How did the Lakers get Magic Johnson in the draft?

Johnson was the Lakers first round choice (first overall) in the 1979 NBA Draft, becoming the club's first-ever overall number one selection. The Lakers acquired the pick as compensation from New Orleans when the Jazz signed free agent guard Gail Goodrich prior the 1976-77 campaign (won coin flip with Chicago).

Who owned the Lakers when Magic Johnson was drafted?

This article contains spoilers for Episode 1 and Episode 2 of “Winning Time.” HBO's “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” chronicles the Lakers' glorious and glitzy “Showtime” era, beginning in 1979 when Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) bought the Lakers and added Magic Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) to the roster.

How did Lakers get #1 draft pick 1979?

The Lakers had acquired a first-round pick in the 1979 NBA draft from New Orleans when the Jazz signed Gail Goodrich as a free agent before the 1976-77 season. That pick turned out to be the No. 1 overall selection when the Jazz finished with the league's worst record in 1978-79.

How did Lakers get #1 pick in 1982?

The Lakers ended up with the first overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft as the result of a trade with Cleveland midway through the 1979-80 season, when the Lakers had sent Don Ford and a 1980 first-round pick (eventually Chad Kinch) to the Cavaliers for Butch Lee and their 1982 selection.

How did the Lakers get the pick for James Worthy?

The Lakers won the coin toss against the San Diego Clippers and received the first pick, with which they selected Worthy. As a result, the Lakers became the first and only team to acquire the top pick in the Draft after having won that season's championship.

How did Larry Bird get drafted?

Five teams, including the Pacers who held the third pick, passed on Bird until the Celtics used the sixth pick to draft him. They drafted him even though they knew that they might lose the exclusive rights to him if he didn't sign before the next draft.

Why wasnt Larry Bird in the draft?

The Los Angeles Lakers having the first pick in the 1979 NBA draft should've meant they had the freedom to draft any player. However, the reason the Lakers couldn't draft Larry Bird is that he was already a member of the Boston Celtics by this point.

How much did Magic Johnson get drafted for?

Except... Johnson didn't ultimately get that $600,000. Despite the initially reported contract numbers, Magic actually signed for $500,000 thanks to Jack Kent Cooke, who owned the Lakers up until 1980.

Who drafted Magic Johnson?

Draft selections and draftee career notes. Magic Johnson from NCAA champion Michigan State University, one of the "hardship" players, was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson, who had just finished his sophomore season in college, became the first underclassman to be drafted first overall.

How did Larry Bird get drafted before Magic?

Bird was drafted by the Celtics after his junior year at Indiana State (1978) but did not play professionally until the 1979–80 season, when he won the Rookie of the Year award after contributing to one of the largest single-season turnarounds in NBA history (a 32-win improvement).

Who drafted ahead of Larry Bird?

The final player drafted ahead of Larry Bird, Purvis Short. He was drafted fifth overall by the Golden State Warriors and had a solid rookie year, averaging 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.

Why did Jerry West leave the Lakers in 1979?

Once Jerry West emerges from his secluded state, his wife says that she can't keep dealing with the effects coaching has on his mood and their marriage. As a result, Winning Time episode 2 heavily implies that Jerry West quits coaching the Lakers to help keep his marriage healthy and happy.

Why did Magic Johnson retire?

On November 7, 1991, basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson stuns the world by announcing his sudden retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers, after testing positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

How many 3s did Magic Johnson make?

Magic Johnson drained 325 three-pointers in his career.

How much did Magic Johnson pay for the Lakers?

In 1981, after the 1980–81 season, Johnson signed a 25-year, $25 million contract with the Lakers (equivalent to $75,000,000 in 2021), which was the highest-paying contract in sports history up to that point.

Did Magic and Bird get drafted same year?

1979 NBA Draft

If Larry Bird being taken in 1978 was important, so too was the Los Angeles Lakers' selection of Magic Johnson in 1979.

How much was Magic Johnson's rookie contract?

Magic Johnson rookie contract

The highest paid player at the time was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, also of the Lakers. He was on around $650,000, so Johnson asked for $600,000. Cooke scoffed at the idea – offering Magic Johnson a rookie contract worth around $460,000 per Sportrac.

Why is Johnson called Magic?

Johnson was first called “Magic” when he was a star at Everett High School. He was given the nickname by a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. (Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, thought the nickname was blasphemous.)