1980 NBA Finals Game 6: Magic Johnson's rookie double-double

The birth of Showtime: Magic Johnson's rookie masterpiece.

The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the NBA's 1979–80 season. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games to win their seventh NBA championship.

Quick Facts

Event: 1980 NBA Finals Game 6
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Key player: Magic Johnson
Team affiliation: Los Angeles Lakers (Not Brooklyn Nets)
Outcome: Lakers win Championship
Historical significance: Rookie double-double in Finals clincher

Lore & Background

In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. Playing on the road, Johnson started at center and eventually played all five positions, scoring a game-high 42 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds, with seven assists. Jamaal Wilkes added 37 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson's performance earned him the 1980 NBA Finals MVP. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the league's MVP, suffered a severely sprained ankle in Game 5 and did not play in Game 6. This was the first NBA Finals to make use of the three-point line, which debuted that season. Many consider this victory as the birth of Showtime.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers won the series 4–2. Game 1: Lakers 109, 76ers 102. Game 2: 76ers 107, Lakers 104. Game 3: Lakers 111, 76ers 101. Game 4: Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move. Game 5: Lakers won to take a 3–2 lead. Game 6: Lakers won behind Magic Johnson's 42 points and 15 rebounds.