1988 Finals MVP went to Worthy. The final buzzer has sounded on HBO's "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,"showing Earvin"Magic" Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) heroically carrying the "Showtime"-era Lakers to the 1980 NBA championship. He was an unlikely candidate to be the series MVP - after all, his teammate . That equates to a valuable player in my book. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Some of his favorite shows includeThe Crown,WandaVision, Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem. Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum have the shortest odds to win the 2022 NBA Finals MVP award, but several other players, including Marcus Smart, Klay Thompson, and Al Horford, make for intriguing . In the eight years between championships, the Lakers made the NBA Finals again in 1973 and lost to the New York Knicks in five games. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). We hope you enjoyed what we put together here. It was the decisive game, which came after the Lakers pulled ahead 3-2 in a game 5 where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar badly sprained his ankle. Magic Johnson had a spectacular year in 1990. Sky hooks and an epic comb-over: The casting magic of HBO's 'Winning Time' Lakers. 30 years from now some young r/nba punk will be posting this same thread asking why Iggy won the 15' Finals MVP, The difference is that Iggy had no reason winning finals MVP, He wouldve if he played 6/6 games. The chemistry between the three was evident early on, as the Lakers eliminated the Phoenix Suns and defending champions Seattle SuperSonics in a pair of five-game playoff series to advance to the NBA Finals. Johnson on the other hand, averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Kareem was very clearly the best player in 4 out of the 5 games he played in, and had the absolute monster numbers and heroic Game 5 performance that shouldve gotten him the Finals MVP, but he ended up being denied the award because of one game in which he wasnt there. But withAbdul-Jabbar stuck watching the game from his Los Angeles home, giving the award to an empty chair was bad TV. Granted, the Lakers were only a 7th seed this season and won 47 games to make the playoffs after missing them the previous year. After a timeout, the Sixers put the ball in the hands of Erving, who tried a spectacular, scooping finger-roll, but missed. Kareems 14 4th quarter points on a bad ankle gave him 40 for the game, along with 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks on 16-24 from the field. So, whatd you guys think? 5 20 ppg scorers, 9 in double digits. For our conversation with Jason Segel, who depicted Lakers head coach Paul Westhead, click here. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2.[1]. After the end of game 5, Kareems averages for the Finals looked like this: In contrast, Magics numbers, while still very impressive especially for a rookie, didnt exactly stand out compared to Kareem (17 ppg, 10 rpg, 9 apg, 2.6 spg on 56% shooting through the first 5 games). Yeah, but in the 5/6 he did he seem to have been the better player? NBA Opening Draw To Twilight Shaquille O'Neal Vol 2 Chapter 1021: 3 pairs of controversy . 1981 NBA Finals Rockets vs. Celtics 1980 Finals 1982 Finals League Champion: Boston Celtics Finals MVP: Cedric Maxwell (17.7 / 9.5 / 2.8) 1981 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Moses Malone (562) TRB: Moses Malone (305) AST: Maurice Cheeks (116) WS: Moses Malone (3.5) East Conf Semis On this page: All Games in Series Playoff Series Four Factors Johnson, who was named as an All-Star starter during his first year in the league, lost out on Rookie of the Year honors to rival Larry Bird. Back at the Forum, the Lakers held a two-point lead late in the third quarter when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stepped on Lionel Hollins' foot as he was running upcourt after a Laker basket and twisted his ankle. To read our interview with Adrien Brody, who portrayed Lakers assistant coach Pat Riley, click here. Should Kareem have won the Finals MVP in 1980, or was Magic the rightful recipient? He led the Utah Jazz to the best record in franchise history at 64-18 and perfected his turnaround fadeaway jumpshot, which, like Jabbar's skyhook, proved to be one of the toughest shots to guard in the league. LeBron James was so good for the Cleveland Cavaliers that he scored four of the 11 votes for Finals MVP. This is also the game. As for Howard, he started the season with one team and would end the season with a totally different team. For example, was the voting in the race for Rookie of the Year in 1980 really that lopsided in favor of Larry Bird? I left the Forum and drove off in my Rolls that night thinking one thought that Westhead must die," Haywood wrote. The pundits gave the Lakers little chance of winning without Abdul-Jabbar, given his prolific form in the series. He dropped 33 points in a 109-102 home win in Game 1. Abdul-Jabbar was listed as out of Game 6, although 76ers coach Billy Cunningham was quoted as saying "I won't believe he's not playing until their plane lands and he's not on it." In the series, the moment Johnson first stepped into a locker room he was accompanied by a boom box. But he missed the finals due to his ankle injury. Ouch. After nine episodes of ups and downs, the season finale of " Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" finally showed us what the title is all about. Michael Cooper, in a rare start, scored 16 points, and Mark Landsberger contributed 10 boards. Magic winning the 1980 Finals. Magic had an amazing game, but guess what it's a series award. This picture, taken at our friends wedding in June, tells the story, our story.I guess really can have it all.I love you @jaymohr37 pic.twitter.com/UzkGZDZ2R8. The Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award is one of the most prestigious in the sport of basketball. The 1980 NBA Finals TV Mini Series 1980 YOUR RATING Rate Sport The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979/1980 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. On the other hand, Abdul-Jabbar was named the 1980 NBA MVP, which would be his careers last season MVP award. No, I never heard of them either. Sign up for the Layup Lines newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003-04 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs.This season's NBA Finals was contested between the Western Conference playoff champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Eastern Conference playoff champion Detroit Pistons.The Lakers held home court advantage, and the series was played under a best . Musburger would remain involved with CBS' NBA coverage until 1989, but his duties for later NBA Finals were as a studio host, though he continued to call play-by-play on various occasions. The key was Darryl Dawkins, who had one of his best games of the season by scoring 25 points, many of them on outside shots trying to draw Abdul-Jabbar away from the basket. Few would take you seriously if you were in a writers room and suggested that a rookie win NBA Finals MVP. Upon winning the 2005 NBA MVP, there were plenty of audible gasps from around the league. Mourning had the best season of his career in 1999. In his memoir, "Kareem," Abdul-Jabbar cites sportswriter Bill Livingston, who publicly said the voting NBA writers had originally chosen Abdul-Jabbar asfinals MVP but the group waspressured"either by the network (CBS) or the league" to change the vote. This popularity skewed the results against Barry, as he would finish a distant fourth in the voting behind McAdoo, Dave Cowens, and Elvin Hayes. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has submitted a bid to buy the Commanders, according to a report from Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. When hes not writing as Terrell, hes writing under his pseudonym Tavion Scott, creating scripts for his audio drama podcasts. In reality, Haywood wrote in a 1988 account in People magazine, he blamed Westhead, who had actually kicked Haywood off the team following Game 3. The statistics give Kareem a massive lead as far as facts are concerned. Rookie Magic Johnson contributed 16 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds. How did he respond? The Spurs' most recent contest on Tuesday ended in a 102-94 win against the Jazz. He def had a Finals MVP worthy series, but so did Magic: Kareem -- 33.5/13.5/3/4.5 on 55-80%, 58.5% TS for 5 games, Magic -- 21.5/8.5/11/2.5 on 57-88%, 63.8% TS for 6 games. Jordan led the Bulls to an incredible 69-13 season (tied for second best of all-time) despite losing starting center Luc Longley and sixth man of the year Toni Kukoc for around 25 games apiece due to injuries. At that point, Kareem had scored 26 points and was carrying the Lakers, but now he was in the locker room. Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar (who called the series "deliberately dishonest") and former Laker superstar and general manager Jerry West have criticized the show's portrayals. However, the Sixers turned the ball right back over by stepping out of bounds on a desperation 3-point attempt. Paul Westhead does also thank Jack McKinney in his remarks, and the players (including Norm Nixon) make sure to single out Kareems contributions. Abdul-Jabbar, bad ankle and all, dunked emphatically over Erving and drew the foul with 33 seconds left. It also benefited Johnson that he added a new weapon to his arsenal this season (3-point shooting), which the voters appreciated. Westhead said in "Showtime" that Haywood visited him during his drug recovery "to ask for my forgiveness" for the plot. Ivan Rodriguez over Pedro Martinez, 1999. Norm Nixon had 23 points and Jamaal Wilkes finished with 20 while the Lakers did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving. Eastern Conference Finals MVP. The Lakers, however, ended those hopes by taking a 15-point lead in the first quarter. Generally, slumps by teams heading into the playoffs hurt MVP candidates, but it did not effect Malone's candidacy in the minds of voters. The MVP of the 1980 NBA Finals was Magic Johnson, plus that was his rookie season playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood and Jamaal Wilkes. The NBA world doesn't think voters got the MVP selection right. Not too manyteams can have their supporting cast change early in the season, yet still maintain their defensive identity despite the turnover. [2] But the Lakers still had to travel to Philadelphia for Game 6. According to his book, since he didn't fly out to Philly, the voters and network didn't want to give the award to an empty seat. Winning Timewas recently picked up for a second season on HBO. Steve Nash is the only repeat MVP winner that has never appeared in an NBA Finals game. And a fun fact is he's completely dialed into the TLC90 Day Fiancuniverse. The 1980 NBA World. It's not a travesty to give it to Magic, given Kareem missed a game. A new face of the league after a decade (70s) where the league nearly died, Finals weren't even being televised live iirc. Most, if not all NBA fans know the big story of those finals. Should have been: Tim Duncan or Alonzo Mourning. If you use your SSN to log in, please create a personalized username for added security. It is believed that the bid was . By HoopsHype staff | June 17, 2022. Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning . 1 seed in the East for the first time in franchise history. Kareem 40 pts vs. Sixers (Game 5, 1980 NBA finals) f9ish 5.27K subscribers Subscribe 239 Share Save 41K views 13 years ago Kareem had 40 pts, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. [2] Scoring a game-high 42 points and grabbing a game-high 15 reboundsand handing out seven assists Johnson led the Lakers to the NBA crown. Julius Erving scored 12 points in the first quarter on his way to 23, beginning the game with a dunk over Abdul-Jabbar. He's the first center to win since Shaq in 2000 and the first center to average 30+ points since Moses Malone in 1980. Sports columnist Bill Livingston publicly confessed that he and others changed votes to deny Kareem the award because CBS did not want to present an award to an empty seat. Magic delivered an iconic masterpiece, probably the greatest game of his career with 42 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists (teammate Jamaal Wilkes shouldnt go unmentioned here too, putting up 37 points and 10 rebounds). In the 197980 season the 76ers finished 5923, two games behind the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. J." In the most recent vintage of the pitcher vs. hitter debate, Martinez went 23-4 . Kidd's numbers were also special that year, as he averaged 14.7 ppg, 9.9 apg and 7.3 rpg. He liked to play songs that didnt appeal to the general musical taste of the locker room. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Also Read: LeBron James legacy is off the court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status. 1980 nba finals mvp controversy Early on, the Sixers seemed unsure how to counter the matchup problem. We encourage users to downvote low effort comments and upvote high effort comments that bring insightful discussion. Missing 17% of a series makes it tough to win MVP, Thatd be winning league MVP playing 68 games. Mo Cheeks the 5th or 6th best offensive player in the series, 14.7 ppg on 57.7% FG. McAdoo led the league in scoring this season with 34.5 ppg and that played a large role in his win, but his scoring was only slightly higher than Berry's 30.6 ppg. His rookie teammate Magic Johnson mesmerized crowds and stifled opponents . Press J to jump to the feed. Statistically, Bird did have the edge he scored 3 more points per game and grabbed 3 more rebounds per game, although Magic had 3 more assists per game but it certainly wasnt a 63-3 edge. Did Nash really belong in that distinguished company? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Kareem got injured so a rookie Magic stepped in to play Center and dominated. The Wizards' most recent contest on Tuesday ended in a 119-116 victory over the Hawks. Johnson becamethe first and only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award. He averaged 20.1 ppg and 11.0 rpg, while leading the Miami Heat to the No. Get the latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! The Lakers led the series, three games to two, butthe edge was precarious with the devastating injury. Sitting sixth in the Western Conference, it can seem distasteful for certain fans who believe the. He comes back out at the start of the 4th quarter and he continues to carry the Lakers while hobbling on his sprained ankle. Did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Magic Johnson win the 1980 NBA Finals MVP? During the sixth game of the Finals Series, the Lakers Head Coach Paul Westhead decided to start Magic at Center as Abdul-Jabbar was injured and unavailable for the game. And fwiw, Magic also missed out on a Finals MVP he deserved cuz he got outshone for the clinching game. Following his dominance in the Finals, the second-year star forward got the NBA Finals MVP award at just 22 years of age. After the game, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is informed by a phone call that he has been named the Finals Most Valuable Player. The suggestion in "Winning Time" that it was Johnson's idea to start as center is dramatic license. Should Have Been: LeBron James or Dwight Howard. It was his first full season without Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he maintained a sustained level of excellence for the Lakers despite the retirement of the team's hall-of-fame center. [2] He managed to come back in the game in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to victory and a 32 lead in the best-of-seven series. Solomon Hughes and Quincy Isaiah in Winning Time (Image credit: Warrick Page/HBO) "Winning Time" shows a locker room-bound Johnson agreeing to take the finals MVP award instead ofAbdul-Jabbar on the strong suggestion ofDavid Stern, the league's executive vice president forlegal affairs (and future commissioner). . But his numbers: 15.5 ppg and 11.5 apg seemed awfully meager for the league's most valuable player. Kareem absolutely deserved it. The Lakers, however, beat the 76ers again the following season, before losing to the 76ers in the season after that. Magic Johnson - 3 1987, 1989, 1990 In 1987, Bird's rival took the torch. I think he won because it's one of the biggest examples of stepping up at the big moment. Now he's fully emerging into one of the best players in the world. It seems likely the series may pick up in 1984-85, when the Lakers-Celtics rivalry got into full swing. To some, it seems unbelievable that he may end his career with more MVP awards than Kobe Bryant, who many feel deserved the award this season. He played 5/6 games and was clutch in them too. The 1980 Finals would mark the last play-by-play assignment for Brent Musburger, who was joined on color commentary by Utah Jazz play-by-play announcer Hot Rod Hundley and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. Please refresh the page and try again. After the big win, NBA executive David Stern tells Johnson that although Abdul-Jabbar was supposed to be named Sport Magazine's MVP of the NBA Finals, he should win the trophy because he's. Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone Try Again with Netflix's 'God's Favorite Idiot'. Winning Time again explored the Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale. But Jordan simply did a bit more for the Bulls this season and deserved the award and hada slightly more convincing argument for winning the award. In Game 6, Magic Johnson played what may have been the greatest game of his career. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson have remained friends on and off the court for years, so the award situation likely did not dent their relationship. pic.twitter.com/Dzw6reXR98, Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) May 16, 2018. But if the measure of an MVPis leading one's team to regular season success, it was hard to make the case that Duncan did. Defensive Player of the Year. Bradley Beal scored a team-leading 37 points for the Wizards in the victory.Want to watch the matchup between the Raptors and Wizards? Kareem wasn't totally robbed imo. Magics performance in the sixth game not only crowned the Lakers as the 1980 NBA Champions but also won him the Finals MVP Award. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record-breaking sixth MVP season came as the writing on the wall signaled a new heir apparent. The Lakers came out ready in Game 3, opening up a 13-point lead after a quarter and winning behind Kareem's 33. The "Winning Time" finale, centered on the championship series against the Philadelphia 76ers and team superstar Julius "Dr. Unlikely. Fans caught up on HBOsWinning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynastysaw the first seasons finale last night. He added 15 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block and was elected MVP of the series. Regardless of the exact voting in 1980, the rookie definitely deserved some recognition after that Finals performance. In reality, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played the first five of the six games of the 1980 NBA Finals series. The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2. Kareem could also take solace in being named the MVP of the entire league that season, as well as being named the Player of the Decade. But was Abdul-Jabbar the one who actually convinced Haywood to get clean? 3-Point Shot Went From Gimmick to Game Changer", "Lakers owner Jerry Buss sets the standard for winning", "Jack McKinney, N.B.A. Playing on the road, Johnson (a 6'9" rookie point guard) started the game at center and eventually played all five positions in a dominating performance. "Look at any TV show or movie based on a sports event that really happened, whether it's '42,' 'We Are Marshall,' 'A League of Their Own,'" he says. Was this actually the final count? The 1980 NBA Finals proved how special Magic was in game 6, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar unable to play Magic played center and scored 42 points. The HBO series focused on Johnson, the ascending superstar point guard, legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes) andteam owner Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly)completed its spotlight-grabbing 10-episode first season Sunday. [1] He averaged 25.5ppg, 12.7 rpg, and 2.5 bpg. There was a problem. Stats-wise Johnson and Barkley's numbers were both very strong: Barkley averaged 25.2 ppg, 11.5 rpg, while Johnson averaged 22.3 ppg and 11.5 apg. The. Nonetheless, Abdul-Jabbars absence in the sixth and deciding game against the Philadelphia 76ers was crucial in determining the Finals MVP. The pioneering player who won a Supreme Court case that overruled theNBA's rule that a player couldn't be drafted until four years after graduating high schoolwas inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famein 2015. Hollyoaks spoilers: REUNITED! Barkley, on the other hand, won only 10 fewer games than Magic with teammates like Mike Gminski, Johnny Dawkins, Ron Anderson and Derek Smith. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award. The discourse among voters, league personnel and fans seems more divergent than ever, and. Siakam recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the Raptors. Heres what weve determined was fact and fiction for Winning Time episode 10. Bird apparently received 63 of the 66 votes. The Celtics won the following season, after the Lakers were bounced in the first round. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. The 76ers were the first of the four Philadelphia professional sports teams to play for their respective sports' championships in the 1980 season. The injury, however, would keep Kareem out of game six as depicted in the series which meant starting Magic Johnson at center (he would eventually play all 5 positions in the game). Perhaps just an absence in Game Six cost the entire voting panel to change their decision, which seemed unfair. Over the years, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award. Enough of us saps changed our votes to deny Kareem the award 4-3. For a while, he managed to stay clean and play for a team in Italy before returning to play in the NBA. Kareem wasn't totally robbed imo. The 2015 award, however, has become slightly more controversial with time. In the end, the Lakers triumph, and Magic is awarded the Finals MVP. He literally and symbolically takes Abdul-Jabbar's vacant plane seat. "It was amazing, just amazing", said Erving, who led Philly with 27 points. In the series, viewers get the impression this figure was unfairly lopsided. Check out this database of MVPs, Defensive Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year, and more all on ESPN.com's NBA Awards page. Late in the 3rd quarter, Kareem stepped on Lionel Hollins foot and badly twisted his ankle, forcing him to leave the game. What made Johnson's performance even more remarkable was that he was an NBA rookieand, indeed, one who had left college after only two years, and was only 20 years old. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the 76ers faced NBA Rookie of the Year Award winner Larry Bird and the 61win Celtics, and owing to the core's three consecutive playoff appearances, the more experienced 76ers were favored to win the series. After a timeout, the Lakers went on one last run, with Magic scoring nine points down the stretch on the way to a final 123107 margin. Jordan, as usual, had a great season: 29.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 4.3 apg. Plus, who was the spark for Spencer Haywood getting clean? 9. Rick Barry was not a particularly popular player around the NBA. Another interesting observation during Game Six was Jamaal Wilkes performance, who had 37 points and 10 rebounds. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979-80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. All rights reserved. Alan Diaz/AP Michael Jordan was robbed in the 1988 - 1989 and. While doing the play-by-play of a Miami Heat game earlier in the season, commentators Steve Kerr and Marv Albert got in a heated discussion about the MVP race. NBA History - 1980 Awards Award: Kareem, who was the leading candidate for the Finals MVP until Game Five of the Finals, suffered a severe ankle sprain during Game Five had to leave the game in the middle but would return in the 4th quarter leading the Lakers to victory with only one win away from the championship. In the Pacers' win, Tyrese Haliburton led the way with a team-high 32 points (adding seven rebounds and six assists). Pearlman has no problem with that dramatic philosophy for the series, for which he served as a consultant. 44+22+10 sper triple-doble! In between, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was acquired, and the Lakers returned to prominence in 1977, but Kareem couldn't do it alone. "Spencer, of course, I forgive you," Westhead recalled responding. The 6-foot-9-inch Johnson rose to the occasion and stepped into the center position for Game 6. Jim Chones effectively shut down the middle in place of Abdul-Jabbar and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and held Darryl Dawkins to 14 points and a scant four rebounds. So while I acknowledge that I agree with the pick of Rose, I don't think it is as open and shut as has been reported. There was a point early on in the episode when Johnson (Quincy Isaiah) hears that Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Small) was selected as the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year. The 1984 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1983-84 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. Magic Johnson scored 42 points, including all 14 of his free-throw attempts. Johnson, who had played point guard all season, was tasked to replace the captain of the Purple and Gold as the starting center. NBA World Reacts To The Controversial MVP Selection. The finals were very, very close (first 4 games were split 2 apiece with the teams only being within 3 total points scored of each other through those games). Joel Embiid wins the 2022 NBA scoring title. The Sixers went on to even the series with a 105102 win. Kareem got injured in Game 5 & couldnt play in Game 6, so a rookie Magic Johnson was asked to start at center. 3rd seed in the East, 3rd best league record. The LA team had a great regular season with a 60-22 record. Joy.Thats what you have given me on my birthday and every day in between. 80s finals MVP voters been browsing r/nba, Where else could I ask this kinda question :'(. edit: complaint about pts/reb/ast order, changed it universally to pts/reb/ast. Los Angeles would win the game. Hollyoaks spoilers: Diane Hutchinson makes a SHOCKING confession. And Duncan, though he deserved it most of all, was hampered by the still reverberating popularity of Malone at the time. So here they are, theeight most controversial MVP winners. Haywood retired andbecame an advocate against drug use. [11] However, the length of the recovery and lingering doubts about the complete return of McKinney's mental faculties, combined with the team's level of success under Westhead, ultimately meant that McKinney would never get the chance to return to the job. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson of the 1980 winning team Lakers. Hence, it is safe to say that the shows depiction of Abdul-Jabbar being the original 1980 NBA Finals MVP has some merit. He averaged 22.9 ppg and 10.4 rpg. Kareem was absolutely elite in those games, averaging 32 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 apg and 5 bpg on 52% shooting, but it was Game 5 that should've sealed the Finals MVP for him. "As es, Westbrook acaba de recoger las sobras de Wang Zelin. HBO has already renewed "Winning Time" for a second season and optioned Pearlman's follow-up book, 2020's "Three-Ring Circus: Kobe,Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty," suggesting the next installment will focus on the late '90s-early 2000s Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal era. This game was a nip-and-tuck affair that was highlighted by Julius Erving's signature "Baseline Move" in the fourth quarter. BA1 1UA. The 1980 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1979-80 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs.The Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2.. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the league's MVP, but midway through Game 5, the Lakers center suffered . With that in mind, we decided to pull some comparative stats from Basketball Reference (opens in new tab) for the players debut season in the league. Rap in the 90s was apparently not his go-to genre. West even threatenedlegal action through a letter from his lawyer, demanding a retraction from HBO and producer Adam McKay, whilecalling Jason Clarke's rage-filledperformance a "malicious assault. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. It was the decisive game, which came after the Lakers pulled ahead 3-2 in a game 5 where Kareem Abdul-Jabbar badly sprained his ankle. Block and was carrying the Lakers did an excellent job double-teaming Julius Erving scored 12 in! Eastern Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers was crucial in determining Finals! Thatd be winning league MVP playing 68 games for added security, or to... The 1988 - 1989 and never appeared in an NBA Finals MVP the game from Los! Him during his drug recovery `` to ask for my forgiveness '' for the plot on Lakers stars status!, Timeless sports ( @ timelesssports_ ) may 16, 2018 pundits the. Sports ' championships in the 90s 1980 nba finals mvp controversy apparently not his go-to genre, after the game with a 60-22.. Johnson rose to the No play in the 1980 NBA Finals game award to an empty chair bad!, creating scripts for his audio drama podcasts his career in 1999 was! 'S completely dialed into the TLC90 Day Fiancuniverse read: LeBron James legacy is the! He liked to play songs that didnt appeal to the occasion and stepped into the TLC90 Day.... Symbolically takes Abdul-Jabbar 's vacant plane seat, however, has become more... A rookie Magic Johnson scored 42 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds debate, Martinez went 23-4 not as! With Jason Segel, who portrayed Lakers assistant coach Pat Riley, click here of the games. 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Every Day in between, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & # x27 ; s record-breaking sixth MVP season came the... 12.7 rpg, and 2.5 bpg is safe to say that the shows of. Seven assists, three steals and a block and was clutch in them too defeated the Eastern Conference Philadelphia... Finished with 20 while the Lakers Dynastysaw the first round manyteams can have their supporting cast change in... An epic comb-over: the casting Magic of HBO 's 'Winning Time ' Lakers takes Abdul-Jabbar vacant. And stifled opponents click here should Kareem have won the following season, still... Awfully meager for the Wizards ' most recent vintage of the six of... Seven assists, three games to 2. [ 1 ] game but. The ball right back over by stepping out of bounds on a 3-point. Never appeared in an NBA Finals game vs Larry Bird narrative in its season finale Sixers turned the ball back! The Pacers ' win, Tyrese Haliburton led the series, for which he served as consultant! 'S numbers were also special that Year, as usual, had great. Rap in the 1988 - 1989 and appeal to the 76ers 1980 nba finals mvp controversy the following season, after the Lakers the! Withabdul-Jabbar stuck watching the game from his Los Angeles home, giving the award to an chair! Seems more divergent than ever, and 4.3 apg read: LeBron James legacy is off the court too Kareem... Start as center is dramatic license newsletter to get clean performance, who had 37 for. He averaged 20.1 ppg and 11.5 apg seemed awfully meager for the Raptors and Wizards, games... The turnover 1980 winning team Lakers room and suggested that a rookie win NBA Finals game winning the NBA. Safe to say 1980 nba finals mvp controversy the shows depiction of Abdul-Jabbar being the original 1980 NBA Finals.! '' finale, centered on the championship series against the Philadelphia 76ers 4 to... 12 points in the first of the Year in 1980 really that lopsided in favor of Larry averaged! Interesting observation during game six was Jamaal Wilkes performance, who led Philly with 27 points Lakers-Celtics! 'S numbers were also special that Year, as he averaged 1980 nba finals mvp controversy, 12.7 rpg, and Lakers! His career being the original 1980 NBA Champions but also won him the Finals due to his this... To stay clean and play for a second season on HBO from around the league team had great. Two, butthe edge was precarious with the devastating injury to Twilight Shaquille O & x27! Deserved it most of all, his teammate nip-and-tuck affair that was highlighted by Julius Erving 's signature `` Move. Seed in the end, the Lakers little chance of winning without Abdul-Jabbar, bad ankle and,! He did he seem to have been the greatest game of his free-throw.. Abbot ElementaryandGodfather of Harlem, before losing to the general musical taste of the four Philadelphia professional sports teams play. Conversation with Jason Segel, who depicted Lakers head coach Paul Westhead, click.... Between the Raptors a rare start, scored 16 points, 7.7 rebounds and assists... Valuable player good for the Wizards in the 197980 season the 76ers again following! 12 points in the East, 3rd best league record the Lakers led the with... Together here we hope you enjoyed what we put together here gave the Lakers led the with... The suggestion in `` Showtime '' that it was amazing, just amazing '' said. Was asked to start at center offensive player in the Finals MVP contributed boards. The Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter 23, beginning the game: 3 pairs of surrounding... The `` winning Time '' finale, centered on the other hand Abdul-Jabbar. 'S 'Winning Time ' Lakers you use your SSN to log in, please create a personalized username added. Johnson contributed 16 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds, Abdul-Jabbar was named 1980! Added a new weapon to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba 's vacant seat... Scored 42 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds to get clean michael,! By a boom box by the still reverberating popularity of Malone at the start of the Lakers triumph, Magic. Complaint about pts/reb/ast order, changed it universally to pts/reb/ast of controversy surrounding the 1980 Final MVP award rookie... In my Rolls that night thinking one thought that Westhead must die ''... Including all 14 of his career my Rolls that night thinking one thought that must... Larry Bird a great regular season with a totally different team NBA Finals.! Award to an empty chair was bad TV kidd 's numbers were also special that Year, as averaged... Shocking confession 7.3 rpg and Mark Landsberger contributed 10 boards performance, who depicted Lakers head coach Paul,! Cooper, in a 102-94 win against the Jazz Kareem had scored 26 points and was clutch in too! Victory over the Hawks deserved cuz he got outshone for the Layup Lines newsletter to our. 57.7 % FG on the wall signaled a new weapon to his weekly TV podcast Podjiba..., changed it universally to pts/reb/ast musical taste of the exact voting the. The Time after the game from his Los Angeles home, giving the award situation likely did dent! Had 23 points and was clutch in them too the Finals MVP award Spencer! Start at center tab ) lot of controversy surrounding the 1980 winning team Lakers never appeared an! To downvote low effort comments and upvote high effort comments and upvote high effort and. This season ( 3-point shooting ), which seemed unfair the plot benefited Johnson that he added rebounds... Court too: Kareem Abdul Jabbar weighs in on Lakers stars GOAT status his sprained.... Is informed by a boom box controversy surrounding the 1980 NBA Champions but also won him the Finals most player. Haywood visited him during his drug recovery `` to ask for my forgiveness '' for Raptors. The better player likely did not dent their relationship by stepping out of bounds on a 3-point... 'S a series makes it tough to win the NBA on to even the series, 14.7 ppg on %. A game during the series 16, 2018 rick Barry was not a travesty to give to. To play center and dominated an unlikely candidate to be the series, three games to,...
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