Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird are two of the greatest basketball players in history, and their rivalry on the court is legendary. Magic Johnson was born on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. He grew up playing basketball and honed his skills at Everett High School, where he led his team to a state championship in 1977. From there, he went on to play college basketball at Michigan State University, where he won the NCAA championship in 1979 and was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. Johnson's professional career began in 1979 when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the first overall pick. He quickly made an impact, winning the NBA Finals in his rookie season and earning the NBA Finals MVP award.
“Earvin, do you know there is a 6’8 or 6’9 kid somewhere in a gym in this country and he’s got all your skills - is he going to out work you?” Fox said. “A year later, I’m talking to him somewhere and he said, ‘hey coach, do you remember that story you told me about somebody outworking me? I found him.’”
Each story worth telling has an absorbing main character taking on a captivating adversary - and there are few sporting rivalries where two great talents are as intertwined as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The two men quickly established themselves as the budding stars of the league, with Bird beating his rival to the Rookie of the Year award while Johnson won Finals MVP to cap off his debut campaign with the NBA title.
He quickly made an impact, winning the NBA Finals in his rookie season and earning the NBA Finals MVP award. Over the course of his career, Johnson won five NBA championships with the Lakers and was named the league's Most Valuable Player three times. He was known for his flashy style of play, incredible passing ability, and infectious smile.
Magic Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird sparked greatest NBA Finals battle ever
Each story worth telling has an absorbing main character taking on a captivating adversary - and there are few sporting rivalries where two great talents are as intertwined as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
They first crossed paths after Johnson had completed his debut season in college, where his Michigan State team lost to eventual national champion Kentucky in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championship. George Fox, Johnson’s high school coach, recalled the story of how Magic realised that he and Bird were cut from the same cloth.
“Earvin, do you know there is a 6’8 or 6’9 kid somewhere in a gym in this country and he’s got all your skills - is he going to out work you?” Fox said. “A year later, I’m talking to him somewhere and he said, ‘hey coach, do you remember that story you told me about somebody outworking me? I found him.’”
Johnson and Bird were invited as part of an elite group of players selected to represent the United States. Johnson saw Bird hitting shot after shot in training and while the two had never played together before, their on-court chemistry came easily due to their immense talent.
“We got into the game and we started throwing no-look passes, and he started hitting long jump shots,” Johnson said. “One time I came down and threw a no-look to Larry, he got it, threw a no-look back to me, and I laid it up - and the people went nuts!
“After that, I went back and told everybody: Larry Bird, he’s for real.”
The respect was mutual, as Bird added: “I knew I was going to see him a lot.”
Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers lost to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics to earn the point guard the label 'Tragic Magic' (
Image: Carl Skalak /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)During the 1978-79 season, Michigan State once again qualified for the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the final to take on Bird’s Indiana State for the championship. Bird had inspired the Sycamores to a 33-0 record and he, like Johnson, was becoming a household name within the American sporting landscape.
The 1979 NCAA Championship Game began to cause a divide across the States; not only was it powered by racial connotations, but it was the city and urban Magic taking on the country Bird - and they were clearly the two best players in college basketball. Bird said: “You couldn’t turn on the TV without people talking about Magic-Bird - it was everywhere.”
The game remains the most-watched college basketball game ever, with 35.1 million viewers tuning into NBC to watch the Spartans emerge 75-64 winners while Magic was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
Ultimately, the title match foreshadowed the rivalry between the two Hall of Famers that defined the NBA for a decade. Not only would they vie for individual honours, but they would contest the NBA Finals on three occasions as the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics captivated the nation in the 1980s
The two men quickly established themselves as the budding stars of the league, with Bird beating his rival to the Rookie of the Year award while Johnson won Finals MVP to cap off his debut campaign with the NBA title. They finally met on the biggest stage in the 1984 NBA Finals, pitting two storied franchises with an iconic history against one another once again.
The Lakers and Celtics contested the Finals on seven occasions between 1959 and 1969, with Boston emerging on top each time. The contest was massively anticipated and once again it was because of what the two players - willingly or not - represented. In They Call Me Magic, actor Samuel L. Jackson said: “The attitude of the country was the Lakers were black America’s team, and the Celtics were white America’s team.”
The Lakers took Game 1 in Boston before a Magic error meant the Lakers didn’t get a shot off to send the game to overtime, where the Celtics claimed the win. Game 3 was won by Los Angeles at a canter, with Johnson’s 21 assists inspiring the Lakers to a dominant 137-104 win.
The Celtics chose to use physicality to disrupt the Showtime Lakers in Game 4, and Magic missed two crucial free throws with the game tied. Boston won and went on to claim the series in seven games, with Johnson being labelled ‘tragic’ - much to the glee of Bird.
“The trophies and the rings and all that didn’t matter; it was all about beating the Lakers and beating Earvin,” Bird said. “That’s all that mattered.”
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson battled for the final time in the NBA Finals in 1987 ( Image: Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) Do you think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's rivalry is the greatest in NBA history? Let us know in the comments section.
Johnson and the Lakers earned their shot at revenge just 12 months later. Magic provided a remarkable 14 assists per game to lead Los Angeles to their first championship win over the Celtics in six games, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar securing the Finals MVP award.
With the pair level with one title win over the other apiece, Johnson and Bird met again for the final time in the NBA Finals in 1987. Bird was the reigning champion after reclaiming the Larry O’Brien trophy the year before, defeating the Houston Rockets 4-2 with the former Indiana State claiming MVP honours in the series.
The 1987 NBA Finals were the most watched Finals in history at that point, with both American and international fans tuning in to watch the final chapter of one of sport’s greatest rivalries. Both Bird and Johnson knew the weight of the occasion; it was not just about bragging rights for their respective cities, but about defining their respective legacies once and for all.
“One of us was going to take the championship lead over each other!” Magic said. “That was between Larry and I, and I had to make sure that was going to be my team that was up 2-1 because I had to have the edge.
“We were a fine-tuned machine, and that was our best team - if not the greatest team ever in NBA history.”
Johnson secured another Finals MVP in what was Abdul-Jabbar’s final series. Magic put up 26.2 points, 13.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game as Los Angeles claimed the championship in six games, with Johnson even scoring an iconic shot that became known as the ‘baby sky hook’ to win Game 4.
The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. Between the two players, they won eight NBA titles, five Finals MVP awards, six league MVP awards, and a whopping 24 All-Star appearances.
The rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird transformed the NBA, and spanned from when they were in college all the way to legends of the sport - and it has gone down as one of the greatest feuds in sporting history.
They Call Me Magic is streaming on Apple TV+
An exploration of the fierce rivalry between NBA superstars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson during their decade of dominance.
Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana. Like Johnson, he also excelled in basketball from a young age. Bird played high school basketball in French Lick, Indiana, and earned a scholarship to Indiana University. However, he ultimately decided to transfer to Indiana State University, where he led the Sycamores to the NCAA championship game in 1979, facing off against Johnson's Michigan State team. Though they lost that game, Bird still had an outstanding performance and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year. Bird was drafted sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1978 NBA Draft but decided to return to Indiana State for his senior year. After graduating, he joined the Celtics in 1979 and quickly established himself as one of the league's premier players. Bird won three NBA championships with the Celtics and was named the NBA Finals MVP twice. He was known for his incredible shooting ability, basketball IQ, and intense competitiveness. Throughout their careers, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had fierce battles on the court. Their rivalry started in college and carried over into the NBA, where they faced each other in three NBA Finals. Their individual skills and team success pushed each other to new heights, and their matchups were must-watch events. In addition to their on-court rivalry, Johnson and Bird had a deep respect and friendship off the court. They starred together in the iconic "Converse: Weapon" commercials and even played on several Olympic teams together, including the 1992 "Dream Team." They both retired from basketball in the early 1990s but remained influential figures in the sport. Magic Johnson went on to have a successful career in business and became an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness after announcing his diagnosis in 1991. Larry Bird became a successful coach and executive in the NBA, guiding the Indiana Pacers to several playoff appearances and serving as the team's President of Basketball Operations. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's impact on the game of basketball cannot be overstated. They brought excitement, skill, and intensity to the court and helped popularize the sport around the world. Their rivalry and friendship will forever be remembered as one of sports' greatest stories..
Reviews for "Larry Bird: The Man with the Golden Touch"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really hoping to learn more about the legendary basketball players Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but this biography fell flat for me. The book lacked depth and detail, only providing surface-level information about their careers. Additionally, I found the writing style to be dull and uninspiring. Overall, I was disappointed with this biography and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an in-depth exploration of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
2. Sarah - 1 star
As a fan of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, I was excited to read their biography. However, this book failed to meet my expectations. The writing was disjointed and lacked cohesiveness, making it difficult to follow their individual stories. The author seemed more focused on comparing the two players rather than delving into their personal lives and achievements. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wanting more substance from this biography.
3. Michael - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the "Magic and Bird biography," but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The book provided a brief overview of their basketball careers but failed to capture the essence of who Magic Johnson and Larry Bird truly were as individuals. I was expecting more personal anecdotes and insights into their lives, but instead, the biography read like a regurgitation of commonly known facts. For fans looking for a captivating and in-depth exploration of these two basketball icons, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I found the "Magic and Bird biography" to be quite disappointing. The book lacked depth and failed to provide any unique perspectives on Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The author relied heavily on previously known information and didn't offer any fresh insights or analysis. As a fan of both players, I was hoping for more behind-the-scenes stories and a deeper understanding of their journeys. I would not recommend this biography to anyone seeking a comprehensive look at Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's lives and careers.
5. Thomas - 1 star
I was extremely let down by the "Magic and Bird biography." The book felt rushed and poorly researched, with countless inaccuracies and inconsistencies throughout. The lack of attention to detail was evident, and it made me question the credibility of the entire biography. I would advise readers to seek out a more reliable and well-written account of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's lives if they are truly interested in learning about these basketball legends.