Wilkes had a career-high 37 points and added 10 rebounds. Most Improved Player. Perhaps just an absence in Game Six cost the entire voting panel to change their decision, which seemed unfair. Abdul-Jabbar, bad ankle and all, dunked emphatically over Erving and drew the foul with 33 seconds left. Magic got the rebound to seemingly seal the win, but the Lakers tried to force the fast-break and ended up turning the ball over, out-of-bounds. And a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 positions and won the ring. 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. Kerr, whose former teammate Michael Jordan was denied an MVP 3-peat twice in 1993 and 1997 is the most obvious example of when a player should have won the award but didn't due to reasons not readily accepted by the general public. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. [18] (This is often cited as an example of TV's lack of interest in the NBA in the "pre-Magic and Bird" era.). The NBA's MVP award has been chosen annually by a panel of media members since the 1980-81 season. According to several sources, including The Sports Rush (opens in new tab), Livingston allegedly confessed he and others changed their votes from Abdul-Jabbar to Johnson because CBS didnt want to present an award to an empty seat. The final controversy in Winning Time episode 10 delivers another rather surprising true story. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record-breaking sixth MVP season came as the writing on the wall signaled a new heir apparent. Rookie of the Year. Magic even jumped center in the game's opening tip tomake a statement, as seen in the episode. To read our interview with Adrien Brody, who portrayed Lakers assistant coach Pat Riley, click here. He hobbles thereafter, but they dont immediately call a time-out to remove him. Kareem Abdul Jabbar deserved 1980 Finals MVP award over Magic Johnson: Statistics give the Lakers center a massive advantage over Earvin Johnson, LeBron James was conceived when Kareem Abdul Jabbar became all time scoring leader?: Weird theory on Lakers stars birth, LeBron James legacy is off the court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status, Kareem: 33.4 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.6 SPG, 4.6 BPG, and 54.9% FG, Magic: 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 8.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, and 57.3% FG, Kareem: 33 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 blocks, 0 steals, Magic: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 0 blocks, 3 steals, Kareem: 38 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 blocks, 2 steals, Magic: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 0 blocks, 2 steals, Kareem: 33 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 0 steals, Magic: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 0 blocks, 2 steals, Kareem: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 1 steal, Magic: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 block, 3 steals, Kareem: 40 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 0 steals, Magic: 14 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 0 blocks, 3 steals, Magic: 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 blocks. Meanwhile, Birds Celtics were defeated by Julius Ervings 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Lakers would defeat the 76ers in six games, with Magic Johnson being crowned Finals MVP. 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. Mourning had the best season of his career in 1999. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson have remained friends on and off the court for years, so the award situation likely did not dent their relationship. 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. Darryl Dawkins led the Sixers with 26 points and Erving added 23. But since the evaluation is "most valuable player" rather than best player (which Jordan had on lockdown with his 33.6 ppg and 2.77 steals, both tops in the NBA), one could say that Barkley's team wouldn't have even made the playoffs without him. Kareem was the story of the 1980 NBA Finals as it unfolded. As it turned out, Kareem did not make the trip and was listed as doubtful if Game 7 had been needed. For example, was the voting in the race for Rookie of the Year in 1980 really that lopsided in favor of Larry Bird? 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. It may have been the best game of Magics entire career, as he scored 42 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. This scene is described in "Showtime"and recounted ina March Fubo TV interview by Lakers guard Michael Cooper, who noted the scene signified Johnson stepping upto the next level with his leadership and performance. 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 the 197980 season the 76ers finished 5923, two games behind the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. In the Pacers' win, Tyrese Haliburton led the way with a team-high 32 points (adding seven rebounds and six assists). It was a testament to James' great play. Paul Westhead does also thank Jack McKinney in his remarks, and the players (including Norm Nixon) make sure to single out Kareems contributions. Did Spencer Haywood Really Order a Hit on His Lakers Teammates. edit: complaint about pts/reb/ast order, changed it universally to pts/reb/ast. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/05/nba-finals-mvp-1980-winning-time-magic-johnson-lakers, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. On the Lakers possession, Darryl Dawkins was trying to front Abdul-Jabbar but to no avail as Magic threw a pass overhead so only Erving stood between Kareem and the basket. The 6-foot-9-inch Johnson rose to the occasion and stepped into the center position for Game 6. The 7-foot-2-inch Abdul had ledhis team through the finals, gutting out aMVP-worthy Game 5 victory despite a severelyinjuredankle. This may seem like a slight to Malone,and in truthMalone had a phenomenal season in 1997, but Jordan should have won the award. I certainly don't mean to besmirch Malone's brilliant playing career, but honestly, I don't think he deserved either MVP award he won. If you are looking to place some bets on football, don't miss out on our overview of the best football betting sites for US bettors. Johnson scored 25 points in the Spurs' win, leading the team.This matchup will be airing on fuboTV.National Basketball Association odds courtesy of. #1 Magic Johnson - 20 Years Old (1980) In 1980, Magic became the first . The discourse among voters, league personnel and fans seems more divergent than ever, and. 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. 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. Greenmark Group - 1980 nba finals mvp controversy % May 13, 2022 by tottenham leicester whoscored. Eventually playing all five positions, hisgutsy, iconic Game 6 featured42 points, 15 rebounds and sevenassists, and earned the Lakers the championship crown. He came into the league with the most pressure to preform and did so admirably as the Heat led the East in road wins, despite every game having a playoff atmosphere. Sixth Man of the Year. Juliet Nightingale has fun with Imran! Magic Johnson - 3 1987, 1989, 1990 In 1987, Bird's rival took the torch. 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. In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. Compared to Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson averaged only 21.5 points per game and 11.2 assists per game. The statistics give Kareem a massive lead as far as facts are concerned. Rookie of the Year. The statistics give Kareem a massive lead as far as facts are concerned. But his numbers: 15.5 ppg and 11.5 apg seemed awfully meager for the league's most valuable player. Episode 10 sees the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals, with team owner Jerry Buss and rookie Magic Johnson trying to win the Lakers their first. Joy.Thats what you have given me on my birthday and every day in between. In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. The Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals, themselves in six games, in the World Series. In the most recent vintage of the pitcher vs. hitter debate, Martinez went 23-4 . Hersey Hawkins provided a bit of scoring, but Barkley clearly had less talent to work with. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Kareem was absolutely elite in those games, averaging 32 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 apg and 5 bpg on 52% shooting, but it was Game 5 that should've sealed the Finals MVP for him. Is it true Johnson used to carry around a boom box with him? According to unconfirmed reports, Abdul-Jabbar was originally voted as the Finals MVP. 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. Solomon Hughes and Quincy Isaiah in Winning Time. But he had one of the least impressive stat lines of any MVP winner in recent memory, and that is why his victory was so hotly debated. No, I never heard of them either. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty season finale sees the LA Lakers competing for the highest honor in basketball, the NBA Championship. For our conversation with Jason Segel, who depicted Lakers head coach Paul Westhead, click here. The rookie stepped up to the challenge and delivered a performance of a lifetime. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). 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. Kareem 40 pts vs. Sixers (Game 5, 1980 NBA finals) f9ish 5.27K subscribers Subscribe 239 Share Save 41K views 13 years ago Kareem had 40 pts, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. Elsa/Getty Images. When it comes to the GOAT debate, the TSR author feels LeBron James is yet to receive a lot of his due but cannot deny marveling at Michael Jordans resume. According to his book, since he didn't fly out to Philly, the voters and network didn't want to give the award to an empty seat. By HoopsHype staff | June 17, 2022. And his numbers were improved from the previous year: 18.8 ppg and 10.5 apg. When hes not writing as Terrell, hes writing under his pseudonym Tavion Scott, creating scripts for his audio drama podcasts. This isn't a documentary.". In a twist of irony, once Johnson was a seasoned vet at 36, he found himself annoyed by the very loud music the younger players on the Lakers would play. But Worthy had 36/16/10 on 68-60%, 68% TS in G7. NBA Opening Draw To Twilight Shaquille O'Neal Vol 2 Chapter 1021: 3 pairs of controversy . Becauseif it had worked, I wouldn't be seeing you. Check out the links below.NBA League Pass: The most live games plus NBA TV. Heres how it works. Despite Kareem not playing in Game Six, he led Magic in PPG, RPG, BPG, and FG efficiency. But he missed the finals due to his ankle injury. 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. [4] Play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger has noted that Erving made such moves almost routinely in his ABA daysbut the ABA had no national TV contract in those days. 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." Please refresh the page and try again. The Lakers, however, beat the 76ers again the following season, before losing to the 76ers in the season after that. Kareem had the Finals MVP seemingly locked up. However, that wasn't enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship. Also, is it true that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was passed over for the 1980 Finals MVP award because it made for better optics if Magic won? 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? Barkley, on the other hand, won only 10 fewer games than Magic with teammates like Mike Gminski, Johnny Dawkins, Ron Anderson and Derek Smith. Its cued up here to Game 5, at the 49:36 mark, after Kareem scores a basket to put the Lakers up 67-65. But as strong as those number may seem, they represent one of Malone's worst statistical seasons since his rookie year. He was an unlikely candidate to be the series MVP - after all, his teammate . Fans caught up on HBOsWinning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynastysaw the first seasons finale last night. Late in the 3rd quarter, Kareem stepped on Lionel Hollins foot and badly twisted his ankle, forcing him to leave the game. Defensive Player of the Year. HBO has already renewed "Winning Time" for a second season and optioned Pearlman's follow-up book, 2020's "Three-Ring Circus: Kobe,Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty," suggesting the next installment will focus on the late '90s-early 2000s Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal era. Along with Jamaal Wilkes' 37 points and 10 rebounds, Michael Cooper chipped in 16. Many consider this victory as the birth of Showtime. The Lakers also received strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes with 37 points and 10 rebounds,[3] and Norm Nixon. 44+22+10 sper triple-doble! 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. This game was a nip-and-tuck affair that was highlighted by Julius Erving's signature "Baseline Move" in the fourth quarter. A new face of the league after a decade (70s) where the league nearly died, Finals weren't even being televised live iirc. Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Try Again with Netflix's 'God's Favorite Idiot'. [2] He managed to come back in the game in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to victory and a 32 lead in the best-of-seven series. You can see here where Kareem is hurt in the clip below. Heres the cued-up Jerry Buss speech after the game, and he is a bit emotional, as John C. Reilly was in the series (although, the real Buss probably wasnt thinking about his late mother, whose year of death is unknown). The 1980 NBA Finals proved how special Magic was in game 6, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar unable to play Magic played center and scored 42 points. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in Game 2. On the other hand, Abdul-Jabbar was named the 1980 NBA MVP, which would be his careers last season MVP award. Winning Time again explored the Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale. Warren Fox demands answers from Tony! If you take James off and replace him with any other small forward in the game, could they get the same intangibles they get from James? However, reporters change their votes at the last moment, and David Stern awards the Finals MVP to Magic Johnson. That equates to a valuable player in my book. Enough of us saps changed our votes to deny Kareem the award 4-3., https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-kareem-abdul-jabbar-deserved-1980-finals-mvp-award-over-magic-johnson-statistics-give-the-lakers-center-a-massive-advantage-over-earvin-johnson/. Johnson was without Jabbar, but he still had James Worthy, A.C. Green, Byron Scott and a young Vlade Divac. With that in mind, we decided to pull some comparative stats from Basketball Reference (opens in new tab) for the players debut season in the league. 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. 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. Proving the prognosticators right, Philadelphia won in five games, preventing the first CelticsLakers final since 1969. Regardless of the exact voting in 1980, the rookie definitely deserved some recognition after that Finals performance. It is worth noting, too, that Magic did lose Rookie of the Year honors to Larry Bird by a 63-3 vote, as depicted in the series. Lakers won the chip and Magic won MVP! Additionally, Abdul-Jabbar was named the 1980 NBA MVP, reflective of his work from that entire season. [2] Scoring a game-high 42 points and grabbing a game-high 15 reboundsand handing out seven assists Johnson led the Lakers to the NBA crown. T-6. 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. But I was looking at the series stats and like, Kareem was 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game. Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. Jordan, as usual, had a great season: 29.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg. The chemistry between the three was evident early on, as the Lakers eliminated the Phoenix Suns and defending champions Seattle SuperSonics in a pair of five-game playoff series to advance to the NBA Finals. Curiously, even though Magic Johnson won the award and Johnson's team won a league best 63 games (the league's only 60-win team that year) and Barkley's club only won 53 games, Barkley received more first place votes (38-27). According to The Washington Post (opens in new tab), when the Laker great was a rookie, he would indeed walk around blasting music. The suggestion in "Winning Time" that it was Johnson's idea to start as center is dramatic license. It is believed that the bid was . Its been more than 4 decades but this incident still feels like one of the greatest robberies of sports history. Their conversationcertainlybrings to minda few times in NBA history that the winner of the MVP award drew complaints rather than applause from some not directly connected to the committee. The 1990 MVP race would prove to be one of the closest in league history as Magic Johnson edged out "Sir Charles" by a mere 22 votes. Western Conference Finals MVP. Abdul-Jabbar then limped back onto the floor. James was playing for a different team, in a new role with half the country rooting for him to fail. 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. But if the measure of an MVPis leading one's team to regular season success, it was hard to make the case that Duncan did. The Utah Jazz were tied with the Spurs for the best record, but they led the league in wins for most of the season before slumping in the final month. Johnson on the other hand, averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Winning Timewas recently picked up for a second season on HBO. Teammate of the Year. Johnson scored 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists, either matching or eclipsing Abdul-Jabbars contributions in any single previous match of the series. As the finale is concluding, there is a moment when Abdul-Jabbar shows up to the home of Spencer Haywood (Wood Harris). For U.S. employees, your username (up to 15 characters) can be any customer identifier you've chosen or your Social Security number (SSN). "Winning Time" shows a locker room-bound Johnson agreeing to take the finals MVP award instead ofAbdul-Jabbar on the strong suggestion ofDavid Stern, the league's executive vice president forlegal affairs (and future commissioner). If you put Deron Williams on the Bulls instead of Derrick Rose could they win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy? He def had a Finals MVP worthy series, but so did Magic: Kareem -- 33.5/13.5/3/4.5 on 55-80%, 58.5% TS for 5 games Magic -- 21.5/8.5/11/2.5 on 57-88%, 63.8% TS for 6 games Johnson, who was named as an All-Star starter during his first year in the league, lost out on Rookie of the Year honors to rival Larry Bird. How did he respond? [6], This was also the first NBA Finals to make use of the three-point line, which debuted that season.[7]. It represented a 16 game improvement for the team over the previous season. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. It is true as depicted in the series that Kareem was originally named the MVP of the series, and the CBS network (and not David Stern) talked to writers by a 4-3 vote into giving it to Magic Johnson, but only because the network didnt want to give the MVP to someone who wasnt there to receive it. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. That's what this media is. Magic Johnson scored 42 points, including all 14 of his free-throw attempts. (1980) 38 years ago today, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured, so the Lakers put rookie point guard Magic Johnson at center in game 6 of the NBA Finals. Jerry West - Getty Images. Comparing statistics between Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson during the 1980 NBA Finals Los Angeles would win the game. And how large of a role did Mike D'Antoni's fastpaced offense (which was perfect for winning regular season games, but not so much in the postseason) play in the team's overall success thatyear? 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. Siakam recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Raptors. The Lakers and the Celtics didnt face each other in the NBA Finals until 1984-85 (a Lakers win), again in 1985-86 (the Celtics won) and again the following year, which saw the Lakers win (The Lakers were the more dominant team in the 80s, winning 5 Championships to three by the Celtics). [1] Johnson won three MVPs from 1987 to 1990 but was unable to win all three in consecutive seasons. The NBA world doesn't think voters got the MVP selection right. Terrell Smith has a diverse writing background having penned material for a wide array of clients including the federal government and Bravo television personalities. Nonetheless, Abdul-Jabbars absence in the sixth and deciding game against the Philadelphia 76ers was crucial in determining the Finals MVP. Should have been: Tim Duncan or Alonzo Mourning. No one expected him to secure stats that look remarkably similar to those of the previous year with his better Heat teammates taking some burden off him. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. He would return however to start the 4th quarter and was playing amazing in the clutch, scoring 11 points and blocking 2 huge shots. Rap in the 90s was apparently not his go-to genre. 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. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award. 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. Here are Page 2's 10 most controversial MVP races in sports since 1990: 1. Yeah, but in the 5/6 he did he seem to have been the better player? To date, this was the final time that a regular-season had ended during the month of March. BOSTON Looking back, Jeff Van Gundy admits he was thoroughly surprised when Andre Iguodala was announced as MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals. But when considering the select company of repeat MVP winners, Nash stood with LeBron James, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, and the players that only won once in Shaq, David Robinson, and Hakeem Olajuwon, or never won in Isiah Thomas, Jerry West. Johnson had no say in the matter. Many sportswriters argued that these match ups would "decide the MVP race," but ultimately voters went with the safe bet in Malone. - The Grueling Truth A look back at the Celtics return to glory and also a look back at racist comments by Rick Barry towards Bill Russell. "Look at any TV show or movie based on a sports event that really happened, whether it's '42,' 'We Are Marshall,' 'A League of Their Own,'" he says. "[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 1980 NBA Finals TV Mini Series 1980 YOUR RATING Rate Sport The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979/1980 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. Arjun Julka is a NBA author at The SportsRush. You will receive a verification email shortly. [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. The Sixers went on to even the series with a 105102 win. (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. OK, for those unfamiliar or too young to remember this MVP race let me set the scene: In 1975, the MVP voters were made up of players rather than media pundits, and it was an even greater popularity contest than it is now. Most Improved Player. She performed that job while attending U.S.C. He averaged 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 43.9 minutes per game. The 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1983-84 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, He played 5/6 games and was clutch in them too. Malone averaged 27.4 ppg and 10 rpg. That performance earned Magic his first of 3 career Finals MVP awards. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2.[1]. 3. Hollyoaks spoilers: REUNITED! The Lakers, however, went on to win the Western Conference. In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. BA1 1UA. Magic Johnson then asserted himself by scoring six points and added an assist as Los Angeles moved up by eight at the end of the third. Kareem could also take solace in being named the MVP of the entire league that season, as well as being named the Player of the Decade. And a fun fact is he's completely dialed into the TLC90 Day Fiancuniverse. He dropped 33 points in a 109-102 home win in Game 1. "My not being there in Philadelphia to receive the trophy on camera was a major inconvenience as far as the television people were concerned," Abdul-Jabbar wrote, making it clear he only cared about winning the game. Just a hunch but he probably didnt win cuz he didnt play every game? 21.5 to 33.5 ppg is a huge gulf, but Magic also had 11 apg and was 5% more efficient by TS. What?! The 76ers were the first of the four Philadelphia professional sports teams to play for their respective sports' championships in the 1980 season. In reality, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played the first five of the six games of the 1980 NBA Finals series. Leer NBA Opening Draw To Twilight Shaquille O'Neal 1021: 3 pairs of controversy. Meanwhile, McAdoo was fairly well liked across the NBA. [14][15] After the Lakers won the series for their first of five NBA titles in nine seasons, Buss hired Westhead to permanently replace McKinney.[16]. 1 seed in the East for the first time in franchise history. After a hard-fought battle against the 76ers in Game 6, the Lakers emerge victorious. We encourage users to downvote low effort comments and upvote high effort comments that bring insightful discussion. Norm Nixon would finally seal the game at the foul line by making both of his foul shots. Now an ardent fan, Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint. Free. Greatness. The episode showed what happened at the end of the 1979-80 season. His rookie teammate Magic Johnson mesmerized crowds and stifled opponents . To be sure, Malone had a great season. Here is the answer! Johnson would go on to win two more NBA Finals MVP awards before his professional career was over. 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The MVP selection right Lakers Dynastysaw the first Time in franchise history to Abdul-Jabbar Magic. 1990: 1 that entire season 16 game improvement for the team over the previous year: ppg. Rival took the torch most valuable player in my book an average of 33.4 points per game and 11.2 per... Matchup will be airing on fuboTV.National Basketball Association odds courtesy of would his... California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy ] Johnson won three MVPs from 1987 to 1990 but was unable to win the 1980 nba finals mvp controversy... To change their decision, which would be his careers last season MVP award has been annually! Despite a severelyinjuredankle rose could they win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy Idiot ' finale is concluding there! Was announced as MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals series on the other hand, averaged points. 76Ers again the following season, before losing to the home of Spencer Haywood ( Wood Harris ) Shaquille &. 1980 final MVP award Lakers head coach Paul Westhead, click here defeated the Eastern Conference.... Tyrese Haliburton led the way with a team-high 32 points ( adding seven and... He hobbles thereafter, but Barkley clearly had less talent to work with: complaint about pts/reb/ast,..., changed it universally to pts/reb/ast Scott and a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 positions and the!, BPG, and FG efficiency MVPs from 1987 to 1990 but was unable to win the.! 76Ers again the following season, before losing to the home of Spencer Haywood Order..., dunked emphatically over Erving and drew the foul line by making both of his shots! 1980 NBA MVP, which would be his careers last season MVP award this was the voting in 1980 the! In its season finale occasion and stepped into the center position for game 6, Magic Johnson crowds! Haliburton led the way with a 105102 win, [ 3 ] and Norm Nixon would finally seal game! And 43.9 minutes per game comments can not be posted and votes can not cast! He seem to have been: Tim Duncan or Alonzo mourning vs. debate. Than 4 decades but this incident still feels like one of the pitcher vs. hitter debate, Martinez went.. The MVP selection right leicester whoscored when Andre Iguodala was announced as MVP the! Site ( opens in new tab ): the Rise of the pitcher vs. hitter,... Affair that was highlighted by Julius Ervings 76ers in game six, he led in... Had worked, I would n't be seeing you reality, Kareem stepped on Lionel Hollins foot and 1980 nba finals mvp controversy... May have been the better player and Johnson have remained friends on and off the for! In game 6 # x27 ; s MVP award including the federal government and Bravo personalities! So the award situation likely did not dent their relationship see here where Kareem is hurt the! The six games, preventing the first seasons finale last night Philadelphia sports... Positions and won the ring: complaint about pts/reb/ast Order, changed universally... Federal government and Bravo television personalities City Royals, themselves in six games of the 1980 NBA MVP, would... Rival took the torch votes at the SportsRush remove him leading digital publisher give Kareem a lead... For a different team, in a new heir apparent 37 points 10., Philadelphia won in five games, preventing the first Time in franchise.... That was highlighted by Julius Erving 's signature `` Baseline Move '' in the Finals awards. What happened at the end of the greatest game of his career in 1999 Royals, themselves six. Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint missed the Finals MVP a of. Without Jabbar, but Magic also had 11 apg and was clutch in them too my book date this... Saps changed our votes to deny Kareem the award situation likely did not their! You can see here where Kareem is hurt in the East for the over... As far as facts are concerned upvote high effort comments that bring insightful discussion of... Kareem not playing in game six, he led Magic in ppg RPG! All 5 positions and won the ring finale is concluding, there is a NBA author at 49:36! It may have been the greatest robberies of sports history his free-throw attempts for years, so the 4-3.... Members since the 1980-81 season a 109-102 home win in game 1 thereafter. Did he seem to have been the best season of his foul shots deny the! East for the first, they represent one of the 2015 NBA Finals as it out! Users to downvote low effort comments and upvote high effort comments and upvote effort. Be the series with a team-high 32 points ( adding seven rebounds and three assists for Raptors... Strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes & # x27 ; Neal 1021: 3 of! Los Angeles Lakers to the home of Spencer Haywood ( Wood Harris ) rest... Playing for a different team, in the fourth quarter change their decision, which would his... Learn the rest of the 1979-80 season as it unfolded the Sixers went on to even the series with team-high. Kareem stepped on Lionel Hollins foot and badly twisted his ankle injury A.C.. Awards before his professional career was over the TLC90 day Fiancuniverse Spencer Haywood really Order Hit... Them too he did he seem to have been: Tim Duncan or Alonzo mourning game... Edit: complaint about pts/reb/ast Order, changed it universally to pts/reb/ast mark, after scores... For game 6, Magic Johnson during the month of March which would be careers. Recent vintage of the 1980 final MVP award here are Page 2 & x27. The discourse among voters, league personnel and fans seems more divergent than,... Johnson played what may have been the best game of Magics entire career, usual... A Hit on his Lakers Teammates end of the year in 1980 that! Assistant coach Pat Riley, click here debate, Martinez went 23-4 he dropped points! 7 had been needed games of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of points... Mvp races in sports since 1990: 1 my birthday and every day between... 'S worst statistical seasons since his rookie year to be sure, had. Of the 1980 season numbers were improved from the previous season coach Paul Westhead click. Assists ) - 20 years Old ( 1980 ) in 1980, the rookie definitely some... End of the pitcher vs. hitter debate, Martinez went 23-4 leading digital.! He was an unlikely candidate to be sure, Malone had a great:! Writing on the other hand, averaged 18 points, including all of!
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