The first time I ever heard of Magic was the summer before his senior year in high school. I read about him in Basketball Weekly magazine. I was in eighth grade. At that time I had never seen him play, only read about him. I said at that moment, this is my favorite player. At that time the top high school player were supposed to be Albert King and Eugene Banks. He has remained my all time favorite player still to this day.
My buddy and I drove to Indianapolis from Saginaw, Mi without a ticket or a hotel reservation. We were both in our early 20’s. We picked up a couple of tickets in the hotel lobby for 9 dollars each from a scalper. Then we got a hotel room in the best hotel in downtown Indy at that time. No problems suffered from our spontaneous behavior. Had to smile when we ran into ND fans who advised us they were going to kick our butts. I knew The Spartans were special that year having seen them several times at Jenison Field House during my junior year. It turns out Sparty kicked THEIR butts, 80-68. The game was not even that close. We ran and shot them off the court. A great young adult memory.
Christ Almighty...The Magic Man already looking like a seasoned pro at the age of 19 -- and on the big stage of the NCAA tourney no less. A man amongst boys. And what was to come, jeez... One in 10 million in terms of the whole package -- talent, work ethic, and attitude that was all about his teams winning titles!
What this video shows is what a natural and engaging color commentator Al McGuire was, and, 40 years after, what a caricature Bill Raftery has become, mimicking the great guard from Queens and Marquette.
STill the greatest team player I have ever seen,could do it all.His play involved everyone , just Magical electrifying passes.Wow ! Never seen anyone run the floor and play the transition game like the Magic Man,He controls tempo like no one,The Tom Brady of Basketball.Too bad he injured his left knee his second year in the league.Is not about individual volume shooting its about running team play to its utmost efficiency,This is a higher level of Basketball compare to todays ball.Give me Showtime basketball over any other basketball ever played,that is how good this guy #32 really was.I will take the slow grind tempo style of the Celtics in 1986 as #2.
My dad took me to a Magic High School game Everet vs Eastern rivalry As we walked out he said that Johnson would be in the NBA Basketball hall of fame WhaT? Pro basketball? I was a senior in HS when the Spartans won and lived 12 miles from campus, went there 6 months later The MSU / Notre Dame game was the most explosive offense Magic only has 4 points at half time and feed Greg Kelser all night The Magic - Kelser Ali Oop was all over the place. Only seen once in the finals against Bird and Indiana State That game coach Heathcoat had Larry Bird doubled and tripled all night and worked his offense more in halfcourt😅
MSU had great complementary players besides Johnson and Kelser. Jay Vincent won two Big Ten scoring titles after the championship year and played a decade in the NBA. Brkovich played on the Canadian national team and was a surprisingly good finisher and shotblocker for a perimeter shooter. Donnelly was the steady guy who had his best game in the Finals against Indiana State. All well-coached, all unselfish.
I was year's old. Grew up with The 74-75 ,75-76 IU team's. Huge IU fan, father had season tickets to IU. I've seen a lot of greats in person I remember thinking He is the best player I have ever seen at the time.
Indeed, he was. I have some highlights of Kelser on my channel. Search for "Greg Kelser (34pts/13rebs/6 Dunks) vs. Notre Dame (1979 NCAA Tournament)", for example, to see his effort in this game.
@David Lawrence Great comment. Thanks for injecting some perspective into the usual "god or bust" hot take. Kelser was a solid player who'd have helped a better team. And he's gone on to an all-pro life.
@@daveconleyportfolio5192 Glad to hear his life went well. I thought he would be a great NBA player. He gave me some great moments during Michigan State's run to the title
The first time I ever heard of Magic was the summer before his senior year in high school. I read about him in Basketball Weekly magazine. I was in eighth grade. At that time I had never seen him play, only read about him. I said at that moment, this is my favorite player. At that time the top high school player were supposed to be Albert King and Eugene Banks. He has remained my all time favorite player still to this day.
My buddy and I drove to Indianapolis from Saginaw, Mi without a ticket or a hotel reservation. We were both in our early 20’s. We picked up a couple of tickets in the hotel lobby for 9 dollars each from a scalper. Then we got a hotel room in the best hotel in downtown Indy at that time. No problems suffered from our spontaneous behavior. Had to smile when we ran into ND fans who advised us they were going to kick our butts. I knew The Spartans were special that year having seen them several times at Jenison Field House during my junior year. It turns out Sparty kicked THEIR butts, 80-68. The game was not even that close. We ran and shot them off the court. A great young adult memory.
even back then magic was the best player on the court
Christ Almighty...The Magic Man already looking like a seasoned pro at the age of 19 -- and on the big stage of the NCAA tourney no less. A man amongst boys. And what was to come, jeez... One in 10 million in terms of the whole package -- talent, work ethic, and attitude that was all about his teams winning titles!
Actually chuckled at that one at 1:26 Man o man. Earvin "Magic" Johnson. He was so good, it's almost comical.
Mesmerizing...HS, NCAA, NBA champion in just a 4-year span. Also, MVP of all, 3, championship series as well. Unparalleled
Aswell as finals mvp as a rookie I don’t think it’ll ever be done again
Thank u!
Warched the game on TV.
What this video shows is what a natural and engaging color commentator Al McGuire was, and, 40 years after, what a caricature Bill Raftery has become, mimicking the great guard from Queens and Marquette.
STill the greatest team player I have ever seen,could do it all.His play involved everyone , just Magical electrifying passes.Wow ! Never seen anyone run the floor and play the transition game like the Magic Man,He controls tempo like no one,The Tom Brady of Basketball.Too bad he injured his left knee his second year in the league.Is not about individual volume shooting its
about running team play to its utmost efficiency,This is a higher level of Basketball compare to todays ball.Give me Showtime basketball over any other basketball ever played,that is how good this guy #32 really was.I will take the slow grind tempo style of the Celtics in 1986 as #2.
My dad took me to a Magic High School game Everet vs Eastern rivalry
As we walked out he said that Johnson would be in the NBA Basketball hall of fame
WhaT? Pro basketball?
I was a senior in HS when the Spartans won and lived 12 miles from campus, went there 6 months later
The MSU / Notre Dame game was the most explosive offense
Magic only has 4 points at half time and feed Greg Kelser all night
The Magic - Kelser Ali Oop was all over the place.
Only seen once in the finals against Bird and Indiana State
That game coach Heathcoat had Larry Bird doubled and tripled all night and worked his offense more in halfcourt😅
MSU had great complementary players besides Johnson and Kelser. Jay Vincent won two Big Ten scoring titles after the championship year and played a decade in the NBA. Brkovich played on the Canadian national team and was a surprisingly good finisher and shotblocker for a perimeter shooter. Donnelly was the steady guy who had his best game in the Finals against Indiana State. All well-coached, all unselfish.
I was year's old. Grew up with The 74-75 ,75-76 IU team's. Huge IU fan, father had season tickets to IU. I've seen a lot of greats in person I remember thinking He is the best player I have ever seen at the time.
I was 12 or 13 years old i meant to say above lol
Notre Dame was a 9 point favorite in this game
bill laimbeer posterized at 236
When they call you "magic" even when you haven't stepped into the pro-leagues yet - W
007thematrix007: He was called Magic as a sophomore in HS, in 1975.
This MSU was also super athletic and Indiana St only had Bird… so I hope people didn’t bet too much on Indiana St
Indiana State had a guy that was super athletic, 50 inch vertical but he shot 27% from the line. Gilbert was his name.
This "Johnson" guy looks like he's got some potential.
He was an ok Power forward (and all time great Guard and player
Notice the flow of the game. Completely different than today. There was a 3 point line but it wasn't a 3 point game at all.
There was no three point line or shot - they're playing on the Indiana Pacers court.
Sadly, Greg Kelser´s career died after he entered NBA. Kelser was a great scorer in his Spartans years.
Indeed, he was. I have some highlights of Kelser on my channel. Search for "Greg Kelser (34pts/13rebs/6 Dunks) vs. Notre Dame (1979 NCAA Tournament)", for example, to see his effort in this game.
@David Lawrence Great comment. Thanks for injecting some perspective into the usual "god or bust" hot take. Kelser was a solid player who'd have helped a better team. And he's gone on to an all-pro life.
@@daveconleyportfolio5192 Glad to hear his life went well. I thought he would be a great NBA player. He gave me some great moments during Michigan State's run to the title
Back then knee injuries we're career killers.
@@geezusgeezus4413
Actually Kelser had a series of ankle injuries which derailed his NBA career.
Lonzo ball
LOL
Super mariyo never ever ever never mention that pass thru the league with an ALL TIME GREAT...blasphomey