Magic Johnson is greatly admired for his otherworldly playmaking skills. His game was defined by flashy passes that set the gold standard of being a “point god” in the NBA. However, the Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff didn’t immediately appreciate Johnson’s passing arsenal.
In his short speech after receiving his NBA Lifetime Achievement award in 2019, Magic recounted the moment he got called out for doing what he did best in one of his first practices with the team. According to Johnson, he kept turning the ball over because Jamaal Wilkes wasn’t paying attention. Needless to say, it made Magic look terrible as a playmaker.
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Magic then confronted Wilkes about it and they both still remember that epic moment to this day.
“It was my rookie season and I threw a pass down the lane, and Jamaal wasn’t looking,” Johnson vividly recalled. “It went out of bounds. The coach said, ‘Damn it, rookie! You can’t make that pass!”
“So, I said, ‘Ok.’ So, next time, we came down again, the same play, Jamaal Wilkes wasn’t looking, so I hit him right in the head,” he remembered. “So, I told Jamaal, ‘Don’t make me look bad when I throw a pass like that. So, Jamaal remembers that play.”
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Magic was the heart of the Showtime Lakers
Even though Johnson came in as arguably the best college player in the country, he still had to adjust when he joined the Lakers. However, that stage in his career did not last long. In fact, it was the other way around.
The Lakers veterans quickly caught up with Magic’s game, and once everybody had bought into it, the team turned into a powerhouse unit. With Johnson as the floor general, the Lakers lived up to their distinction as Showtime.
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Magic’s electrifying style of play became the heart and soul of the Showtime Lakers. At that point, every player on the court was already anticipating Johnson’s incredible passes.
Magic on why he was a passing wizard
Every legendary player mastered their go-to move by diligently practicing. That wasn’t the case with Magic all throughout his career. As it turns out, Johnson didn’t practice most of his iconic passes. Instead, his ability to read and anticipate made every pass and play precise.
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“It’s hard to explain, because everything I do is in the moment. You don’t think about what you’ll do until you do it. The defense makes you react. He went for the steal and I knew my teammate was already there. I peeped after I got the outlet pass – I knew where he was,” said Johnson in a one-on-one interview with NBA Top Shot back in 2022.
Johnson’s playmaking skills made him entertaining to watch and one of the most dynamic players of his time. Most of his rivals couldn’t figure him out during games, as his mind was always one step ahead of them.
Johnson secured four assists titles, five NBA championships, and three MVP honors during his NBA career. It’s also worth noting that, unlike other all-time greats, Magic earned his GOAT status because of his elite playmaking skills.
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As for his Lakers legacy, Magic is widely regarded by many as arguably the greatest player in the franchise’s history.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.