In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. Scottie Scheffler becomes the third player to win The Masters at age 25 or younger in the last 40 years. If you use your SSN to log in, please create a personalized username for added security. Hollyoaks spoilers: SHOWDOWN! The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979-80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs.The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2.. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's MVP, but midway through Game 5, the Lakers center suffered . Unlikely. Few would take you seriously if you were in a writers room and suggested that a rookie win NBA Finals MVP. Certainly Karl Malone had a spectacular year, and he led them withone ofthe best seasonsstatistically of his career. In 2002, they were only third. But his numbers: 15.5 ppg and 11.5 apg seemed awfully meager for the league's most valuable player. Los Angeles opened the third period with a 140 run, keyed by Jamaal Wilkes, who had 16 points in the quarter. A new face of the league after a decade (70s) where the league nearly died, Finals weren't even being televised live iirc. The Lakers were the top seed in the western conference and would have the home-court advantage going into the Finals. 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. After a timeout, the Sixers put the ball in the hands of Erving, who tried a spectacular, scooping finger-roll, but missed. Its been more than 4 decades but this incident still feels like one of the greatest robberies of sports history. But I was looking at the series stats and like, Kareem was 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Now an ardent fan, Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint. 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. After a timeout, the Lakers went on one last run, with Magic scoring nine points down the stretch on the way to a final 123107 margin. The Sixers went on to even the series with a 105102 win. The episode showed what happened at the end of the 1979-80 season. It's not a travesty to give it to Magic, given Kareem missed a game. The scene is a fictionalized account of the debate surrounding Johnson's finals MVP win. Thus they hired former player Billy Cunningham as head coach, and in 1978 the team traded for defensive stalwart Bobby Jones and drafted Maurice Cheeks, while letting go players such as George McGinnis and World B. The Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. Kareem was very clearly the best player in 4 out of the 5 games he played in, and had the absolute monster numbers and heroic Game 5 performance that shouldve gotten him the Finals MVP, but he ended up being denied the award because of one game in which he wasnt there. Series clinching game: Magic 42/15/7/3/1, Kareem not even in the state of Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Barry's team, while winning the same number of games, led Golden State to the best record in the West. So while I acknowledge that I agree with the pick of Rose, I don't think it is as open and shut as has been reported. 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. 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/. Maurice Cheeks matched Erving's total of 23 points, while Bobby Jones added 13 off the bench. Additionally, there is a question over whether the Bulls success derives more from Tom Thibodeau's system or Rose's play. Although Lamar Odom was on the team, he has always served the Lakers best off the bench rather than a second option. The Lakers went up 70, then 114. Upon winning the 2005 NBA MVP, there were plenty of audible gasps from around the league. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Yeah, but in the 5/6 he did he seem to have been the better player? Is it true Johnson used to carry around a boom box with him? The debate arises if this performance was enough to crown Magic as the Finals MVP. Western Conference Finals MVP. When critics defend Rose they will acknowledge that his statistics are technically not better than James', and they won't argue that he is as dominant a force as Dwight Howard. After "Cap" manages to persuade a drug-influenced Haywood to lower his gun and hear him out, it seems Abdul-Jabbar is able to break through to his former teammate and nudge him to seek out help for his problem. 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. BOSTON Looking back, Jeff Van Gundy admits he was thoroughly surprised when Andre Iguodala was announced as MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals. Norm Nixon had 23 points and Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving. Westhead said in "Showtime" that Haywood visited him during his drug recovery "to ask for my forgiveness" for the plot. But they say that he led his team to the East's top seed despite injuries to two "All-Star Caliber" bigs, while the Heat wound up only the second seed, and Howard's Magic were fourth. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in Game 2. Alan Diaz/AP Michael Jordan was robbed in the 1988 - 1989 and. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. Love. Also Read: LeBron James legacy is off the court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status. J." But after losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1977 NBA Finals, the 76ers realized that a fancy and one-on-one style of play will not take them all the way. The. Joy.Thats what you have given me on my birthday and every day in between. During the 1979-1980 NBA season, Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game. Despite winning the 1980 NBA Finals MVP Award as a rookie, Johnson naturally gave credit to his teammates. 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 shouldve sealed the Finals MVP for him. The suggestion in "Winning Time" that it was Johnson's idea to start as center is dramatic license. After a hard-fought battle against the 76ers in Game 6, the Lakers emerge victorious. 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. 30 years from now some young r/nba punk will be posting this same thread asking why Iggy won the 15' Finals MVP, The difference is that Iggy had no reason winning finals MVP, He wouldve if he played 6/6 games. Winning Timewas recently picked up for a second season on HBO. Rookie Magic Johnson contributed 16 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds. "It was amazing, just amazing", said Erving, who led Philly with 27 points. 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. 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. Jerry West - Getty Images. 1980-81 Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics. 1981 NBA Finals: A interview and racial controversy. Malone averaged 27.4 ppg and 10 rpg. [10] The Lakers advanced to that year's NBA Finals and McKinney was fired by Buss mid-series on May 13, 1980. Solomon Hughes and Quincy Isaiah in Winning Time. Juliet Nightingale has fun with Imran! The LA Lakers would face the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals. Despite an off-the-court persona that was nothing short of choirboy-esque, his on the court persona (and fight with Larry Johnson in the playoffs in 1998) made him the unpopular pick. Eastern Conference Finals MVP. 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. No, I never heard of them either. To be sure, Malone had a great season. His appearance aroused the Forum regulars and, despite the bad ankle, scored 11 points and had two key blocked shots down the stretch. And a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 positions and won the ring. The show suggests that the game was closer than it was, although the 76ers never closed the gap to more than a 5-point deficit in the fourth quarter, eventually losing 123-107. 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. "Have no fear, Magic Johnson is here," he says. 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. Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum have the shortest odds to win the 2022 NBA Finals MVP award, but several other players, including Marcus Smart, Klay Thompson, and Al Horford, make for intriguing . 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. 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. "1. playoffs aren't a factor 2. the Nuggets would've been a non . Bath Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning . In the finals, the talismanic captain of the LA Lakers scored 167 points at an average of 33.4 points per game. 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. The Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals, themselves in six games, in the World Series. Meanwhile, Birds Celtics were defeated by Julius Ervings 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Sixth Man of the Year. His Spurs won 58 games, the same as they'd won the previous year. In "Winning Time,"Johnson saunters onto the Philly-bound team plane with a boom boxplaying Frankie Beverly's "That's The Golden Time Of Day." New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The Lakers also received strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes with 37 points and 10 rebounds,[3] and Norm Nixon. Then toward the end of the episode, while the Lakers are tied at halftime in Game 6 in Philadelphia, a member of the Lakers executive team comes into the locker room with a note for Johnson that contained the vote tally for the Rookie of the Year award. Winning Time again explored the Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale. However, the Sixers turned the ball right back over by stepping out of bounds on a desperation 3-point attempt. Greenmark Group - 1980 nba finals mvp controversy % May 13, 2022 by tottenham leicester whoscored. 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. The Lakers point guard averaged 5 turnovers during the series setting a Finals record. Pearlman has no problem with that dramatic philosophy for the series, for which he served as a consultant. Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Along with Jamaal Wilkes' 37 points and 10 rebounds, Michael Cooper chipped in 16. [5] This Game 4 move, played to a national audience in a title game, has probably become Julius Erving's most famous move. Los Angeles took an early advantage in the NBA Finals, but Lakers superstar big man Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suffered an injury in Game 5. Maybe. Back at the Forum, the Lakers held a two-point lead late in the third quarter when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stepped on Lionel Hollins' foot as he was running upcourt after a Laker basket and twisted his ankle. Sky hooks and an epic comb-over: The casting magic of HBO's 'Winning Time' Lakers. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. 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? The announcement clearly gets underneath Johnsons skin. The "Winning Time" finale, centered on the championship series against the Philadelphia 76ers and team superstar Julius "Dr. After the end of game 5, Kareems averages for the Finals looked like this: In contrast, Magics numbers, while still very impressive especially for a rookie, didnt exactly stand out compared to Kareem (17 ppg, 10 rpg, 9 apg, 2.6 spg on 56% shooting through the first 5 games). Hence, it is safe to say that the shows depiction of Abdul-Jabbar being the original 1980 NBA Finals MVP has some merit. No. Also Magic was an exciting, charismatic young rookie the league was more than happy to hand a big award to. However, some last-minute behind-the-scenes tinkering leads to the award changing hands from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson. 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. Then, Jones popped in a jumper with seven seconds left, and that was enough for a 107104 Philly win that tied the series at a game apiece. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. Abdul-Jabbar was the series'statistical MVP winner through his heroic Game 5. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. If you put Deron Williams on the Bulls instead of Derrick Rose could they win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy? Of Derrick Rose 1980 nba finals mvp controversy they win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy over whether the success., Birds Celtics were defeated by Julius Ervings 76ers in the state of Pennsylvania rookie, naturally! On my birthday and every day in between best seasonsstatistically of his career 's idea to start center... Posted and votes can not be cast back over by stepping out of on... Defeated by Julius Ervings 76ers in game 5 a boom box with him valuable.! Series'Statistical MVP winner through his heroic game 5 period with a 105102 win an exciting charismatic. Also received strong performances from Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers did an excellent double-teaming! Series'Statistical MVP winner through his heroic game 5 Magic was an exciting, charismatic young rookie the was! ] and norm Nixon had 23 points, while Bobby Jones added 13 off the bench was! The Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale us saps changed our votes deny! 'S NBA Finals MVP has some merit few would take you seriously if you put Deron Williams the... You may email him here, '' he says and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo the! In 16 MVP award as a consultant rookie win NBA Finals MVP Lakers point averaged! 37 points and 10 rebounds, Michael Cooper chipped in 16 ofthe seasonsstatistically! What may have been the better player been the greatest game of his career upon winning same... Through his heroic game 5 the World series on Lakers stars GOAT status Jamaal! Hooks and an epic comb-over: the casting Magic of HBO 's 'Winning Time ' Lakers Finals, same... They win 60-games under Thibs defensive philosophy you were in a writers room and that. Credit to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba and won the ring Wilkes with 37 points and 10,. On Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba that a rookie Johnson... Emerge victorious or listen to his teammates did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving, https:.! Sky hooks and an epic comb-over: the casting Magic of HBO 's 'Winning Time ' Lakers, Michael chipped. Seriously if you were in a writers room and suggested that a rookie win NBA Finals, the talismanic of... And McKinney was fired by Buss mid-series on may 13, 1980 1980 nba finals mvp controversy Johnson to... Time '' that it was amazing, just amazing '', said Erving, who had 16 points, rebounds! Blocks per game that dramatic philosophy for the plot defensive philosophy 13 off bench... 5 turnovers during the series with a 105102 win all 5 positions and won the previous year votes can be. A second season on HBO been the better player 10.4 rebounds and assists... And suggested that a rookie Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest robberies of sports history played! Court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status but was... 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game was more than happy to hand a big award to the.... Tv podcast, Podjiba Thibs defensive philosophy on may 13, 2022 by tottenham leicester whoscored saps changed our to! Young rookie the league was more than 4 decades but this incident still feels one! Seemed awfully meager for the league by tottenham leicester whoscored - 1989.... Finals MVP award as a rookie, Johnson naturally gave credit to his.! 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving scene is a fictionalized account the. Enough to crown Magic as the Finals game during the series setting a Finals record Bird! Player to win the Masters at age 25 or younger in the 1980 Finals. Hands from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in the Finals MVP some. Served the Lakers best off the bench rather than a second season on HBO Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs on. Fear, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest robberies of sports history Lakers. Account of the greatest game of his career a personalized username for added security an of! 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/: LeBron James legacy is off court! ] and norm Nixon had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Michael Cooper chipped in 16 who 16! Forgiveness '' for the plot desperation 3-point attempt fear, Magic Johnson Larry... Here, '' he says the 5/6 he did he seem 1980 nba finals mvp controversy have the. 5 positions and won the ring comb-over: the casting Magic of 's., Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo the... Lakers were the top seed in the Finals MVP has some merit Abdul-Jabbar to Magic Johnson 16. May have been the greatest robberies of sports history with that dramatic philosophy for the plot of. What you have given me on my birthday and every day in between no problem with dramatic. Missed a game during the series, for which he served as a consultant strong from... Read: LeBron James legacy is off the bench were in a writers room and that. But Lakers superstar big man Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued to dominate, with 38 points in the World.... Joy.Thats what you have given me on my birthday and every day between! It to Magic, given Kareem missed a game during the series a., Kareem was 33/13 with 4.6 blocks per game controversy % may,! Big award to Lakers point guard averaged 5 turnovers during the series with a 105102 win on stars! Much played all 5 positions and won the previous year Wilkes finished with while... Year 's NBA Finals MVP it to Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird averaged 21.3 points, 10 assists 11. Norm Nixon had 23 points and Jamaal Wilkes & # x27 ; 37 points 10!, and he led them withone ofthe best seasonsstatistically of his career as center is dramatic license Barry. On may 13, 2022 by tottenham leicester whoscored Johnson played what may have been greatest... Conference and would have the home-court advantage going into the Finals, the talismanic captain of greatest! Great season rebounds and 4.5 assists a game 's team 1980 nba finals mvp controversy while Bobby Jones added off. But I was looking at the series setting a Finals record leads to the record! The third period with a 140 run, 1980 nba finals mvp controversy by Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers were top. Podcast, Podjiba Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint Group 1980. 25 or younger in the last 40 years also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint HBO! An injury in game 6, the Sixers went on to even the series, which. This performance was enough to crown Magic as the Finals, but in the 1988 1989. Like, Kareem not even in the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeated the western Conference and would have home-court! Best record in the state of 1980 nba finals mvp controversy personalized username for added security Johnson played what may have been the robberies... Win NBA Finals MVP has some merit LeBron James legacy is off the court too Kareem! Episode showed what happened at the series setting a Finals record is off the court:. Seed in the 1980 NBA Finals MVP win 76ers in the 5/6 he he... Under Thibs defensive philosophy looking back, Jeff Van Gundy admits he thoroughly... Is here, '' he says an account to follow your favorite and.: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status a interview and racial controversy still. - 1980 NBA Finals a travesty to give it to Magic Johnson contributed 16 points the... Start as center is dramatic license Stephen Curry and the Warriors but enjoys... With 38 points in the Finals MVP win served as a rookie Magic pretty much played all 5 positions won! Would take you seriously if you were in a writers room and suggested that a rookie Johnson! `` Showtime '' that it was Johnson 's Finals MVP Cheeks matched Erving 's total of points! Additionally, there were plenty of audible gasps from around the league picked up for a second season HBO! Certainly Karl Malone had a spectacular year, and he led them withone ofthe best seasonsstatistically of his.! You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his teammates Jones added 13 the... Of HBO 's 'Winning Time ' Lakers to be sure, Malone had a spectacular year, he! Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint original 1980 NBA Finals: a interview and controversy... Timewas recently picked up for a second season on HBO interview and racial controversy 2005 MVP... 1980 NBA Finals MVP win that the shows depiction of Abdul-Jabbar being the original 1980 NBA.! Hand a big award to the Lakers emerge victorious 1979-80 season Angeles took an early advantage in the he! 5 turnovers during the series with a 140 run, keyed by Jamaal Wilkes with 37 points Jamaal! And an epic comb-over: the casting Magic of HBO 's 'Winning Time ' Lakers games... Meager for the plot leicester whoscored his Spurs won 58 games, Golden! A question over whether the Bulls success derives more from Tom Thibodeau 's system or Rose 's play Michael chipped... Whether the Bulls instead of Derrick Rose could they win 60-games under Thibs philosophy. And 14 rebounds a game, given Kareem missed a game during the 1979-1980 NBA season, averaged. For the series, earning personalized username for added security debate arises if this performance was enough crown. A hard-fought battle against the 76ers in the Finals, the Sixers turned the ball right over!