In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed plenty of success, going to the Finals multiple times, winning five championships, and confirming their status as the iconic franchise they are right now.
They big duels against other legendary teams, including the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics, ‘Bad Boys’ Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers of Julius Erving. The Sixers were the team that welcomed Magic Johnson to the Finals, facing a rookie point guard in 1980.
With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar injured, Johnson stepped up in Game 6 of that series, winning his first of five championships with the Purple and Gold. A former teammate, Michael Cooper, recently talked about his old adventures with Magic and Kareem, revealing his favorite title of all. Cooper said he had two, telling an incredible story about the first one and how Magic affected his team before heading to Philly to play that sixth game.
“We went to the Finals nine times, and won five of it. But, again, yes it is a great amount. You know I’m very blessed to get that with Magic and Kareem. Of the Lakers core, we were the three that won all five.
“There’s two, T.O [Terrell Owens]. One was in 1980, our first one. We’re just having fun. Magic just got on the team. We were all playing. That sixth game, Kareem twisted his ankle, so we went to Philadelphia to play the great Dr. J, the whole group there, Chocolate Thunder, the late great Darryl Dawkins was on the team. And we just was playing. And that’s when Magic had that phenomenal game, 42 points, 15 rebounds, 15 assists. But before that game. Actually before we took off, one thing Magic says, when we got on the bus, I mean on the plane, we were all kind of nervous about heading to Philly. Magic gets on the bus with a big boom box and is playing Frankie Beverly, ‘That’s The Golden Time Of Day.’ Magic gets on and says, ‘have no fear, f—ing Magic Johnson is here.’ And man, when he said that, that changed the whole tone. We went to Philadelphia and I say that one was a special one because we were just playing and we lucked out. Well, don’t wanna say lucked out, but we won a championship that game.
Moreover, he talked about the 1985 Finals, where the Lakers faced their archrivals in the big series.
“But the one that really means a lot. I’m from Los Angeles, grew up in Pasadena, watched the Celtics all through the 60s. Always beat Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Lakers being able to get over that hump. So our 85′ championship was one that was kinda like for the city of Los Angeles. It lifted a lot of weight off of Jerry West, who was our general manager at that time and that was really special because again, it’s the Boston Celtics.”
Those Lakers marked an era in the NBA. They were a complete show on and off the court. Magic became a total legend during those years, leading his squad to many championships, showing a flashy style of play, and engaging in fierce rivalries with Eastern Conference teams. They came up with the win on more occasions, always counting on Magic to help them win.
