History happens when legends reveal what they’re capable of. Short-handed in a pivotal 1980 NBA Finals matchup, first-year Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson puts his acclaimed versatility to the test under the brightest lights his sport has to offer. Filling in for a superstar teammate at the center position, the 20-year-old rookie holds his own matched up against a formidable Philadelphia 76ers frontcourt, grinding and battling his way to an iconic Game 6 victory. Johnson’s instant classic 42-point, 15-rebound, seven-assist performance on May 16, 1980 gave the franchise its first of five titles in an unforgettable nine-year stretch.

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson fills in at center, clinches title with 1980 Finals performance

As both a legendary passer and defender, Maurice Cheeks was a nightly threat to post an unorthodox triple-double. The longtime Philadelphia 76er puts both skills on display, first dislodging a steal on the defensive end and racing the other way in transition. Pushing the ball up the floor at a frenetic pace, Cheeks —in his second of three straight All-Star selections — confronts two defenders in the lane before making the decision to dish a graceful touch pass to a waiting teammate. The four-time NBA All-Defensive first team member tormented the San Antonio Spurs with his patented two-way attack, tallying 17 points, 18 assists and eight steals in his squad’s 114-97 triumph on November 7, 1986.

Maurice Cheeks

Maurice Cheeks turns defensive stop into dime in 18-assist performance

In a season where he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Cooper was quick to remind opponents of his equally dynamic offensive skill set. First displaying those chops that earned him selections on five NBA All-Defensive First Teams, the longtime Los Angeles Lakers wing uses his length to deflect a pass. Scooping up the steal, Cooper finds himself alone with the basket, opting to throw down a two-handed reverse jam to the delight of an awestruck home crowd. The New York Knicks were no match for the Lakers and Cooper, who put together a 15-point performance on an efficient 6-for-7 shooting to pair with four assists and three steals in the 111-88 win on November 9, 1986.

Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper intercepts pass, throws down memorable reverse slam on far end

Anyone who thinks efficiency was boring probably never saw Adrian Dantley play. Knowing that his Detroit Pistons frontcourt mates were skilled at gobbling up defensive rebounds, Dantley instinctively races the other way in anticipation of a Philadelphia 76ers miss. After catching a long outlet pass, the six-time All-Star adds some razzle dazzle to a routine finish, badly fooling the lone defender left in front of him by wrapping the ball around his back and capping the play with a stylish deuce. A bonafide scorer, Dantley was his normal efficient self, posting 27 points, four rebounds and four assists in his squad’s 120-110 road triumph on November 21, 1986.

Adrian Dantley

Adrian Dantley wraps ball around back to lose defender en route to bucket

Scoring a career-high in points is a good time, punctuating the performance with a signature highlight reel windmill is timeless. Showing the relentless drive for the ball that made him one of his generation’s greatest scorers, Dominique Wilkins proves he could do damage on both ends of the court, disrupting two Chicago Bulls passes before coming up with a steal at halfcourt. The nine-time All-Star’s length does the rest, finessing his way in front of a defender and gliding all alone toward the basket for an authoritative jam. Wilkins was unstoppable in one of the best games of his career, pouring in an eye-popping 57 points — converting 19 of 28 field goals and 19 of 21 free throws — to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in the Atlanta Hawks’ 123-95 triumph on December 10, 1986.

Dominique Wilkins

Dominique Wilkins throws down windmill in career 57-point night

In the annals of NBA history, countless players have earned catchy nicknames, but few were more spot on than Clyde Drexler’s. Known to many as ‘The Glide’ for his seemingly effortless and graceful strides to the basket, the Portland Trail Blazers legend and Hall of Famer reminds the Dallas Mavericks of his prowess. Following a rejection on the defensive end, Portland pushes the counterattack, with Drexler using his quickness to get behind the entire defense in transition, finishing with an emphatic one-handed slam. It was a routinely spectacular night at the office for Drexler, who produced 24 points, six rebounds and eight assists on December 10, 1986.

Clyde Drexler

Clyde Drexler glides to the hoop in customary fashion in transition

Long before Patrick Ewing became a Hall of Fame center, opposing defenses were still finding out the hard way that double and triple teams did little to slow down the legendary New York Knicks big man. In just his second season — the second of 13 consecutive campaigns in which he averaged at least 20 points per game — Ewing catches an entry pass in the post with his back to the basket and three Atlanta Hawks defenders draped all over him. The 11-time All-Star patiently waits for the right moment to strike, pivoting around the defensive wall and posterizing one unfortunate Atlanta challenger with an authoritative one-handed slam. Ewing torched the Hawks for 43 points on 16-for-20 shooting and added six rebounds, two assists and three blocks on December 13, 1986.

Patrick Ewing

Patrick Ewing outmaneuvers three defenders for power slam in 43-point showing

At 7-foot-2, Artis Gilmore is known by basketball historians to be one of the NBA’s first truly great gentle giants — that is, until you tried to score on him. Despite his low-key demeanor, the A-Train was a force of nature down low, issuing a reminder to the Denver Nuggets what happens when you enter his domain. The six-time All-Star completely neutralizes a layup attempt, meeting the hopeful scorer at the rim and earning a demonstrative block off the glass. Also an elite rebounder who averaged double digits over the course of a Hall of Fame career, Gilmore remained a force of nature at age 37, providing 24 points, five rebounds and three blocks in a San Antonio Spurs battle on December 27, 1986.

Artis Gilmore

Artis Gilmore leaps across paint to swat transition layup

Elite ball handlers like Derek Harper need little more than a blink of the eye to make a defense look lost in the woods. Before the New York Knicks have a chance to react, Harper already has them beat, catching an outlet pass at halfcourt. Faking a behind-the-back pass to a teammate, Harper changes course at the same moment, instead deciding to rise up just inside the foul line for a barely-contested layup. Despite having two defenders in front of him, Harper conquers both in a split second, with the fake out part of his 17-point performance that also included three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks in a 108-103 road win for the Dallas Mavericks on January 13, 1987.

Derek Harper

Derek Harper fakes behind-back pass, leaps into tough transition layup

Confidence, baby. Confidence. On many nights, despite the defense’s best efforts, Rolando Blackman would not be denied. Shaking himself free from a one-on-one matchup at the top of the key, the longtime Dallas Mavericks shooting guard surveys his options before realizing that the best chance for a bucket rests on his shoulders. Blackman takes one dribble into the lane before sheer instinct takes over, rising high into the air for a picture perfect finger roll. The New York Knicks had zero answers for the four-time All-Star’s efficiency, as Blackman converted 12 of 18 field goals and 17 of 19 free throws on his way to a 41-point, four-rebound, six-assist effort in a 108-103 victory on January 13, 1987.

Rolando Blackman

Rolando Blackman slips into the paint for finger roll

Power forwards who can put the ball on the floor unlock an entirely new level of opportunities. Terry Cummings forces the Dallas Mavericks to pick their poison, surveying the scene in the halfcourt offense before driving strong toward the basket, seemingly hunting for a layup in traffic. Then, while in mid-air, the Milwaukee Bucks mainstay changes course, deciding to whip an acrobatic pass around his defender to a wide open teammate, who finishes the job by burying a jumper. The two-time All-Star fooled the defense all game, tallying 39 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists and six steals in the overtime contest on January 16, 1987.

Terry Cummings

Terry Cummings maneuvers through paint, throws leaping kickout pass for dime

You don’t become an NBA champion five times in 16 years without fully understanding the benefits of teamwork and relentless defense. Ron Harper recognized instantly as a rookie that doing the little things right separates good players from legends, turning a routine defensive possession into a pure hustle play. Eyeing a teammate in the post who drew the unfortunate assignment of guarding a Boston Celtics legend, Harper’s basketball instincts take over, drifting into the low block with unselfish help defense and swatting the shot from behind. Harper made significant impacts on both ends, finishing with 30 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and a steal on January 16, 1987.

Ron Harper

Ron Harper leaps into position to swat opponent's post move out to the baseline

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