| 1980 Nba Finals |
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Information About1980 Nba Finals |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT 1980 NBA FINALS | |
| national basketball association finals | |
| 1980 in basketball | |
| nba finals | |
| los angeles lakers | |
| philadelphia 76ers | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the key to the Los Angeles Lakers ' success (he was named MVP of the league that year). However, in a Game 5 victory, the Laker center suffered a severely sprained ankle. The Lakers led the best-of-seven series three-games-to-two, but were traveling to Philadelphia for game six without their best player, Abdul-Jabbar. Enter , 1980 , in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at Philadelphia. Filling in for the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Magic (a point guard) started the game at center and eventually played every position on the floor in a dominating performance. Scoring a game-high 42 points and grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds (along with passing out 7 assists), Magic Johnson led the Lakers to the NBA Crown , stunning Julius Erving , the Philadelphia 76ers , and a national television audience who came to understand the moniker "Magic." Magic Johnson was thus, named the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player . On a side note, here, during the 1980 Finals, Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, an incredible behind-the-board reverse layup and one of the most spectacular basketball moves ever.
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