If you're asking what year was Magic Johnson drafted, you likely already know he's the face of the Showtime Lakers. But the answer—1979—is only half the story. Honestly, the way Earvin "Magic" Johnson ended up in Los Angeles is one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" moments in sports history.
It wasn't just a regular draft pick. It was a coin flip.
Imagine being a Chicago Bulls fan in 1979. You're staring at the possibility of landing the most electric college player in the world. Instead, the coin lands the wrong way, and you get David Greenwood while the Lakers get a dynasty.
The 1979 NBA Draft: A Moment That Changed Everything
Magic Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft.
He had just come off a legendary performance in the NCAA Championship game, where his Michigan State Spartans took down Larry Bird’s Indiana State. That game remains the most-watched college basketball game ever. Everyone wanted a piece of Earvin.
But why did the Lakers have the first pick? They were a playoff team!
Basically, it was a "thank you" gift from the past. Years earlier, the New Orleans Jazz had signed a veteran named Gail Goodrich from the Lakers. Back then, the rules for free agency were weird. The league essentially forced the Jazz to give the Lakers future draft picks as compensation. One of those picks turned out to be the 1979 first-rounder.
Because the Jazz finished with the worst record in the league, that pick was in the running for #1.
The Coin Toss That Robbed Chicago
Back in 1979, the NBA didn't have the "lottery" system we see today. The worst teams in each conference simply flipped a coin for the top spot.
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- The Contenders: The Chicago Bulls (West) and the New Orleans Jazz/LA Lakers (East).
- The Stakes: A 6-foot-9 point guard who could see over defenses.
- The Result: The Lakers won.
If Chicago had won that toss, Magic has gone on record saying he might have stayed in school another year. He wanted to play in a big market, sure, but he also had a specific vibe in mind for his professional home. When the Lakers won, the deal was sealed.
Why 1979 Was Such a Big Deal for the NBA
When you look at what year was Magic Johnson drafted, you're looking at the birth of the modern NBA. Before 1979, the league was struggling. Ratings were down. People thought the game was too slow, or too disconnected from the fans.
Then came Magic.
He didn't just play basketball; he performed it. His rookie season was absolute madness. Most rookies are happy just to get playing time. Magic? He went out and averaged 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.
The peak of that 1979-1980 season was the NBA Finals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers' superstar center, got hurt and couldn't play in Game 6. Magic, a rookie point guard, started at center.
He put up 42 points. He grabbed 15 rebounds. He handed out 7 assists.
The Lakers won the title, and Magic became the first (and only) rookie to ever win NBA Finals MVP.
The Rivalry That Followed the Draft
You can't talk about Magic being drafted in 1979 without mentioning Larry Bird. Bird was actually drafted in 1978 by the Celtics, but he stayed in school for his senior year. Because of that, both legends made their NBA debut in the same season: 1979-80.
It was the perfect storm.
East Coast vs. West Coast.
Boston vs. Los Angeles.
Bird vs. Magic.
They basically saved the league from financial ruin. Fans who didn't care about the NBA suddenly had a reason to tune in. The 1979 draft didn't just give the Lakers a star; it gave the sport a heartbeat.
Magic Johnson's Draft Profile at a Glance
To give you a sense of what the scouts were seeing back then, here is what the "book" on Magic looked like:
- College: Michigan State (Sophomore)
- Height: 6'9" (Huge for a guard at the time)
- Key Strength: Transition passing and "no-look" feeds
- The "Magic" Moniker: He got the nickname at age 15 after a triple-double in high school.
What Happened After 1979?
Magic played 13 seasons before his initial retirement in 1991. He didn't just win that one title as a rookie. He won five. He took home three regular-season MVPs. He led the league in assists four times.
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Even today, when you watch highlights of the "Showtime" era, the speed of the game looks modern. That’s because Magic was ahead of his time. He was a "positionless" player before that was even a buzzword in coaching circles.
If you're a fan of the Lakers today, you owe a lot to that 1979 coin flip. It transformed a solid franchise into a global brand.
How to Use This Knowledge
If you're researching this for a trivia night or just to settle a bet with a friend, keep these specific "Magic" facts in your back pocket:
- The Date: June 25, 1979.
- The "Underclassman" Factor: Magic was the first sophomore/underclassman ever to be taken #1 overall.
- The Trade: Remember the name Gail Goodrich. Without him leaving for New Orleans, Magic never wears a Lakers jersey.
To see the impact of this draft class yourself, look up the footage of the 1980 NBA Finals Game 6. It’s the definitive proof that the Lakers made the right choice in 1979. You can also compare Magic’s rookie stats to modern stars like Luka Doncic or LeBron James to see just how rare his "instant impact" truly was.