The magic fast break pass is a fundamental skill in basketball that can greatly enhance a team's offensive efficiency. This pass is often used to catch the defense off guard and create quick scoring opportunities. It requires precise timing, exceptional court vision, and excellent decision-making. The beauty of the magic fast break pass lies in its ability to quickly transition the ball from one end of the court to the other without allowing the defense to set up. It is typically executed by the point guard or primary ball-handler, who possesses the necessary speed and agility to move the ball swiftly. To perform a successful magic fast break pass, the player must first secure possession of the ball and quickly assess the court.
Magic stayed home for college, attending Michigan State University, which had recently hired Jud Heathcote. Michigan State had experienced little success on the court in the years prior to Magic’s arrival. In 1976, Heathcote’s first season, the Spartans went 12-15, and Michigan State’s last 20-win season had come in 1920. With Magic the Spartans went 25-5 his freshman season and 26-6 in the title-winning sophomore campaign. Before Magic played a game for Michigan State, Fox told Heathcote, “Jud, you might have the best ball-handling point guards in the country, but let me tell you something: When you fast break, make sure when you get to half court, Magic has got the ball.”
His longtime teammate Michael Cooper, the wiry defensive wizard who won five titles with Magic in the 1980s, remembers Magic telling people in practice, Listen, if you cut to the basket and you re in the paint, have your hands ready because I can get it to you. In the NBA Finals, since assists became an official stat, no one has ever averaged 12 assists per game in a single series except for Magic, who did that six times.
To perform a successful magic fast break pass, the player must first secure possession of the ball and quickly assess the court. They must identify teammates who are sprinting down the court in anticipation of the pass and locate an open passing lane. The goal is to deliver an accurate and well-timed pass that leads the teammate towards the basket for an easy scoring opportunity.
Magic Moments: A behind-the-back pass that defied explanations and expectations
Magic Johnson’s mastery of his craft in the open floor was always a treat. When he led the fast break, the intrigue wasn’t just to whom he might pass the ball, but how. A no-look dish was as common as a two-handed chest pass.
Would Magic jump, turn his back to his intended target and flip the ball behind his head? Would he pull off some wizardry by showing the ball to everyone before dropping it off for an assist, or keep it for a layup by getting past a defender who has no idea what the legendary point guard would do in transition?
Johnson also had a keen sense of who was trailing a play. If an opponent was fixated on keeping him from getting to the rim, he had no problem finding the trailer for an easy two points. Johnson did all of this with unmatched showmanship, making him the perfect floor general for the Showtime Lakers.
One of his best-known plays is from March 19, 1985, at Phoenix, in a season when Johnson was on his way to his third NBA championship. It’s one of the five plays in a series presented by Top Shot commemorating some of the best moments from Johnson’s career.
What makes this highlight special? Let’s start with Magic breaking the rules of conventional basketball: running a two-on-three fast break.
The defense should have the advantage, but that doesn’t matter here. Johnson covered so much ground so quickly that he was able to keep the defense on its heels. That’s why Byron Scott knows to keep running. Anytime Johnson had the ball on the break, there was an opportunity for something special to happen. So as Johnson scoops up the loose ball, the Suns know they’re in trouble. Here comes the Magic Man, maintaining pressure with each stride down the court.
Defenders are taught to stop the ball, but that’s not so simple with Johnson. Why? You never knew what he was going to do with it. Sure, he’d give it up if his path to the basket was stopped, but how?
That was the quandary for Phoenix rookie Jay Humphries, who goes for the steal only to have Johnson go behind his back and send Humphries spinning around, completing a 360 while grasping for the basketball. The highlight ends with Magic finding Scott for a one-handed dunk.
Humphries spun around quickly enough to see teammate Alvin Scott get dunked on as he tried to catch up to the ball.
The play captures many of the elements of Magic’s unique game. He strides up the court, using his 6-foot-9 frame to get across half court quickly. That same unmatched height at point guard allowed Johnson to see plays and make passes defenses could not anticipate.
“I always wanted to make my teammates better,” Johnson told Insider. “I cared about passing the ball more than I cared about scoring myself. And what I wanted to do was entertain the crowd all at the same time. I just had to perfect the no-look pass and set my teammates up for an easy shot. … And I loved hearing the crowd go ‘AHHHH!’ And when my teammate scored, they went, ‘Wow!’ And then they went to the office talking about that pass. ‘Can you believe what Magic did last night? He did a no-look pass, and we went crazy!’ I loved hearing that.”
The flash came with a purpose. Sure, going behind his back made for a great highlight and got the crowd excited, but it also made defenders spin around and reach for air as they tried to figure out exactly what was going on.
It’s one thing for a defender to stumble against a crossover dribble. It’s another to be left searching for the ball as if in a game of hide-and-seek as Johnson goes behind his back and finds a teammate streaking down the court to his left while looking right.
Scott, like any teammate of Johnson, knew to be ready because there was no situation where Johnson couldn’t find a teammate for an easy score.
Johnson’s career ended with 10,141 assists, which is now sixth all time, but he still holds the league record for career assists per game (11.19). He left the game as the NBA’s assist king. Of players in the top 10, the only one of comparable size is LeBron James, who is seventh with 10,045. But even James doesn’t orchestrate the fast break like Johnson, whose artistry on the court remains unmatched.
Though the idea of shooting 30-plus 3-pointers a game was absurd in the 1980s, that doesn’t mean pace wasn’t a big deal. Johnson pushed the pace at every opportunity. It was the essence of Showtime basketball. The razzle-dazzle was a staple too. You don’t make people forget your birth name is Earvin if you can’t wow them with plays they haven’t seen before.
If you don’t believe that, ask Humphries where the ball is. He still might be looking for it.
This story is part of the Magic Johnson Moment series presented by Top Shot.
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(Illustration by Wes McCabe / The Athletic)
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Start Free TrialJason Jones is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering Culture. Previously, he spent 16 years at the Sacramento Bee, covering the Sacramento Kings and Oakland Raiders. He's a proud Southern California native and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley Follow Jason on Twitter @ mr_jasonjones
This story is part of the Magic Johnson Moment series presented by Top Shot.
Timing is critical in executing the magic fast break pass. The passer must release the ball at the perfect moment, accounting for both the speed of the teammate and the positioning of the defense. A delay in the pass can allow defenders to recover and disrupt the fast break, while releasing the pass too early may result in an errant or intercepted pass. Furthermore, court vision is an essential skill for executing the magic fast break pass effectively. The passer must possess a comprehensive understanding of the court's dynamics, anticipating the movements of teammates and defenders. This enables them to make split-second decisions and exploit gaps in the defense for successful passes. The magic fast break pass is a high-risk, high-reward play. When executed successfully, it can lead to easy and often uncontested baskets, demoralizing the opposing team and electrifying the crowd. However, a poorly executed pass can result in turnovers or wasted scoring opportunities. Ultimately, the magic fast break pass is a valuable tool in a team's offensive arsenal. It requires a combination of speed, agility, court vision, and decision-making to execute successfully. When utilized effectively, it can create scoring opportunities that can sway the momentum of a game..
Reviews for "The Magic Fast Break Pass: Key Strategies for Success"
1. John Smith - 1 star - The Magic Fast Break Pass was a complete waste of money. First of all, the website was incredibly confusing and difficult to navigate. It took me forever to find the information I was looking for. Secondly, the pass itself was not worth the price. The so-called "fast break" lines were still incredibly long, and there was no guarantee of actually getting to skip the regular lines. Save your money and just buy regular tickets.
2. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars - I was disappointed with the Magic Fast Break Pass. The concept is great, but the execution was poor. The pass holders were supposed to have access to an exclusive entrance, but when I arrived, there was no separate entrance and I was stuck waiting in the regular line. Additionally, the pass did not provide any significant time savings. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on a pass that didn't deliver on its promises.
3. Michael Thompson - 1 star - I regret purchasing the Magic Fast Break Pass. The biggest issue I had was that it did not provide any real advantage in terms of skipping lines. The lines for the attractions were still incredibly long, and I found myself waiting just as long as those without the pass. The advertising was misleading and the overall experience was a letdown.
4. Emily Davis - 2 stars - I was not impressed with the Magic Fast Break Pass. The main issue for me was that it was not worth the high price I paid. The pass claimed to provide priority access and fast entry to the attractions, but in reality, I found myself waiting in a separate line for just as long as the regular lines. I would not recommend this pass to others who are expecting a true fast track experience at the theme park.
5. David Wilson - 1 star - The Magic Fast Break Pass was a huge disappointment. Not only did it fail to provide any real time-saving benefits, but it also seemed like a money-grabbing scheme. The pass holders were still crammed into long lines, and there was no discernible advantage to having the pass. I regretted spending the extra money on a pass that turned out to be nothing more than a gimmick.