Los Angeles Lakers Codexery

1980 NBA Championship

The dawn of Showtime.

The 1980 NBA Championship was the Lakers' first title of the Magic Johnson era and their seventh overall, coming after their 1972 championship in Los Angeles.

Quick Facts

Key moment
Game 6 (May 16, 1980)

Lore & Background

The Lakers drafted Magic Johnson first overall in the 1979 NBA draft. Led by Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the team won the championship. Abdul-Jabbar suffered a sprained ankle in Game 5 and missed only Game 6.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals. Magic Johnson started at center in Game 6 in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar and delivered a legendary performance.

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