In the NBA, there are certain time periods that bring out unexpected levels of success for an individual player and/or their teams. One of them was the iconic ‘Showtime’ era of the Los Angeles Lakers, which was established due to the efforts of two iconic players of the 80s: Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Thanks to the presence of these two players, the Lakers dominated the league. They won multiple championships and captivated fans with their high-paced, entertaining style of play for over 12 years.

Johnson helped his team jump from victory to victory in his main role as the facilitator. Jabbar excelled in the paint and served as the leader of the young crop of players. Many NBA enthusiasts have tried to form an opinion over which player had a more contributing factor to the team’s success. This article shall explore the same.

Magic Johnson helped to lay the foundation for the ‘Showtime’ Era

For people who grew up during the ‘Showtime’ era, it would be hard to choose a favorite between Johnson and Jabbar. According to them, both players were equally responsible for the team’s success. However, this dilemma is not something that the author faces. If he had to pick one, he would have to side with Magic Johnson.

Johnson spent his entire career in the City of Angels. Before his entry, the Lakers had not succeeded in winning a championship in over 8 years. While Jabbar was leading the team to his best ability, his sole efforts weren’t enough to make a dent. Johnson changed all that just in his rookie season. With Jabbar by his side, the Lakers managed to pull off a 60-22 record and reached the NBA Finals. Even after Jabbar had to opt out of the final crucial game due to a sustained injury, Johnson helped cover his position, starting at center, and led the team to a win by 16 points.

He managed to do so by scoring 42 points and covering not one but five different positions during the game. Through his efforts, Magic Johnson helped to lay the foundation for the iconic ‘Showtime era’. By bringing a championship trophy home, he instilled a new level of confidence in his team members. The victory helped in highlighting that what was once impossible is now easily achievable.

It is important to note that Kareem’s contributions during the season were nothing short of commendable. His efforts helped the Lakers to reach the 1980 NBA Finals, and he was even named the league MVP that year. In the end, however, it was Johnson who helped to clinch the championship ring for the Lakers.

Johnson reigned over Jabbar in terms of rebounds and assists

The 1980 championship win was just the beginning for the Lakers. Within the next decade, the team would clinch four more championships. Johnson’s initial success was felt in the next season, as the Lakers couldn’t reach the Finals due to the player missing 45 games in light of a knee injury. When he returned during the 1982 season, the team was back in full form.

When observing the performance of Johnson and Jabbar during the winning Finals of the 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988 seasons, one fact stood out prominently. Jabbar continued to be the lead scorer. Magic, however, helped to establish his team’s dominance by keeping the number of assists and rebounds up.

WATCH THIS STORY: Luka Doncic Surpasses Lakers Legend Magic Johnson; Second Only to Oscar Robertson in Iconic NBA Record

In the end, this was the thing that proved to be the most effective when making use of a fast-break offense. It was the strategy that became the main characteristic of the Showtime Lakers. The roster was made up of individuals who could run with precision and flair. Through the leadership skills of Magic Johnson, the Lakers would push the ball up the court at a quick pace right after securing a defensive rebound.

Magic Johnson’s on-court versatility gave the Showtime Lakers an edge

Magic Johnson was a unique addition to the Lakers roster. His 6 foot 9 build was not something that was typically seen in a point guard. However, the player made use of it in an efficient manner. Along with the same, he did something that not many NBA players before him had even dreamt of.

Johnson was someone who could play multiple positions, often assuming many on-court positions when needed. This flexibility allowed the Lakers to cover any deficiencies and adapt to various defensive schemes, giving them a tactical advantage over their opponents. Jabbar, on the other hand, played a more fixed role in the low post, being used as the main scorer. His presence in the paint was a dominant one, with his iconic skyhook generating points for the team in abundance. However, he did not possess the same level of versatility in positions as Johnson did .

Johnson’s knowledge and experience about the various positions also allowed him to come out as an efficient leader. By making use of his infectious enthusiasm and unselfish playstyle, many Lakers stars like James Worthy, Byron Scott, and Michael Cooper flourished.

The Showtime Era was an iconic one since it altered the way basketball was played. The memorial time period came to an end with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s retirement in 1989, with Magic Johnson following suit two years later after making news of his HIV diagnosis public.

Both Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were indispensable to the team’s success. Kareem’s unmatched scoring ability and his defence helped the Lakers to win game after game. In the end, however, Johnson’s versatile gameplay, his leadership skills, and the trust he instilled within his teammates created a basketball symphony that resonated with fans and struck fear into the hearts of their opponents.

When the debate about who is the better player amongst the two takes place, the answer may probably be a different one. However, when making a decision on the player who was most prominent in making the ‘Showtime’ era what it is, the choice narrows down.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

READ MORE: Was Magic Johnson the Most ‘Impactful’ Rookie in NBA History?