Magic Johnson played the game of basketball with swag and redefined the point guard position.
It was a no-brainer for the Los Angeles Lakers to pick Magic Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft.
Johnson was coming on the heels of an incredible NCAA career and he had an impressive aura around him. In fact, Magic was the perfect face for the Lake Show during the 1980s.
As a point guard, Johnson depicted his playmaking skills while orchestrating the Lakers’ offense. It’s no surprise that he is considered the greatest point guard of all time.
During the 1980s, Magic was at the center of the NBA’s boom alongside his Boston Celtics rival Larry Bird. To this day, many fans sing praise about Johnson’s craft on the court.
In an exclusive interview with NBA Analysis Network, Sports 1 Marketing CEO David Meltzer revealed why Johnson was his favorite player to watch play live.
“Magic Johnson was my favorite player to watch live. Magic wasn’t just a point guard—he was a conductor orchestrating a symphony,” Meltzer said.
He added: “His vision and ability to make everyone around him better were unmatched. Watching him was a masterclass in teamwork and leadership.”
Meltzer essentially says watching Magic was like watching an artist at work. It’s no surprise that the 12x NBA All-Star helped the Purple and Gold win five championships during his career.
At 6’9″ Johnson was never your conventional point guard. In fact, most players of his stature usually end up playing as forwards in the NBA.
But who is to say that a forward or center cannot control the team’s offense like Johnson? On that note, Meltzer believes that Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is the closest player to the Lakers legend in the league right now.
“The closest comparison in today’s game would be Nikola Jokic. Like Magic, Jokic makes the players around him better with his court vision and selflessness,” he continued.
“He’s redefining the position by showing how big men can be facilitators and leaders, just like Magic redefined the point guard role,” Meltzer concluded.
Read More: Where Nikola Jokic now ranks in all-time triple-doubles as Denver Nuggets star registers number 139
The Joker has always been praised for his all-round game despite being a center standing tall at 6’11”. Jokic is expected to go down as one of the best players of all time.
Related Posts
