“Don’t Forget The Ones Who Came Before You”: Los Angeles Lakers Icon Reminds Everyone of His Team’s Dominance in the Past
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The basketball world now gives undivided attention to Michael Jordan ever since the release of ‘The Last Dance.’ However, a former Los Angeles Lakers icon has reminded everyone that his side planted the seed for the rise of every other team in the NBA.
The city of Los Angeles has seen numerous talents represent them in the NBA. The fans will always be up on their feet, cheering for their side, irrespective of the scoreline. And one man who has made his stamp on the team is Magic Johnson.
Magic was selected as the first overall pick in 1979 and won the NBA title in his rookie year. He became one among the very few to win the NCAA and the NBA title in consecutive years. His heroics in Game 6 of the Finals backed the Lakers to get past Dr. J’s Philadelphia 76ers. The 20-year-old rookie had just won the championship against his hero and he couldn’t be any prouder.
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The Los Angeles team seemed to charm the fans with their style of play and under Magic, the ‘Showtime’ Lakers were born. With the unstoppable Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to support him, the tallest point guard in NBA history dazzled opponents with his flamboyant passing and shooting.
Magic says his Los Angeles Lakers team perfected the small ball
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The league has seen many transitions in the way the game is being played. For instance, in the modern era, we see many delicate calls for fouls. This makes players from the past laugh out against them. Things keep changing, and the small ball game was invented to prove as an alternative to the typical physical style of the game.
The small ball focuses on speed and unpredictable shooting to confuse opponents. It is not something new to the NBA, for that should be known. Teams have used this strategy to counter their opponents’ physical dominance and Magic wants to remind everyone how well his Lakers team perfected it.
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Speaking to Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post on a telephone call, Magic was excited to reminisce about his glory days with the Los Angeles Lakers. “We had Kareem, but never forget that we perfected small-ball,” Magic says. “The stuff the Bulls and the Warriors did later on, the Showtime Lakers did all of that before any of them. We proved you could win a different way, and a way that was easy for people to enjoy.”
Of course, the five-time champion had to assert his influence. Though times change and many players come and go, Johnson wants the fans to never forget the team that laid the foundation. “It’s a great game and has been a great game for so many years, from the start. Don’t forget the ones who came before you,” he said.
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