A Journey Through 9 Magic Johnson Finals Appearances

Magic Johnson is a total legend in basketball. He had an amazing career with the Los Angeles Lakers. When he was drafted by the Lakers as the #1 pick in 1979, nobody knew just how magical his journey would be.

Magic went to the NBA Finals 9 times in his 13 seasons, with a Win-Loss record of 5-4 in Finals series, and 24-26 for Finals games. He had some amazing games and some tough losses too. But he always kept fighting and playing his best.

Magic Johnson Finals appearances showed how great and determined he was. Even all these years later, Magic’s legacy lives on.

Magic Johnson Finals Appearances

1980: Rookie Magic

• Vs: Philadelphia 76ers
• Result: Lakers won 4-2
• When Kareem got hurt, Magic filled in and was awesome! He scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and had 7 assists in Game 6, leading the Lakers to the championship. For a rookie, that was crazy good! He was named Finals MVP in his rookie season, averaged 21.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 8.7 assists.

1982: Cementing His Greatness

• Vs: Philadelphia 76ers
• Result: Lakers won 4-2
• Magic averaged 16.2 points, almost 10.8 rebounds, and 8 assists. He balled out and won his 2nd Finals MVP award.

1983: A Speed Bump

• Vs: Philadelphia 76ers
• Result: Lakers lost 0-4
• Even though they lost, Magic played great with 19 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game.

1984: Rivalry With Boston

• Vs: Boston Celtics
• Result: Lakers lost 3-4
• In this 7-game series, Magic put up 18 points, 13.6 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game. Impressive even in defeat!

1985: Beating The Celtics

• Vs: Boston Celtics
• Result: Lakers won 4-2
• Magic averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and dominated with a Finals record 14 assists per game! He led the Lakers past their rivals.

1987: Magic’s Awesome Play

• Vs: Boston Celtics
• Result: Lakers won 4-2
• Magic’s iconic junior sky hook became a historic highlight. He averaged 26.2 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds winning his 3rd Finals MVP.

1988: Back-to-Back Champions

• Vs: Detroit Pistons
• Result: Lakers won 4-3
• A close series where Magic was clutch with 21.1 points, 13 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 7 games.

1989: Coming Up Short

• Vs: Detroit Pistons
• Result: Lakers lost 0-4
• Magic left Game 3 after just five minutes, despite a leg injury, still managed 11.7 points, 8 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game.

1991: Passing the Torch

• Vs: Chicago Bulls
• Result: Lakers lost 1-4
• Magic Johnson averaged 18.6 points, 12.4 assists, and 8 rebounds, he played well but this Finals marked a changing of the guard to Michael Jordan.

Magic went to 9 NBA Finals in his career, which is just awesome. His record was 5-4  in the championship series. And 24-26 for individual games across those Finals.

In the Finals, Magic always brought his A-game. He showed off his epic passing skills and court vision. He made clutch plays and big shots when it mattered most. Going against rivals like Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan just fueled his competitive spirit even more.

The Finals were Magic’s time to shine. Every appearance showed how talented he was as a point guard. It made him into a legend and one of the greatest ever.

How Many Times Has Magic Johnson Won Finals MVP?

Magic Johnson won the NBA Finals MVP award 3 times, in the years 1980, 1982, and 1987 during his epic career. That’s pretty crazy!

1980 Finals MVP
This was Magic’s rookie season, which is just insane. In Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers, he started at center because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was hurt. Magic went off for 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to win the championship! For a rookie, that performance was unbelievable.

1982 Finals MVP
The Lakers faced the Philadelphia 76ers again. With Magic playing awesome and coach Pat Riley leading the way, they beat the Sixers in 6 games. Magic’s all-around play made him an easy choice for Finals MVP again.

1987 Finals MVP
This time the Finals were against the rival Boston Celtics. Magic was on fire, averaging 26 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds. He led the Lakers to the championship and his 3rd Finals MVP award.

Magic earned those awards by stepping up big time in the Finals. His MVPs show how Magic was the key to the Lakers’ success and those unforgettable “Showtime” teams.

Bill Russell, he made it a crazy 12 times! Russell played for the Boston Celtics back in the 1950s and 60s when they dominated the league.

Out of those 12 Finals, Russell helped the Celtics win 11 championship titles. That’s another record – the most NBA championships for any player.

Russell was a beast during those Finals too. Across 70 total games, he averaged 16 points and an unbelievable 24 rebounds! He just controlled the boards and the paint.

With all those Finals trips and rings, plus his awesome stats, Russell became a true NBA legend. Years later, Russell’s records for most NBA Finals appearances and championships still stand.

Before you go

Check out these articles below, they’ve got some cool stuff you might like:

• Magic Johnson Rings: A Testament to Lakers Glory
• Michael Jordan Records: The Still-Standings That May Never Be Broken
• Larry Bird Finals Record: 5 Finals, 3 Titles and 2 MVPs

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