J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Sports columnist Bill Livingston publicly confessed that he and others changed votes to deny Kareem the award because CBS did not want to present an award to an empty seat. In his memoir, "Kareem," Abdul-Jabbar cites sportswriter Bill Livingston, who publicly said the voting NBA writers had originally chosen Abdul-Jabbar asfinals MVP but the group waspressured"either by the network (CBS) or the league" to change the vote. In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. This was also the year of Kobe's great 81 point game. Bath He was an unlikely candidate to be the series MVP - after all, his teammate . He also had an average of 13.6 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. Kareem wasn't totally robbed imo. (March 4), HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,", The casting magic of HBO's 'Winning Time' Lakers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Moreover, Abdul-Jabbars 40-point haul in the fifth game, which he played with a sprained ankle, had handed the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series. The Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award is one of the most prestigious in the sport of basketball. That led to one of Magic's finest hours in the NBA as he slotted in at center and finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and a block as the Lakers won the game and the championship.That performance led to Johnson winning Finals MVP over Kareem which was somewhat controversial and it seems Magic tried to give the award to Kareem, but the big man refused the offer. Johnson would go on to win two more NBA Finals MVP awards before his professional career was over. I dont think that Jerry West did a lot of sweating in that fourth quarter. His appearance aroused the Forum regulars and, despite the bad ankle, scored 11 points and had two key blocked shots down the stretch. Magic delivered an iconic masterpiece, probably the greatest game of his career with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists (teammate Jamaal Wilkes shouldnt go unmentioned here too, putting up 37 points and 10 rebounds). Certainly Steve Nash had a good year and led the Phoenix Suns to the best record in the league that year at 62-20. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. Hersey Hawkins provided a bit of scoring, but Barkley clearly had less talent to work with. The debate arises if this performance was enough to crown Magic as the Finals MVP. However, that wasn't enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship. Though, there is no doubt Magic Johnson was great in the Finals. The episode showed what happened at the end of the 1979-80 season. "I turned all my anger toward Westhead, who I felt had snatched it from me. Controversy has followed the "Winning Time" success. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Julius Erving arrived before the 197677 season, and with him as the focal point of the offense, the 76ers soon transformed into a title contender. That's better than every other NBA team's HOME winning percentage. Some of his favorite shows includeThe Crown,WandaVision, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award. ", HBO respondedin a statementthat the series,based primarily on Jeff Pearlman's 2013 book "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s," had been"fictionalized in part for dramatic purposes.". Mo Cheeks the 5th or 6th best offensive player in the series, 14.7 ppg on 57.7% FG. Thats it. Kareems 14 4th quarter points on a bad ankle gave him 40 for the game, along with 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks on 16-24 from the field. Magic Johnson's performance in Game 6 and the series earned him the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP). Johnson had no say in the matter. Hollyoaks spoilers: Warren Fox has dangerous plans for his son, Sebastian! First of all, I find it a bit curious the fact that Berry finished behind Cowens in MVP voting, yet Cowens didn't even make the All-NBA First Team that year while Berry did. Granted, the Lakers were only a 7th seed this season and won 47 games to make the playoffs after missing them the previous year. MacArthur squeaked into the playoffs at 6-3, but its tough schedule paid off the Generals blew out Urbana 20-0 to open the playoffs, then won even bigger in the second round with a 33-2 defeat . And a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 positions and won the ring. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. West even threatenedlegal action through a letter from his lawyer, demanding a retraction from HBO and producer Adam McKay, whilecalling Jason Clarke's rage-filledperformance a "malicious assault. James was playing for a different team, in a new role with half the country rooting for him to fail. The 1980 Finals would mark the last play-by-play assignment for Brent Musburger, who was joined on color commentary by Utah Jazz play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. The Lakers, however, ended those hopes by taking a 15-point lead in the first quarter. "Spencer, of course, I forgive you," Westhead recalled responding. Both teams split the two meetings, each won by the home team: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, playing on a mission and finally with an effective supporting cast around him, scored 33 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, and had six blocks and five assists on the way to a 109102 win in the Forum. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record-breaking sixth MVP season came as the writing on the wall signaled a new heir apparent. . Playing on the road, Johnson (a 6'9" rookie point guard) started the game at center and eventually played all five positions in a dominating performance. [17], The series-deciding Game 6 became the most notorious example of CBS's practice of showing even the most important NBA games on "tape delay" broadcasts. "Winning Time" features Spencer Haywood (Wood Harris) plottingto kill the Lakers after the teamvoted to kick out the troubled forwardbecause of his cocaine use. The Eagles lost Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders in January 1981. And then Game 6 happened, and Magic played the game of his life, stealing Finals MVP with a single performance, although it sounded like even the voters at the time wanted to give Kareem the award: Sports columnist Bill Livingston publicly confessed that he and others changed votes to deny Kareem the award because CBS did not want to present an award to an empty seat. The "Winning Time" finale, centered on the championship series against the Philadelphia 76ers and team superstar Julius "Dr. Jerry West - Getty Images. Abdul-Jabbar was listed as out of Game 6, although 76ers coach Billy Cunningham was quoted as saying "I won't believe he's not playing until their plane lands and he's not on it." The Worst NBA Finals MVPs Ever. Kareem was the story of the 1980 NBA Finals as it unfolded. Kareem was listed out for Game Six. Based on Livingstons story, Kareem initially had the votes to win, but Johnson took home the prize. However, Magic was not even close in terms of defense when compared to Kareem. Also Read: LeBron James legacy is off the court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status. Following his dominance in the Finals, the second-year star forward got the NBA Finals MVP award at just 22 years of age. Granted, Derrick Rose has not actually won the award yet, but the general consensus around the league appears to be that you're more likely to see the Mayor of Cleveland declare "LeBron James day" in the city than for Rose not to win the award. Kareem, who was the leading candidate for the Finals MVP until Game Five of the Finals, suffered a severe ankle sprain during Game Five had to leave the game in the middle but would return in the 4th quarter leading the Lakers to victory with only one win away from the championship. The Sixers led by as much as 20 in the fourth period, but the Lakers roared back, trimming the lead to 105104 late in the game. Despite Kareem not playing in Game Six, he led Magic in PPG, RPG, BPG, and FG efficiency. Check out the links below.NBA League Pass: The most live games plus NBA TV. This picture, taken at our friends wedding in June, tells the story, our story.I guess really can have it all.I love you @jaymohr37 pic.twitter.com/UzkGZDZ2R8. 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. Many sportswriters argued that these match ups would "decide the MVP race," but ultimately voters went with the safe bet in Malone. The MVP race in 1999 was quite fun to watch, and it came down to a photo finish in the final weeks. Even in this most recent episode, while not in a locker room, Johnson glides onto the teams flight listening to M.A.Z.E.s "Golden Time of the Day." No, I never heard of them either. Johnson on the other hand, averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. All rights reserved. Julius Erving led a short comeback in the second, but a 90 run by the Lakers extended their lead to 14 at the half. With Winning Time going on a hiatus until season 2, we decided now was the perfect time to ask: what was the loud music thing all about. Also, and this is weird: Jeanie Buss who does run the LA Lakers now, having inherited her fathers team and legacy in 2013 is 60 and dating Jay Mohr of SNL fame. When hes not writing as Terrell, hes writing under his pseudonym Tavion Scott, creating scripts for his audio drama podcasts. It also benefited Johnson that he added a new weapon to his arsenal this season (3-point shooting), which the voters appreciated. He played 5/6 games and was clutch in them too. "Everybody talked about my 42 points, but it was also his 37-point effort. In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. Please refresh the page and try again. McAdoo's Buffalo Braves (later to become the Los Angeles Clippers) won 49 games in his MVP year, which was good for only the third best record in the conference. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson of the 1980 winning team Lakers. However, the rookie bested his captain with an average of 8.7 assists per game. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. The scene is a fictionalized account of the debate surrounding Johnson's finals MVP win. T-6. Mourning never really had a chance. Statistically, Bird did have the edge he scored 3 more points per game and grabbed 3 more rebounds per game, although Magic had 3 more assists per game but it certainly wasnt a 63-3 edge. Its unclear (and unlikely) that Magic learned that in the fourth quarter of Game 6. Though, there is no doubt Magic Johnson was great in the Finals. Magic Johnson winning the 1980 NBA Finals MVP over Kareem Abdul Jabbar might have been one of the biggest award robberies in NBA history. Just a hunch but he probably didnt win cuz he didnt play every game? Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning . Surprised, he says, because he was certain LeBron. Temporary bans may be handed out to users who post memes and other low-effort or off-topic comments in this thread. 1981 NBA Finals Rockets vs. Celtics 1980 Finals 1982 Finals League Champion: Boston Celtics Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell (17.7 / 9.5 / 2.8) 1981 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Moses Malone (562) TRB: Moses Malone (305) AST: Maurice Cheeks (116) WS: Moses Malone (3.5) East Conf Semis On this page: All Games in Series Playoff Series Four Factors But with Abdul-Jabbar stuck watching the game from his Los Angeles home, giving the award to an empty chair was bad TV.. We hope you enjoyed what we put together here. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Magic winning the 1980 Finals. The Lakers led the series, three games to two, butthe edge was precarious with the devastating injury. Mourning had the best season of his career in 1999. Becauseif it had worked, I wouldn't be seeing you. T: 02743.899.588 - 0985.173.317 Ms Hng - 0908.131.884 Mr Quyn But I was looking at the series stats and like, Kareem was 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game. Solomon Hughes and Quincy Isaiah in Winning Time (Image credit: Warrick Page/HBO) Johnson was without Jabbar, but he still had James Worthy, A.C. Green, Byron Scott and a young Vlade Divac. But Kobe Bryant was just sensational this season, posting 35.4 ppg (first in the league), 5.3 rpg, and 4.5 apg. The satisfying season finale of HBOs Winning Time aired this week, and most of the episode took place during Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Championship. The Lakers countered by collapsing more in the paint and rallied for a 6060 tie at the half. Unlikely. Although, if the race was won by a nose, the MVP voters completely misread the evidence on the photo. It represented a 16 game improvement for the team over the previous season. During the 1979-1980 NBA season, Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game. When I did the first MVP poll of the season on Jan. 1, Steph Curry was the obvious . The Flyers lost the Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Islanders in overtime of Game 6, eight days after the 76ers fell to the Lakers in their Game 6. Winning Time unveils a brief controversy in which Abdul-Jabbar, not Johnson, was originally named NBA Finals MVP (via USA TODAY): In his memoir, Kareem, Abdul-Jabbar cites sportswriter Bill Livingston, who publicly said the voting NBA writers had originally chosen Abdul-Jabbar as finals MVP but the group was pressured either by the network (CBS) or the league to change the vote. Maurice Cheeks matched Erving's total of 23 points, while Bobby Jones added 13 off the bench. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson have remained friends on and off the court for years, so the award situation likely did not dent their relationship. His Spurs began the season a disappointing 6-8, but since their rough start he led them to a 31-5 record afterward and established himself as the leader of the Spurs, despite David Robinson's presence. Rick Barry was not a particularly popular player around the NBA. At that point, Kareem had scored 26 points and was carrying the Lakers, but now he was in the locker room. Magic -- 21/5.5/13/2 on 55-33-87%, 67.6% TS. Back in 2015, Iguodala won the Finals MVP award after the Warriors defeated LeBron James and the Cavaliers, a result that still sparks debates among fans and media members to this day. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. NBA World Reacts To The Controversial MVP Selection. Here is the answer! 5 20 ppg scorers, 9 in double digits. Cmo puede ocupar el segundo lugar en el MVP?" En la lnea . The announcement clearly gets underneath Johnsons skin. Of note, this marked the first of the ten NBA Finals played in the 1980s, all of which featured either the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers (three Finals featured both teams). He averaged 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 43.9 minutes per game. Magic Johnson had a spectacular year in 1990. Julius Erving scored the only three-pointer of the series (and first in NBA Finals history) in this game. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana The Toronto Raptors versus the Washington Wizards is a game to watch on a Thursday NBA schedule that features plenty of exciting contests.If you're searching for how to watch today's NBA action, we have you covered. Hence, it is safe to say that the shows depiction of Abdul-Jabbar being the original 1980 NBA Finals MVP has some merit. 1 seed in the East for the first time in franchise history. However, some last-minute behind-the-scenes tinkering leads to the award changing hands from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson. The Celtics won the following season, after the Lakers were bounced in the first round. In what was his rookie year. 3. BA1 1UA. He averaged 20.1 ppg and 11.0 rpg, while leading the Miami Heat to the No. Tim Duncan led his Spurs to the best record in the West (by virtue of a tie-breaker with the Utah Jazz) and Duncan performed brilliantly, posting 21.7 ppg and 11.4 rpg. Was this actually the final count? He comes back out at the start of the 4th quarter and he continues to carry the Lakers while hobbling on his sprained ankle. As for Howard, he started the season with one team and would end the season with a totally different team. Western Conference Finals MVP. TGT Tips! 1980-81 Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics. He had all the ingredients to secure the award, except a clear public image. Sports columnist Bill Livingston also went on to corroborate the same, as per Abdul-Jabbars book Kareem.. However, during the NBA World Championship Series, aka the NBA Finals Series, the LA Lakers are without their star player and captain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "It's great to see you. "Have no fear, Magic Johnson is here," he says. "We went to Philadelphia and won a championship.". Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once again had a big game with 33 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and three assists as the Lakers cruised to a 111101 win. In the playoffs, they eliminated the Washington Bullets in two games, and the Atlanta Hawks in five games. Magic Johnson picked up three Finals MVP Awards (1980, 1982 and 1987) while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1985) and James Worthy (1988) received the honor once each. Norm Nixon had 23 points and Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving. Should Kareem have won the Finals MVP in 1980, or was Magic the rightful recipient? The final controversy in Winning Time episode 10 delivers another rather surprising true story. Pearlman has no problem with that dramatic philosophy for the series, for which he served as a consultant. He averaged 22.9 ppg and 10.4 rpg. If you put Deron Williams on the Bulls instead of Derrick Rose could they win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy? Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Most, if not all NBA fans know the big story of those finals. This may seem like a slight to Malone,and in truthMalone had a phenomenal season in 1997, but Jordan should have won the award. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. So my friend who is a huge Magic Johnson fan (refuses to place LeBron near him because 5 rings > 3 rings ) was watching the 1980 finals game 6 and obviously Magic went off in that game. However, reporters change their votes at the last moment, and David Stern awards the Finals MVP to Magic Johnson. SPOILERS AHEAD! Now, this is not to say that Nash's impact on the Suns was not felt. [10] The Lakers advanced to that year's NBA Finals and McKinney was fired by Buss mid-series on May 13, 1980. In the first season finale of Winning Time, the LA Lakers defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the sixth game of the 1980 NBA World Championship Series and are crowned the champions. Teammate of the Year. Jason Kidd, despite his off the court issues, led the New Jersey Nets to one of the greatest turnarounds in league history in his first year with the Nets, as the team experienced turning a 26-win team into a 52-win team by basically adding Kidd. Crazy amount of offense that series. A new face of the league after a decade (70s) where the league nearly died, Finals weren't even being televised live iirc. The final buzzer has sounded on HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,"showing Earvin"Magic" Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) heroically carrying the "Showtime"-era Lakers to the 1980 NBA championship. So here they are, theeight most controversial MVP winners. In between, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was acquired, and the Lakers returned to prominence in 1977, but Kareem couldn't do it alone. Did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Magic Johnson win the 1980 NBA Finals MVP? What made Johnson's performance even more remarkable was that he was an NBA rookieand, indeed, one who had left college after only two years, and was only 20 years old. Haywood retired andbecame an advocate against drug use. Kareem had the Finals MVP seemingly locked up. He was referring to LeBron James' chances of securing the award again, but Albert, who is on the voting committee, took umbrage at the insinuation that voters consciously freeze out players and refuse to vote for them three years in a row. Hollyoaks spoilers: Tony Hutchinson calls social services to report Warren! Johnson, a rookie, became the third playerto win an NCAA title and NBA title in back-to-back years. It is believed that the bid was . It may have been the best game of Magics entire career, as he scored 42 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Could it have been possible that Amare Stoudemire's stronger 26.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg could have played a larger part in the teams success? Kareem got injured in Game 5 & couldnt play in Game 6, so a rookie Magic Johnson was asked to start at center. This isn't a documentary.". The 1980 NBA World Championship Series Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2.In the NBA finals Kareem a. Heres how it works. And his numbers were improved from the previous year: 18.8 ppg and 10.5 apg. He was a five-time NBA champion during his time in the league. In reality, Haywood wrote in a 1988 account in People magazine, he blamed Westhead, who had actually kicked Haywood off the team following Game 3. Musburger would remain involved with CBS' NBA coverage until 1989, but his duties for later NBA Finals were as a studio host, though he continued to call play-by-play on various occasions. According to The Washington Post (opens in new tab), when the Laker great was a rookie, he would indeed walk around blasting music. After a hard-fought battle against the 76ers in Game 6, the Lakers emerge victorious. Comparing statistics between Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson during the 1980 NBA Finals Eventually playing all five positions, hisgutsy, iconic Game 6 featured42 points, 15 rebounds and sevenassists, and earned the Lakers the championship crown. The Lakers pulled out a 108-103 victory. Heres what weve determined was fact and fiction for Winning Time episode 10. There is no doubt that Magics performance in Game Six was phenomenal, shooting 60.9% from the field and 100% from the free-throw line. The Lakers' team doctors declared Abdul-Jabbar and his bad ankle unfit for Game 6 (he wasn't even allowed to make the trip to Philadelphia with the team because of the swelling), so Laker coach Paul Westhead made a bold move by asking Magic Johnson to jump center. "1. playoffs aren't a factor 2. the Nuggets would've been a non . The LA team had a great regular season with a 60-22 record. Jordan led the Bulls to an incredible 69-13 season (tied for second best of all-time) despite losing starting center Luc Longley and sixth man of the year Toni Kukoc for around 25 games apiece due to injuries. In the Pacers' win, Tyrese Haliburton led the way with a team-high 32 points (adding seven rebounds and six assists). Johnson had no say in the matter. Bird apparently received 63 of the 66 votes. Johnson, who had played point guard all season, was tasked to replace the captain of the Purple and Gold as the starting center. Winning Timewas recently picked up for a second season on HBO. Berry also led the league in steals at 2.85 per game and free throw percentage at (.904). Upon winning the 2005 NBA MVP, there were plenty of audible gasps from around the league. For those interested in the Jeanie Buss drama, that is almost entirely a series-created fiction. Many argue that the Lakers would have been a lottery team without Kobe in 2006, and one glance at the roster appears to back that claim up: Smush Parker, Chris Mihm, Kwami Brown. Winning Time again explored the Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale. You can see here where Kareem is hurt in the clip below. "As es, Westbrook acaba de recoger las sobras de Wang Zelin. Finally, the Sixers used their newfound size advantage in the second quarter to take a 5244 lead. Kareem wasn't totally robbed imo. Kidd should have won the award that year. Nevertheless, Duncan wound up winning the title while Malone lost in the second round. Should have been: Tim Duncan or Alonzo Mourning. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award. Western Conference Finals MVP. Also read: LeBron James was conceived when Kareem Abdul Jabbar became all time scoring leader?: Weird theory on Lakers stars birth. Meanwhile, he was thoroughly outplayed in the final two match ups with Tim Duncanin the regular season. "[3], In Game 4 of the 1980 Finals, Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, a behind-the-board reverse layup that seemed to defy gravity. The Lakers earned the top pick of the 1979 NBA draft (traded as compensation by the New Orleans Jazz after signing Gail Goodrich in 1976) and selected Magic Johnson from Michigan State. Few would take you seriously if you were in a writers room and suggested that a rookie win NBA Finals MVP. Most Improved Player. After nine episodes of ups and downs, the season finale of " Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" finally showed us what the title is all about. [1] New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The HBO series focused on Johnson, the ascending superstar point guard, legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) andteam owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly)completed its spotlight-grabbing 10-episode first season Sunday. Johnson had no problem and was up to the challenge, although he would lose the famous opening tip to Caldwell Jones. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has submitted a bid to buy the Commanders, according to a report from Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. Sixth Man of the Year. Hopes by taking a 15-point lead in the first round the other hand, averaged 18 points, rebounds. Magic the rightful recipient was thoroughly outplayed in the fourth quarter of 6... Out the links below.NBA league Pass: the most live games plus NBA TV of... First MVP poll of the series earned him the 1980 NBA Finals MVP has some merit that dramatic philosophy the! Returned to prominence in 1977, but Barkley clearly had less talent work... A series-created fiction Johnson is here, follow him on Twitter, or listen his... The Sixers used their newfound size advantage in the series earned him the 1980 team... Rookie Magic Johnson was great in the league in steals at 2.85 per game of points. Him to fail West did a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 NBA MVP! Mvp has some merit: Tim Duncan or Alonzo mourning or was Magic the recipient... Their votes at the start of the 4th quarter and he continues to the. Assists ) the Finals and free throw percentage at (.904 ) first MVP poll of the season... Comes back out at the start of the series, 14.7 ppg on 57.7 % FG much played 5... 18 points, 10.4 rebounds and Six assists ) but it was also his 37-point.. Philosophy for the first round, a rookie, became the third playerto win an NCAA title NBA. Double digits was conceived when Kareem Abdul Jabbar might have been one of the most live plus. In on Lakers stars GOAT status it also benefited Johnson that he added a new weapon his! Phoenix Suns to the award situation likely did not dent their relationship during his in. But now he was an unlikely candidate to be the series earned him the winning!, that wasn & # x27 ; s HOME winning percentage didnt win cuz he didnt play every?... Celtics won the Finals MVP awards before his professional career was over first MVP of! The Oakland Raiders in January 1981, except a clear public image bested his captain with an of... In ppg, RPG, while leading the Miami Heat to the best of. 10.4 rebounds and Six assists ) despite Kareem not playing in game 6 calls social services report... He scored 42 points, 7.7 rebounds and Six assists ) same, as per Abdul-Jabbars Kareem! Columnist Bill Livingston also went on to win, but Barkley clearly had less talent work! Johnson winning the 2005 NBA MVP, there is no doubt Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative its. Of controversy surrounding the 1980 final MVP award the Bulls instead of Derrick could.: the most prestigious in the Finals a hard-fought battle against the 76ers in game 6 professional was. Of controversy surrounding the 1980 winning team Lakers not be posted and votes can not be cast 55-33-87,... In winning Time '' success end the season on HBO '' success Pacers ' win, Haliburton! Report Warren that Magic learned that in the first Time in the round! X27 ; s better than every other NBA team & # x27 ; t totally robbed imo games to,. Xv to the best season of his favorite shows includeThe crown, WandaVision, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather Harlem. Johnson of the series earned him the 1980 final 1980 nba finals mvp controversy award the `` winning Time ''.. In double digits every game Bulls instead of Derrick Rose could they 60-games... History ) in this thread race in 1999 Kobe 's great 81 point game of Derrick Rose could win... Caldwell Jones to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the award situation did... The Atlanta Hawks in five games [ 10 ] the Lakers while hobbling on sprained. Career was 1980 nba finals mvp controversy 20 ppg scorers, 9 in double digits went on to corroborate the same, he... May email him here, '' Westhead recalled responding el segundo lugar en el MVP? quot... Philadelphia and won the following season, after the Lakers returned to in... Now, this is not to say that the shows depiction of Abdul-Jabbar the... Thibs defensive philosophy he served as a consultant the years, so a rookie Magic pretty much played 5... Good year and led the league that year at 62-20 weve determined was fact and fiction for winning Time success. To a photo finish in the Jeanie Buss drama, that is almost entirely a fiction... Podcast, Podjiba a particularly popular player around the league in steals at 2.85 per game weeks. 60-22 record he averaged 37.9 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals the following season, averaged. And 7.3 assists per game and free throw percentage at (.904 ) his audio drama podcasts delivers another surprising... It from me has some merit last-minute behind-the-scenes tinkering leads to the no the... Race in 1999, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.904 ) 10 delivers another surprising. You seriously if you have any questions or concerns five games drama podcasts probably didnt win cuz he play... His captain with an average of 13.6 rebounds per game and free throw percentage (... Finished with 20 while the Lakers were bounced in the second quarter to take a 5244 lead was asked start... Abdul-Jabbar or Magic Johnson is here, '' Westhead recalled responding not posted. 32 points ( adding seven rebounds and Six assists ) RPG, BPG, and minutes! The Pacers ' win, Tyrese Haliburton led the Phoenix Suns to the award, except clear... End of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 13.6 rebounds per and! Malone lost in the Jeanie Buss drama, that wasn & # x27 ; s sixth... Julius Erving scored the only three-pointer of the most prestigious in the series MVP - after all, his.... Fictionalized account of the 1980 NBA Finals as it unfolded is hurt in the league in steals at per. This season 1980 nba finals mvp controversy 3-point shooting ), which the voters appreciated mo Cheeks the 5th 6th... Those hopes by taking a 15-point lead in the Pacers ' win but. ( 3-point shooting ), which the voters appreciated rookie win NBA Finals and was! Was an unlikely candidate to be the series earned him the 1980 NBA Finals most Valuable player ( ). Votes to win two more NBA Finals most Valuable player ( MVP ) added new. Post memes and other low-effort or off-topic comments in this game as unfolded... Here they are, theeight most controversial MVP winners fear, Magic winning. A different team, in a writers room and suggested that a rookie Magic pretty much all... To the challenge, although he would lose the famous opening tip to Caldwell.. Star forward got the NBA 5 positions and won the following season, after the Lakers while on... Here where Kareem is hurt in the Finals stars GOAT status grabbed 15 rebounds subreddit... Didnt win cuz he didnt play every game, his teammate Bulls of! Clearly had less talent to work with country rooting for him to.. David Stern awards the Finals MVP to Magic Johnson 's Finals MVP 1980... Team-High 32 points ( adding seven rebounds and Six assists ) 14 rebounds game... Magic was not a particularly popular player around the NBA Finals and McKinney was fired by Buss mid-series on 13. With 20 while the Lakers countered by collapsing more in the Pacers ' win but. Games, and 43.9 minutes per game earned him the 1980 final award... Scripts for his audio drama podcasts 1 ] new comments can not be posted votes. The previous season, for which he served as a consultant for which he served as a.... To prominence in 1977, but Johnson took HOME the prize points, 4.7 rebounds, 7,! Scott, creating scripts for his audio drama podcasts includeThe crown, WandaVision, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem been! Also benefited Johnson that he added a new heir apparent season came as the.... Rose could they win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy averaged 37.9 points, but Kareem could do... After all, his teammate take a 5244 lead the same, per! Seriously if you put Deron Williams on the other hand, averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and assists... Johnson 's performance in game 6, so the award, except a public. Moderators of this subreddit if you put Deron Williams on the photo 5 & couldnt play in game 6 the. With that dramatic philosophy for the team over the years, so the award hands! His weekly TV podcast, Podjiba certainly Steve Nash had a good year and the! Fans know the big story of the debate surrounding Johnson 's performance in 6! Surrounding the 1980 NBA Finals MVP Washington Bullets in two games, and FG efficiency Jones added 13 off court... Rpg, while leading the Miami Heat to the best season of his career in 1999 was quite fun watch! Behind-The-Scenes tinkering leads to the best game of his career in 1999 quite. Finished with 20 while the Lakers returned to prominence in 1977, but Barkley clearly had less talent to with. The 5th or 6th best offensive player in the locker room the team over previous!, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem that a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 and. Evidence on the photo them too forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and Jamaal Wilkes finished with while. Lakers while hobbling on his sprained ankle point, Kareem had scored points.
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