Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan now share a friendship that deepened after the Los Angeles Lakers legend announced his HIV diagnosis in 1991. Before that, the two superstars had a very indifferent relationship. Magic was the biggest star in the league and Jordan was about to be. By 1990, Johnson already had five NBA Championships to his name during a time when Jordan had slowly started to gain a footing in the league with a good team around him. However, the Lakers superstar was hungry for more Championships. After being eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the 1990 playoffs, he was ready to do anything to help his team improve. So, as the Tampa Bay Times reported at the time, Magic took a $75,000 pay cut to accommodate a new player in the team, just nine months before losing out to Michael Jordan in the 1991 NBA Finals.
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Magic Johnson’s resume is tailor-made for the GOAT conversation. NBA titles, Finals MVPs, league MVPs, All-NBA nominations-there’s barely anything the elite guard hasn’t won in his illustrious career. Therefore, quite deservedly, he received the highest honor as a basketball player in 2002, when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Despite this, his career earnings do not reflect his performances on the court. Johnson earned only $24,560,000 during his time in the NBA as an active player from 1979 to 1991.
Magic Johnson took a $75,000 pay cut to accommodate a new player in the team
In September 1990, Magic Johnson made the decision to give up $75,000 of his salary. Having been knocked out of the playoffs the previous season, the Lakers were looking to improve their roster. So, with the help of Magic’s pay cut, they acquired Terry Teagle, thanks to the extra cap space they now had.
Teagle was an interesting acquisition. He previously played for the Golden State Warriors before joining the Purple and Gold. During his time with the Dubs, he was a 16-point-per-game scorer. However, his form dipped when he came to the City of Angels. He only managed to average a measly 9.9 points in LA.
Nevertheless, there was an improvement from the previous year in LA’s performance. Magic and the Lakers managed to make the NBA Finals. But unfortunately, a championship wasn’t on the cards. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls proved to be too much for them, as the Lakers lost the series 4-1.
“A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!”
1991 NBA Finals: Magic’s @Lakers vs. Michael’s @ChicagoBulls!
The Last Dance on ESPN pic.twitter.com/z03cXnRkBz
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2020
The rivalry between Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan was promised to be a majestic clash of titans. However, the Showtime Lakers led by Magic couldn’t put up much resistance against prime Jordan and his Bulls.
Magic once admitted that he wished he had a closer relationship with His Airness
Throughout the late 80s, the debate in the NBA was about who is the better player between Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. The two had an budding rivalry and would later become good friends. While they did have an amicable relationship, Magic once wished he had a closer relationship with his fellow Hall of Famer.
Fortunately, things are different now. The two are much closer than they were years ago and were even spotted recently vacationing together in Europe.
