Magic Johnson has always been known for his positive personality because his smile lights up almost every room he’s in. Magic has rarely ever seemed to be in a negative headspace and he’s had no reason to be either, he’s one of the most decorated athletes of all time, a consensus Top 5 player in the history of the NBA.
However, things haven’t always gone his way on the basketball court, he lost in the NBA Finals on 4 different occasions after all. Johnson’s career started in the most stellar way possible, he won the Finals MVP in his very first year in the league, contributing to a title for the Los Angeles Lakers as they beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
He went on to beat the Sixers again but that was followed by a loss to Philly in the finals, which could be possibly explained away by the injuries the Lakers had. So his first proper defeat in the finals came against his rival Larry Bird in 1984 as the Lakers lost a decisive Game 7 after Magic turned the ball over down just 3 points.
Isiah Thomas has since revealed on the Icons Club podcast that he and Markl Aguirre, both friends of Magic, were present in the room consoling Johnson after the devastating loss against his rival and that Johnson was quite overcome with emotion.
“I’ll never forget that night where he’s laying in bed just boo-hooing and crying. Mark and I were in the room and we’re just sitting there. We had never seen Magic Johnson fail,” said Isiah.
Bird and Johnson would go on to enjoy a rivalry that essentially revived the NBA, appearing in every NBA Finals for the rest of the decade and Magic would have his say as well, helping his Lakers to win the following year in 1985 and subsequently in 1987 and 1988. Johnson’s career ended with 5 championships to Bird’s 3, so at least he will always have that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5L3YodY0Ds
