Back In The Day NBA, May 16, 1980: Rookie Magic Johnson Puts 42 On Philadelphia 76ers In Lakers' Championship Victory

Magic Johnson filled in at center for injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 win to close out series

On Tuesday night, the NBA world was captivated by which team would get to draft French phenom Victor Wembanyama.  

On the same day 43 years ago, another rookie star had a performance for the ages in the Finals. Magic Johnson had 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a Game 6 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers that clinched the championship. 

"I will be changing from center to forward," Johnson said before the game. "On certain plays, depending on what plays we call, I will be playing some center and forward." 

Johnson, who was just 20 at the time, filled in at center for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It is still considered one of the greatest individual efforts in NBA Finals history. 

"We want to say, `Hey, we did it for you, big fella because you got us here,"' Johnson said. "We don't want to take nothing from him."' 

It was the first of five championships in Johnson's Hall of Fame career. 

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