Wait, Magic Johnson actually did

[pauk]

Boy, this article by Mike Downey from 1991 sheds some light on Magic Johnson’s assertion that he wouldn’t have teamed up with Larry Bird or Michael Jordan. Apparently, it came down to a coin flip between the Lakers and Bulls, and had Chicago won the toss, Magic was going to stay in school. (Great find by SPORTSbyBROOKS.)


Magic Johnson would have returned to Michigan State rather than play for the Chicago Bulls.

“I’d have stayed in school,” he said here Tuesday, standing alone outside Gate 3 1/2 of Chicago Stadium, the house that could have been his. “A coin toss changed the course of my whole life.”

“I wouldn’t have played here,” Johnson said on the eve of Game 2 of the NBA finals between his team and the team that could have been his. “The only reason I came out was to play with Kareem and the Lakers.“

Oops. I guess Magic should have kept his big mouth shut......

This one goes out to all those that are slamming LeBron for bailing on Cleveland and heading to South Beach. Magic chose to go to the Lakers in much the same way that LeBron chose his new team, only one was in the draft and the other was in free agency.....

Egg, please meet face.....

http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/07/...y-did-team-up/


thats why... Larry > Magic... dude was just a ringchaser.... thats why he retired aswell when the Bulls won the championship.... he knew what was coming for him... Jordan & Lebron had to at least try winning a championship with scrub teams until something had to happen when they where 26-28.... they didnt get everything handed to them like Kobe & Magic.... Jordan got his Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc and so on.... and Lebron didnt (thx to Dan Gilbert), so he had to venture out and find it himself....

[L8kersfan222]

[DJ Leon Smith]

Except for the part where Wade got injured and LeBron had a triple double and led the Heat to a championship in a deciding game 7 on the road, YES EXACTLY THE SAME.

YOU WIN THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Insert *******.jpg here.

[pauk]

this is not really trolling........ its a fact...... sorry to say....

magic should have kept his mouth shut.... i understand Jordan & Bird somewhat better, even tho their criticism is somewhat stupid to (as u will see why downstairs)... but Magic should have just STFU....

Jordan went thru the same problem as Lebron, he didnt win a ring until he was 27.... he had to go thru the same scrub team trying to win a championship 1 on 5 rambo style.... until he got pippen and so on...

But Lebron never got his Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc and so on (thx to Dan Gilbert and his seriousness)... i blame everything on Dan Gilbert.... if Dan Gilbert was serious and really wanted to keep Lebron and wanted a championship he would have done something about it, showing how serious he is about it..... instead of given him 40 year old has-beens and sideshow bobs from Brazil.......... he knew after 7 years Lebron couldnt take it anymore... and Lebron never complained.... Lebron wanted to seriously contend for championships.... he became a freeagent and saw a great oppurtunity in Miami.. and went for it...

Lebron had to create that "Magic/Jordan/Bird" situation for himself....... nobody was willing to hand him anything.... but merelly give him millions and a couple of spotup shooters so he can just entertain the league with his STATS........ he didnt want any of that ever.... his only goal was always a Championship....

You Clevelanders can blame only Dan Gilbert......... Lebron is a very good guy and very loyal, but he didnt want to just go entire his career ringless..... he saw how "serious" Dan Gilbert was about his goals and those players goals and that towns goal of winning a championship........ it was never gona happen with that Dictator around..... he only wanted to make money and keep Lebron as a slave.....

His personality sure came out as you have seen after Lebron left..... and Lebron never talked crap, he never complained or whined about it.......... maybe he should? Like Kobe did? Maybe then Dan Gilbert would have done something.... and Lebron could have stayed and you could had your Championship....

[Vienceslav]

What does this have to do with Lebron?

[BIG FURB]

Magic's situation sounds less like Lebron's and more like Kobe's

[Jasi]

I missed the part where Magic spends 7 years as the franchise player of another NBA team and then decides to go elsewhere.

[JohnnySic]

Here's a little tidbit from history: The Celtics had 3 first round picks in '79, which the team's idiot owner John Y. Brown traded for Bob McAdoo, infuriating Red Auerbach (who nearly quit the team over it to become the Knicks' GM).

Assuming the Celtics kept those picks, and assuming Chicago won the coin toss, perhaps the Celts could have offered the 3 picks for the top pick? Would Magic have been amicable to joining Bird in Boston?

Probably not............Magic was too "Hollywood". But its interesting to speculate.

[pauk]

I missed the part where Magic spends 7 years as the franchise player of another NBA team and then decides to go elsewhere.

I missed the part where Magic spends 7 years in one of the most stacked and best teams ever... wins championships... and all of the sudden decides to go to a bad team?

What sense is there in what u are saying?


another fun fact:

Magic had to chose between Lakers & Bulls.... if he had got to Bulls anyways, he would have got Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc and so on.... and would have probably won even more rings.......... Magics future was BLESSED....

[pauk]

Here's a little tidbit from history: The Celtics had 3 first round picks in '79, which the team's idiot owner John Y. Brown traded for Bob McAdoo, infuriating Red Auerbach (who nearly quit the team over it to become the Knicks' GM).

Assuming the Celtics kept those picks, and assuming Chicago won the coin toss, perhaps the Celts could have offered the 3 picks for the top pick? Would Magic have been amicable to joining Bird in Boston?

Probably not............Magic was too "Hollywood". But its interesting to speculate.

interesting... good post

[ballerz]

I missed the part where Magic spends 7 years in one of the most stacked and best teams ever... wins championships... and all of the sudden decides to go to a bad team?

What sense is there in what u are saying?

That Lebron left as a free agent, were Magic got drafted. Like it or not their two different circumstances. Magic never held a one hour tv special to announce he was making himself eligible for the draft. Don't try to seem like they were the same things when they clearly wern't

[DJ Leon Smith]

Magic had to chose

You have severe problems with past tense don't you.

[pauk]

That Lebron left as a free agent, were Magic got drafted. Like it or not their two different circumstances. Magic never held a one hour tv special to announce he was making himself eligible for the draft. Don't try to seem like they were the same things when they clearly wern't

Yes... but did Lebron refuse to play for the Cavs and stay in highschool / college until he got to um.. dunno.... Lakers and play with Kobe/Gasol... or Spurs... or wait until he could play with Rondo/Garnett/Allen/Pierce for the Celtics? HELL NO.......... but Magic did that.... thats a true ringchasing loser...... Lebron at least tried for 7 years... Magic didnt.... thats even worse..

Lebron jumped in joy when he knew he was going to a 15 wins in a season team.... and was patient for 7 years..... he wanted to do what Jordan did..... build a championship franchise.... but Dan Gilbert didnt..... Lebron certainly didnt get his Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc and Phil Jackson and so on......

but he was instead given some Hummers, some spotup shooters, 40 year old has-beens and sideshow bobs from Brazil to keep him happy being rich and entertaining us with his STATS................

lebron never wanted any of that.... neither did the Cleveland fans.... but Dan Gilbert didnt care.... enough was enough....

[pauk]

You have severe problems with past tense don't you.

its a fast WPM keyboard typo problem..... yes.. i know its actually "choose"....

[Doctor Rivers]

You have severe problems with past tense don't you.

he has severe problems with ellipses too