
If he and mj didn't have those retirements, mabic would be seen in the same light as kobe, and there wouldn't be a debate about Jordan being the goat (especially if he took the all-time scoring title)
@@hepersopon4459top 2
My 1st NBA game was Lakers vs Boston in 1987 and made me an instant Magic fan. His last shot gave them a 1 pt win in dying seconds. 🏆.
Greatest point guard of all time🔥🔥( likes) for magic
Chef curry much better, curry can easily average 40+ pts in the 90s
@@josephjoestar6679 😂😂😂, I like curry but he too soft for 90s basketball kid , he’s good at shooting yes but people like Dennis Rodman , Shawn kemp , John Stockton etc , would lock curry up just because they could actually play the game without fouls being called every 2 plays , Isaiah Thomas tripped people and they let him get away with it , curry wouldn’t average 10 a game , he’ll be an average point guard like his dad was
@@tukx6146 curry ain't a better pg than magic but you an idiot. Curry getting buckets in any era of basketball.
@@tukx6146 uhm, kawhi Leonard Is def Better than rodman, Kemp and Kemp. And Curry still Cooked his ass
@@josephjoestar6679 no way the rules were different curry is too soft
this is how Lebron needs to play with the Lakers. post up, play off ball, stop pounding the ball on the perimeter.
LeBron would play off ball ,he has rondo and lonzo now.also because of his age @_@
Lebron need to do what he been doing (which is why he the best in today's game) the TEAM need to do what they do best also and Lakers will be just fine.
@@dblackzilla I believe the lakers will get a title within 3 years under the management of magic Johnson and the ability of LeBron.
LeBron can't play off ball. Atleast he didn't showed it yet. He needs the ball in his hands all the time.
Fabolous NineNine he played off ball in Miami.
I always had a soft spot for this Lakers team. They were fun to watch. Divac was blooming as a playmaking center. Ceballos was a good scorer. Jones and Van Exel were an exciting backcourt. And Peeler, Lynch and Campbell were solid role players. Add Magic to the mix, and you can see why Lakers fans were so excited. They played some great ball at times.
I was 7 yrs old on the date of this game. Looking at this now as a 36 yr old man has me saying oh my god he was amazing he did after NOT PLAYING so long coming back in his late 30s? Living up to his name it gives me a newfound respect for him.
so cool how the crowd cheers every time he touches the ball
Magic's "patented penetration" is the reason he missed 4 years.
Shaquille O'Neal underrated
Wtf
saw what you did there, Shaq.
Yep was tappin to many asses lol
😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
KEEP LIVING Wow Magic those words were so powerful
If this is magic 4 years removed from the game and waaayy past his prime this means to me he can definitely play in today’s league in his prime and basically average a triple double, no stat padding and at least 26-29 points per game about 13 assist and maybe 11-10 rebounds easily.
Magic is such a good speaker and his smile is great!
Magic controls the game like no one else.
You even just see how the playstyle of the team changed with Magic on the floor. Guys willing to make the extra pass. Guys cutting and running harder knowing they are going to get the ball. Magic is one of those players that changes the entire complexion of a team for the better.
This 96 Lakers team underachieved so much.. they were talented. they even upset the Sonics the year before smh.
Magic retired for 4yrs switchedpositions and almost had a productive triple double.
This man is such an inspiration to all!!! Thank you Mr. Magic Johnson for everything you’ve done & have giving to the game of Basketball. On/off the court overall great man & basketball player. #PointGOD #liVinglegenD #bestPG2everplaythegame
He wasn't actually bad coming back. For a power forward like him to still run point effectively especially after gaining weight and being a lot slower, it's amazing. He averaged 14 points and 6 assists as a 6th man on what was a really solid Lakers team with guys like Jones, Van Exel, Divac and Peeler.
“In the 90s the love of the game seems nonexistent from Generation X”.. people always gonna have a problem with whatever the current era of basketball is at the time lol
SpaceGhost P thank you for saying this bro. People don’t realize that the people from previous generation will always claim that their generation was the best. In the next 30 years people are going to be talking about how good the 2010’s nba was compared to what will be the current nba then. But people will forget how players and fans from the 90’s and 80’s said the same thing about the 2010’s nba.
The 2010s were the Golden era of the NBA! Kobe’s last act, the 2011 Mavericks, the Miami Heatles, the Classic Golden State Warriors, the 2016 Cavs’ comeback, and Drake’s team winning the finals.
It just gets worse every year
That was definitely a weird comment. Especially since the majority of the stars in 96 also played in the 80s.
@@NineteenEightyFive It’s just how it goes. Every generation hates the generation after 😂
The CRAZY thing is that he was killing them in the post with his OFF hand - his left!
if only he could play one more year he coulda played with shaq and kobe
THESE ARE THE VIDEOS WE NEED!!
He’s the first player to have his jersey retired and wearing that number in game
This version of Magic was just smarter than everyone else on the court....no athleticism, no speed, just straight instinct. Legend indeed
I remember being 10 years old when he came back thank u magic I can honestly say I got to see you play
Imagine this happening now, with social media
Internet would have exploded
Even Mj wasnt getting such standing ovations for merely entering the game or scoring a random basket in a regular season. Even after his both comebacks.
Last all star game for Mj was nice but this is a regular season matchup and his every touch of the ball gets ooos and aaas from the crowd. Thats crazy.
Magic was more than life
the people that say “magic couldn’t survive in the 2010’s” is wild. he was averaging 15 points a game in 96’. that was a year before kobe was drafted, and kobe could play in the. 90’s and 2010’s
Magic’s playstyle would have thrived in any era of basketball to be honest.
if you said in 1992 that magic would survive to the 2010s that wouldn't have been realistic
He played like a center, shooting like jabber with the left hand, amazing
Magic is such a cool dude
There is no greater feeling than owning a authentic champion Lakers magic Johnson. Jersey mannnnnn
Dude was out for 4 years that’s crazy he was that good
i love this crowd
And When Shaq and Kobe came it was Showtime all over again, just with more dominance!!!! 😎
Shaq and Kobe won 3 and Magic and Kareem won 5! How 🤔 ❓️ were they more dominate in a weaker era?
Does any one get teary eyed when they see magic come in, and then when fakes the soul out of the defender? it feels crazy to see a grown ass man just rekt other future hof or all time great and be out of shape. it says a lot about who some one is and someones integrity.
I get chills every single time
I never knew he played after 91 until now. Mind blown
1992 Olympics, the original Dream Team.
I remember seeing Magic do that fake to cause Sprewell to jump right out of his shoes. At the time I was thinking "w-w-wa-whhaattt?!"
The interview with Cookie and his kid was wholesome ❤️
This was my first NBA season i watched, i was so rooting for Magic after only seeing limited clips of him in those days (im in the UK), and this comeback was glorious. What an atmosphere in The Forum!
Best basketball player ever
I watched this game for the first time in 2018 and i was put to tears watching that fake on sprewell. Just phenomenal
Damn that atmosphere is something we lack today ):
poboy fresh the Oracle is like that every game
poboy fresh no way man. This was a very unique situation. Look at the video from Kobe’s last game. Very similar. Not to mention how ridiculous the crowd gets at Oracle when the warriors start raining 3s
poboy fresh
if Kobe came back it would be like this
bron is bringing it back
poboy fresh You sound ignorant watch a high stakes warriors or thunder game gauruntee you wont think like that anymore
i remember that fake on sprewell like it was yesterday 😭 memories
I remember watching this game as an 8 year old kid. I didn't understand the significance of it other than my dad telling me Magic was a legend & you'll remember watching this years from now. From a family from Chicago who been Bulls fans for life.
Would’ve loved to see Magic vs Bird in one more NBA finals but Jordan the 🐐 arrived.
I love Magic!
Magic could have played one more season with Shaq and Kobe. Even though he was 37 years old, moving to the PF position enabled him to not guard faster and quicker players because PF players back then were big bruisers like Oakley, Malone, Barkley, Otis Thorpe who relied on their strength down in the post. And Magic, clearly from this video was a very strong dude.
One of the most intelligence in lakers all time nba history, Magic johnson
1996 was a very good year.
The GOAT of PGs.
Man was still cold af
The greatest players adjust with age
Absolute legend
4:46...the GOAT of all the NBA wives. Cookie's fine ass stood by Magic through all that b/s and all the silly rumors. Had his back. That's the kind of woman you want.
Yeah
He really is magic if you got a pass from magic you were Destin to make the shot
Them left handed hooks 🔥🔥🔥
19-10-8 is an amazing stat line off the bench
I was 15 years old and stayed up late to watch his return game on a school night (live on east coast). I was as excited, if not more, when Magic returned than when Michael returned a year before.
Warriors fans in that arena that night are the loyal ones
Fun fact: MJ guarded magic for game 1 of the ‘91 finals and he dropped a trip dub and a win. Next games he was guarded by pippen and bulls won the finals.
U do realize that James Worthy got injured right?
Trash Boy actually MJ guarded magic most of the series and kept magic to 44% shooting even though he’s a career 52% shooter. Only time Pippen switched on Magic was game 2 when Jordan got in foul trouble. Stop spreading fake news fanboy
Francisco Pizarro
No one every wants to give pippin his credit. Sickening. Zero chips without pip
@@mcbuckets813 0 chips for Pippen without MJ. What's your point?
jdrobin1 0 chips for Jordan w/o pippen what’s your point lmfaoo 😂
This was awesome
Bro my man nearly got a triple-double looking like that
Yeah, because once upon a time, guys had to know how TO PLAY, not just be athletes. Magic's skill was off the charts. Y'all mistake fancy shit for skill. The name of the game is to be as efficient and make the game as easy as possible.
@BRADEN GUGLIUZZA I've been watching the NBA longer than you've been alive. Thats the problem with youth, it is wasted on thinking you know more than people who have literally been where you're going. No one is hating on anything. I'm saying it again...guys like Magic had more basketball SKILL. He was fundamentally sound and game like that could work in any era. You have guys nowadays that can only play in this soft league where defense is frowned on and no one knows how to play in the post. Back when handchecking was legal...all these guts would struggle to score because you didn't get bailed out with whistles and there were great shot blocking centers waiting if you stayed trying to get to the hole. Skill is relative BRADEN. You jackass
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 If you really think NBA players aren't just as skilled today, if not more skilled, than they were back then.. you clearly don't watch modern basketball, or you're just stuck in the past and refuse to acknowledge the evolution of the game. I've seen people like you everywhere, the "back in my day" guy who thinks hand checking and clotheslining players was somehow better for the game, and who think taking contested long 2's is somehow "efficient". The way players play today are because of how the rules and style of play have changed. They're a product of the game, just as every generation has been before them. You really think modern day players wouldn't be able to handle the "physicality" of the 80s and 90s? That's just ignorant. The game is less physical today because of rules the NBA has implemented to create a better product. Players didn't just suddenly choose they wanted to play "soft". You can't compare players from different eras, because there is no comparison -- plopping players from the 80s into today's NBA or vice versa makes zero sense because basketball is entirely different than it was back then. Don't fault the players for adapting their game to be efficient in today's NBA. It's what works.
@@manuginobilisbaldspot424 Barring transcendent exceptions like Magic, players back then relied more on physicality and LESS on skill. Today's game is much more finesse-based.
@BRADEN GUGLIUZZA They Eliminate the Hand Check rules and Allowed the Zone defense which is more harder to play with isolation
What also needs to be noted is How GREAT Bob Neal is When He Did The NBA ON TNT
5:13 Welp lil EJ is definitely saying that alot now....
Seeing his baby clothes smh they made ej gay he had no chance
Simrat Dhanju LMAO
@@lilgucci0866 that's crazy! cause I was like magic gotta girl?? But its clear now they choose for him
Why did she dress ej like a girl?
that's elisa johnson, not EJ Johnson
hes one of the greatest of all time
Man I never put him on my all time starting 5. I actually have LeBron at point but boy oh boy could the magic man play. He really did have such a smooth complete game and those hook shots and back to the basket. He was such a talent to see go to early. I think I’ll actually have Magic as my 6th man considering how versatile he truly was.
Magic built LA Lakers... greatest showman for LA Lakers... all-time
Greatest Laker of all time
he’d be the greatest of all time if he wasn’t sick😢
He was robbed of 5 good years of basketball. He would have been #1 in assists and have a 6th ring. Then really been in The GOAT conversation.
Not sure about that ring.
Hook shot was so deadly and you couldn’t double because the pass would be so accurate….. just masterful.
I was born on this day
He came back, and was still one of the best players in the game after 4 years off. Magic without HIV would have put up some CRAZY numbers, likely holding the assists record.
2:48!!! And The Forum erupting…CHILLS!!!
"Savour the moment"
*Unskipable 15 second ad*
"No i don't think I will"
Magic was 37 years old. He showed that he could still go. What if Magic decided to come back for one final full season in 1996-97 with a Prime Shaq and a young fresh out of high school Kobe?
Jokic plays like old Magic haha Can you imagine what a young Magic would do in today's league?
Why did I spit from my eyes
Also, if he had stayed at least a year later, Magic could've been the 6th man/leader of the second unit. With Shaq on the floor the low post would've been blocked, and Nick van Exel's development would've been stunted with Magic dominating the ball at PG. In the second unit Magic would've :
A) given Shaq a blow
B) been able to operate freely from the post AND bring the ball up
C) given other teams nightmares because their 2nd units wouldn't have had anybody as great as Magic, meaning their starters would've had to play longer minutes.
Thank you very much for sharing this video
Who would have thought he would still be with us after all these years.
Magic Johnson was a very good player.
I know he was in a bad team but the man proved he could still play averaging roughly 14/4/7 I think
I remember this. I was the happiest kid in the world .