Magic Johnson series explores Lakers legend’s journey to NBA superstardom

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This article was published 22/04/2022 (1634 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In 1980, the Los Angeles Lakers boarded the team plane to Philadelphia ahead of the sixth game of the NBA Finals.

Despite holding a 3-2 advantage in the series, there was an uneasy feeling on the flight. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the season MVP, wasn’t in his usual 1A seat at the front of the plane. The superstar centre had injured his ankle while scoring 40 points in a spectacular Game 5 performance.

The seat wasn’t empty however.

Before anyone could even contest the rookie point guard’s seat selection, he turned to his teammates and said, “Have no fear. Earvin (Magic) Johnson is here.”

The next night Johnson scored 42 points, besting Abdul-Jabbar’s mark from Game 5. The performance led the Lakers to their seventh championship and their first since 1972. To this day, Johnson remains the only rookie in NBA history to be named Finals MVP.

In a Canadian exclusive interview with the Star, Johnson explained his confident display.

“I definitely was using that (Abdul-Jabbar’s seat) to inspire my teammates,” Johnson said. “We needed it because everybody was in doubt that we could actually win the game. I have never been a person who thinks they can’t win a game. Any game I play in, I feel I can win.”

The moment is featured in the premiere episode of “They Call Me Magic” on Apple TV Plus. The four-part series documents Johnson’s life, his road to the NBA and unexpected retirement from the league.

Remembered for his remarkable athleticism, Johnson was equally known for his dynamic personality and flair.

“He made it possible for me to change my image,” the usually stoic Abdul-Jabbar reveals in the first episode. “When we started winning, I could start smiling.”

Johnson’s megawatt smile has always been infectious. When asked about the origins of his positive demeanour, he credited his family.

“When I think about where it (his positivity) comes from, it’s probably my parents. My mom has always been a positive person. Playing sports as well. You can always have highs and lows but if you can keep a positive attitude, things will eventually work out for you.”

Johnson’s bright side approach was challenged after he tested positive for HIV before the 1991 season began. The shocking diagnosis led to Johnson’s decision to leave the game he loved. He was forced to quit after leading the Lakers to five NBA titles and winning three MVP awards. The moment is another focal point of the new doc series.

“Even now, I’m thinking about how hard it was,” Johnson said. “The most difficult thing I have ever had to do was to retire.”

Giving up the career that he had worked his entire life to attain was obviously difficult. The Lansing, Mich. native said that he knew he would miss people chanting his name in the stands. He also didn’t want to leave “Showtime” behind. It was a term used to describe the run-and- gun style of Laker basketball that he helped create, coupled with team owner Jerry Buss’s desire to make NBA games as entertaining as possible. In the end, however, it was the only decision he could make.

“We didn’t know what type of effect HIV would have on my immune system. So I’m glad I retired because I wanted to be here for a long time. Every decision I made back then has worked out the right way today.”

To say it worked out for Magic (who as the series reveals, was given the nickname by a sports writer who covered him in high school) would be an understatement. After leaving the game, Johnson went on to invest in Starbucks and now co-owns the L.A. Dodgers, the L.A. Sparks and the L.A. Football Club.

Known for setting his own path on the court and in life, Johnson admitted that “They Call Me Magic” was inspired by “The Last Dance,” the series that aired in 2020, focusing on the Chicago Bulls championship teams. He said there are major differences though and that his series isn’t just about his on-court accomplishments.

“This series covers my whole life’s journey. Everything that’s happened to me from Lansing, Michigan all the way to Hollywood both and off court.”

The entrepreneur also couldn’t resist discussing the differences between “They Call Me Magic” and “Winning Time.” The controversial HBO series that debuted last month also tells the story of the Lakers’ dynasty but features actors in scripted roles. According to Johnson, this makes “They Call Me Magic” the superior choice.

“You got real Lakers talking about the Lakers,” Johnson said. “So it’s completely different from that other thing that’s out now. It’s the real truth with real people. Not their opinion or what they thought happened.”

As for real people? There are quite a few notable names. The series features Paula Abdul discussing her time as a Laker girl, Snoop Dogg talking about the L.A. riots that were happening during the team’s dominance, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan talking about their rivalries with the Lakers and even former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama weighing in on the power of Magic.

“It’s really a blessing for me to have all of them in my doc series.”

In addition to the celebrity voices, it’s the first time Johnson’s fans will get to meet his family members. The series includes discussions with his wife Earlitha “Cookie” Johnson and his kids Andre, E.J., and Elisa.

“I wanted them to be a part of it because they have their own stories about me and the way that they look at me and our lives. It’s only right to have my family in it and have them tell their versions of Earvin or ‘Magic …’ whether that’s good or bad.”

“They Call Me Magic” is available to stream now on Apple TV Plus.

Murtz Jaffer is a Toronto-based Entertainment writer and a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @murtzjaffer