Long before the NBA introduced its highly advanced draft lottery system, the future of a franchise was decided by a mere coin toss. From 1966 to 1984, the No. 1 pick was determined by a coin flip between the two worst teams from each conference. As expected, this was also the case back in 1979’s NBA draft, which featured none other than one of the most skilled guards ever, Magic Johnson, who was coming straight out of Michigan State University.

During that year, the two teams between whom the coin toss was supposed to take place were the New Orleans Jazz and the Chicago Bulls. However, unfortunately, the Jazz decided to trade their pick to the already competitive Los Angeles Lakers. While it was the Bulls who were in dire need of a superstar, the basketball gods favored the Purple & Gold, as they won the coin toss and Johnson’s sweepstakes.

However, Magic Johnson has now revealed that even if the coin had landed in Chicago’s favor, he wouldn’t have suited up for the Windy City.

“What people don’t know, if Chicago had won, I could have gone back to school. At that time, you can opt to go back to school,” Johnson said on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, when the host asked him about his unique draft experience. “Oh, yeah. I would have went back to Michigan State.”

If you are wondering why, then Johnson had two major reasons.

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As Johnson told the LA Times way back in 1991, “The only reason I came out was to play with Kareem and the Lakers.” And so, he’d rather have “stayed in school.” Furthermore, as Jeff Pearlman in his book Showtime says:

“The last place he (Johnson) wanted to go was Chicago, what with its awful winters (he was never one for the snow) and perennially dreadful basketball teams. The Bulls played in dumpy Chicago Stadium, and put forth an uninspired roster highlighted by the likes of Andre Wakefield and Wilbur Holland.”

So, yes, Los Angeles’ palm trees were far more compelling, and that coin toss set into motion the famous Showtime era, changing the course of Johnson’s life. And though Magic declared for the draft as a 19-year-old sophomore because “I wanted to play pro badder. I wanted a challenge, something I can strive for,” he clearly didn’t see that happening in Chicago.

Yet, as per Johnson, his arrival in L.A. was also a blessing in disguise for the Chicago Bulls.

Magic Johnson believes the coin toss worked out “perfectly” for LA as well as Chicago

No doubt that not winning the sweepstakes for the hottest player in the country back then must have stung the Chicago Bulls front office. The storied franchise was struggling at the time and needed a potential superstar to take it to new heights. And if Magic Johnson did join them, he’d probably have led them to a few championships. However, it would’ve stripped them of the greatest player in their entire history, Michael Jordan.

If the coin had landed in Chicago’s favor, they’d probably not be the worst team in the conference a few years later in 1984. And if that were the case, they would have absolutely zero chances of drafting Jordan. That’s exactly why Magic Johnson is content with how everything turned out.

“I’m happy it turned out the way it did,” Johnson told Jennifer Husdson on her show. “Because there would be no Michael in Chicago and no Magic in LA. So it worked out perfect.”

So, the puzzle pieces fit neatly. The Los Angeles Lakers landed Magic Johnson, who would go on to have a legendary career, winning five rings with the historic franchise. Meanwhile, the Bulls got Michael Jordan, whose arrival initiated one of the most dominant eras of a team in the league’s history. All in all, destiny worked its course, leading the two greats to where they were meant to be.