Magic Johnson Era Culture

Lore & Background

The era began after Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 and sought to combine winning basketball with the atmosphere of Los Angeles entertainment. Buss encouraged an up-tempo style, hired dancers and a live band for home games, and cultivated a celebrity courtside following. Under head coaches Jack McKinney, Paul Westhead, and especially Pat Riley, the Lakers developed one of the NBA's defining dynasties of the 1980s. During the Showtime era, the Lakers won five NBA championships, reached the NBA Finals nine times, and renewed their rivalry with the Boston Celtics, defeating them in the 1985 and 1987 NBA Finals. The era is commonly considered to have ended after the Lakers lost the 1991 NBA Finals to the Chicago Bulls and Magic Johnson retired following his announcement that he had tested positive for HIV.

In Their Own Story

The air inside The Forum was thick with humidity and anticipation, a palpable electric charge that only existed when the Lakers played in their gold and purple. Magic stood at the top of the key, dribbling slowly, his eyes scanning the floor not like a player looking for an opening, but like a conductor waiting for the orchestra to swell. He spotted Kareem cutting backdoor, then snapped his head left, drawing two defenders before whipping a no-look pass behind his back that landed perfectly in Worthy's hands for a thunderous dunk. The crowd erupted, not just at the score, but at the audacity of it all. In the stands, a sea of celebrities and local legends cheered in unison, their flashbulbs popping like fireworks. Magic raised both index fingers to the sky, his smile wide and infectious, embodying the pure joy that had turned a basketball game into the greatest show on earth.

Reader's Guide

The Lakers' offense was built around fast breaks, Magic Johnson's passing, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's half-court scoring, and a deep supporting cast that included Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis, A.C. Green, Jamaal Wilkes, Mychal Thompson, Norm Nixon, and Bob McAdoo. Rebounders would quickly release an outlet pass to Johnson, who would race down the court and distribute the ball for a finishing layup or slam dunk. If the fast break was unavailable, the Lakers relied on Abdul-Jabbar and his signature skyhook. Pat Riley was innovative on defense, employing a 1-3-1 half-court trap to pick up the pace. The Lakers won championships with their defense, and Michael Cooper was one of the top defensive stoppers in the game.

Did You Know?

• The term 'Showtime' was borrowed by Jerry Buss from a nightclub called The Horn in Santa Monica, California.
• The Lakers won back-to-back championships in 1987 (defeating Boston) and 1988 (defeating Detroit).
• Pat Riley guaranteed the Lakers would win the championship again in 1988 after the 1987 Finals, and they fulfilled that guarantee.
• The Lakers and Celtics met in the NBA Finals three times during the Showtime era: 1984, 1985, and 1987.