Magic Johnson

As predictably as the rising sun, Los Angeles Lakers megastar Magic Johnson saved his best for the Boston Celtics. Down by a single point in the final seconds of a 1987 NBA Finals rematch on December 11, 1987, Johnson knew exactly where he needed to catch the rock out of an inbound scheme in order to silence his long-time rivals. Cutting backdoor against a defender on the perimeter, the 6-foot-9 legend corrals an inbound pass in stride, leaps off one leg and buries a go-ahead bucket off glass. For Johnson, it was two points in an 18-point, eight-rebound, 17-assist masterpiece, a regular-season triumph worth a celebratory walk-off; for his cross-country foes, a stark reminder of the purple and gold dynasty that dominated so much of the previous decade.

Championship Year

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