The final match of the Bird vs Magic game was highly anticipated by basketball fans all over the country. The two legendary players, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, had already established their place in basketball history. This game was seen as the ultimate showdown between two of the greatest competitors the sport had ever seen. The energy in the arena was palpable as fans from both sides cheered on their favorite player. Bird, known for his deadly shooting skills and ability to lead his team, was determined to come out on top. Magic, on the other hand, was admired for his versatility and exceptional court vision.

Magic Johnson And Larry Bird Dominated The 1980s, Played In Every NBA Finals Of The Decade

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird had arguably the most iconic rivalry in NBA history. Two legendary players that started their careers around the same time, playing for two of the most decorated franchises in the history of the league; the Celtics and the Lakers. And both went down as two of the greatest to wear those jerseys. Larry Bird came into the league in 1978, after a stellar stint at Indiana State. He was joining a Boston Celtics team that had fallen off. After joining, he immediately transformed them into a championship contender. With Bird at the helm, the Celtics would be one of the best teams in the NBA for years to come.

The Celtics would add other solid stars like Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, allowing them to form a big three that dominated the Eastern Conference. Within just 2 seasons, Bird would lead the Celtics to the NBA championship, establishing himself a superstar in the NBA. As for Magic Johnson, he entered the league in 1979 and immediately took it by storm. Johnson joined a pretty strong Los Angeles Lakers team led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and instantly made an impact. He and Kareem formed a solid tandem and took the Lakers to the NBA Finals. And during the Finals, Magic announced his arrival onto the NBA landscape by leading the Lakers to the championship and winning Finals MVP, becoming the only player in history to win Finals MVP as a rookie.

The duo was incredibly dominant during the 1980s. In fact, Bird and Magic Johnson played in each NBA Finals of the decade and had a combined 13 NBA Finals appearances between the two during the 80s. Magic and Bird even faced off in the NBA Finals on three occasions; 1984, 1985, and 1987. Bird and the Celtics won their first encounter in 1984 but would lose to Magic and the Lakers in 1985 and 1987. The rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics was arguably at its peak during this time. No duo has been able to match this, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry coming closest, playing 9 out of the 10 NBA Finals during the 2010s. There are very few words to describe just how pivotal Bird and Magic were in the NBA's worldwide growth. They made the NBA must-see television and made the league one of the most lucrative sporting brands in the world. Charles Barkley has described Magic and Bird as the two most important players in the history of the league and credited them for saving the league and giving it new life. It is hard to argue, given how popular the NBA is today, and just how revered both Bird and Magic are in today's NBA.

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Magic Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird sparked greatest NBA Finals battle ever

Each story worth telling has an absorbing main character taking on a captivating adversary - and there are few sporting rivalries where two great talents are as intertwined as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

They first crossed paths after Johnson had completed his debut season in college, where his Michigan State team lost to eventual national champion Kentucky in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championship. George Fox, Johnson’s high school coach, recalled the story of how Magic realised that he and Bird were cut from the same cloth.

“Earvin, do you know there is a 6’8 or 6’9 kid somewhere in a gym in this country and he’s got all your skills - is he going to out work you?” Fox said. “A year later, I’m talking to him somewhere and he said, ‘hey coach, do you remember that story you told me about somebody outworking me? I found him.’”

Johnson and Bird were invited as part of an elite group of players selected to represent the United States. Johnson saw Bird hitting shot after shot in training and while the two had never played together before, their on-court chemistry came easily due to their immense talent.

“We got into the game and we started throwing no-look passes, and he started hitting long jump shots,” Johnson said. “One time I came down and threw a no-look to Larry, he got it, threw a no-look back to me, and I laid it up - and the people went nuts!

“After that, I went back and told everybody: Larry Bird, he’s for real.”

The respect was mutual, as Bird added: “I knew I was going to see him a lot.”

Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers lost to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics to earn the point guard the label 'Tragic Magic' (

During the 1978-79 season, Michigan State once again qualified for the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the final to take on Bird’s Indiana State for the championship. Bird had inspired the Sycamores to a 33-0 record and he, like Johnson, was becoming a household name within the American sporting landscape.

The 1979 NCAA Championship Game began to cause a divide across the States; not only was it powered by racial connotations, but it was the city and urban Magic taking on the country Bird - and they were clearly the two best players in college basketball. Bird said: “You couldn’t turn on the TV without people talking about Magic-Bird - it was everywhere.”

The game remains the most-watched college basketball game ever, with 35.1 million viewers tuning into NBC to watch the Spartans emerge 75-64 winners while Magic was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Ultimately, the title match foreshadowed the rivalry between the two Hall of Famers that defined the NBA for a decade. Not only would they vie for individual honours, but they would contest the NBA Finals on three occasions as the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics captivated the nation in the 1980s

The two men quickly established themselves as the budding stars of the league, with Bird beating his rival to the Rookie of the Year award while Johnson won Finals MVP to cap off his debut campaign with the NBA title. They finally met on the biggest stage in the 1984 NBA Finals, pitting two storied franchises with an iconic history against one another once again.

The Lakers and Celtics contested the Finals on seven occasions between 1959 and 1969, with Boston emerging on top each time. The contest was massively anticipated and once again it was because of what the two players - willingly or not - represented. In They Call Me Magic, actor Samuel L. Jackson said: “The attitude of the country was the Lakers were black America’s team, and the Celtics were white America’s team.”

The Lakers took Game 1 in Boston before a Magic error meant the Lakers didn’t get a shot off to send the game to overtime, where the Celtics claimed the win. Game 3 was won by Los Angeles at a canter, with Johnson’s 21 assists inspiring the Lakers to a dominant 137-104 win.

The Celtics chose to use physicality to disrupt the Showtime Lakers in Game 4, and Magic missed two crucial free throws with the game tied. Boston won and went on to claim the series in seven games, with Johnson being labelled ‘tragic’ - much to the glee of Bird.

“The trophies and the rings and all that didn’t matter; it was all about beating the Lakers and beating Earvin,” Bird said. “That’s all that mattered.”

Do you think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's rivalry is the greatest in NBA history? Let us know in the comments section.

Johnson and the Lakers earned their shot at revenge just 12 months later. Magic provided a remarkable 14 assists per game to lead Los Angeles to their first championship win over the Celtics in six games, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar securing the Finals MVP award.

With the pair level with one title win over the other apiece, Johnson and Bird met again for the final time in the NBA Finals in 1987. Bird was the reigning champion after reclaiming the Larry O’Brien trophy the year before, defeating the Houston Rockets 4-2 with the former Indiana State claiming MVP honours in the series.

The 1987 NBA Finals were the most watched Finals in history at that point, with both American and international fans tuning in to watch the final chapter of one of sport’s greatest rivalries. Both Bird and Johnson knew the weight of the occasion; it was not just about bragging rights for their respective cities, but about defining their respective legacies once and for all.

“One of us was going to take the championship lead over each other!” Magic said. “That was between Larry and I, and I had to make sure that was going to be my team that was up 2-1 because I had to have the edge.

“We were a fine-tuned machine, and that was our best team - if not the greatest team ever in NBA history.”

Johnson secured another Finals MVP in what was Abdul-Jabbar’s final series. Magic put up 26.2 points, 13.0 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game as Los Angeles claimed the championship in six games, with Johnson even scoring an iconic shot that became known as the ‘baby sky hook’ to win Game 4.

The 1987 Finals was the culmination of Magic and Bird's decade-long rivalry that dominated the NBA. Between the two players, they won eight NBA titles, five Finals MVP awards, six league MVP awards, and a whopping 24 All-Star appearances.

The rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird transformed the NBA, and spanned from when they were in college all the way to legends of the sport - and it has gone down as one of the greatest feuds in sporting history.

They Call Me Magic is streaming on Apple TV+

Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson - Taking a closer look at one of the greatest rivalries in NBA History

The rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson was one of the most defining aspects of the NBA in the 80s. With the two forming one of the greatest rivalries of all time, we take a closer look at the finer aspects of this dynamic.

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson entered the NBA Draft in the same season. However, their rivalry had taken root much before their professional basketball careers began.

Johnson, who played for the Michigan State Spartans, went up against Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores in the 1979 NCAA championship game.

Although Bird dropped 19 points on the night, Johnson walked away with the trophy as the Spartans won 75-64. Bird won several accolades for a tremendous season. However, the loss to Magic set the tone for the rivalry for the upcoming decade.

Heading into the NBA Draft, Johnson was selected as the first-overall pick by the LA Lakers. Meanwhile, Bird went sixth overall and was picked by the Boston Celtics. Considering the long-standing history between the Lakers and the Celtics, the two couldn't have picked a better environment for a brewing rivalry.

Magic, on the other hand, was admired for his versatility and exceptional court vision. The game started with both players showing off their skills. Bird's shooting prowess was on full display as he sunk shot after shot, leaving fans in awe.

Bird and Magic's early careers

Their rookie season saw both establish a new style of play in the NBA. As unorthodox players in their respective positions, Bird and Magic redefined the sport. Needless to say, this was destined to breed success in building a culture in the future.

Bird ended up winning the Rookie of the Year award that season. However, Johnson took things a step further and won the NBA title as well as the Finals MVP award.

Larry Bird ended up winning the NBA title in the following season with Kevin McHale and Robert Parish coming on board. Meanwhile, Magic Johnson and the Lakers were going through a bit of a rough patch as internal inconsistencies arose.

Years 1982 and 1983 saw Bird miss the NBA Finals as Philadelphia was back on top with Julius Erving leading the way. Although Magic won in '82, Erving and the 76ers would finally enjoy title success the following year.

Magic, on the other hand, showcased his incredible passing ability, setting up his teammates with flashy assists. The score remained close throughout the game, with Bird and Magic going head to head in a battle of wills. The crowd roared with every basket made, and tension filled the air. Both players displayed their competitive spirit, refusing to back down. As the game neared its end, Bird and Magic elevated their performance to another level. Their shots became more precise, their movements calculated, and their determination evident. It was a true clash of basketball titans. In the final moments, Bird made a clutch shot that put his team in the lead. However, Magic responded with a series of passes that resulted in quick baskets, bringing his team back on top. It was a back and forth battle until the very end. When the final buzzer sounded, Magic and his team emerged victorious, winning the game by a narrow margin. While Bird and his team were disappointed with the outcome, they recognized the exceptional display of skill by their opponent. The Bird vs Magic finals will always be remembered as one of the most thrilling and intense matches in basketball history. It showcased the immense talent and fierce competitiveness of both players. Even though there was a winner and a loser, both Bird and Magic left a lasting legacy in the sport and solidified their positions as basketball icons..

Reviews for "Bird and Magic: The Finals Rivalry That Changed Basketball Forever"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to watching the "Bird vs Magic Finals" as I had heard so much about the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. However, I was incredibly disappointed with the documentary. The film lacked depth and failed to capture the intensity and competitiveness of the rivalry. The narration felt monotonous and didn't offer any real insight into the players' lives or the impact they had on the game. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into one of the greatest rivalries in basketball history.

2. Michael - 1 star - "Bird vs Magic Finals" was a complete letdown. The documentary was overly simplistic and seemed more like a highlight reel than a thoughtful analysis of the rivalry. The filmmakers missed the mark by glossing over important moments in their careers and failing to provide any behind-the-scenes anecdotes or interviews. The lack of depth left the documentary feeling shallow and unfulfilling. As a fan of basketball history, I was expecting so much more from this film.

3. Emily - 2 stars - I was excited to watch "Bird vs Magic Finals" as I'm a fan of both Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. However, the documentary left me feeling underwhelmed. The film lacked structure and failed to provide a cohesive narrative. It jumped between different moments in their careers with no clear timeline or context. Additionally, the documentary didn't offer any new or interesting insights into the rivalry or the players themselves. Overall, it was a missed opportunity to provide a comprehensive and engaging look at one of the most iconic rivalries in basketball history.

4. David - 2.5 stars - While "Bird vs Magic Finals" had the potential to be an incredible documentary, it fell short in execution. The film lacked proper pacing and failed to maintain my interest throughout. The use of repetitive footage and a lack of fresh insights made it feel like a rehashing of old stories rather than a new and unique perspective. The filmmakers could have delved deeper into the personal lives of Bird and Magic, exploring their motivations and how their rivalry impacted them personally. Overall, the documentary felt uninspired and failed to capture the true essence of the iconic rivalry.

Bird vs. Magic: The NBA Finals that Defined a Generation