The Evolution of Magic Johnson's Game: From College Star to NBA Legend

The history of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird is intertwined with the history of basketball itself. These two iconic players revolutionized the game and brought it to new heights during the 1980s. Magic Johnson, born Earvin Johnson Jr., played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979 to 1991 and again in 1996. He was known for his remarkable passing ability, court vision, and leadership skills. Magic was a versatile player who could play multiple positions.

Magic was a versatile player who could play multiple positions. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers and was named the NBA Finals MVP three times. Johnson was a 12-time NBA All-Star and won the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times.

User Reviews (10)

As a basketball fan and knowing that HBO does an excellent job with documentaries, I had high expectations for this, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Born in 1981, I never fully appreciated the rivalry as it was happening, but this certainly put it in perspective. It covers every intricacy of both the rivalry and the two men as individuals. After viewing it I'm not sure that there is any story in the history of sports that's as unique and special as Bird and Magic.

It started in 1979 with the NCAA championship and continued on to the NBA for several years.

On one hand you have Bird, the introverted type-A personality from Indiana; on the other you have Magic, the happy-go-lucky extrovert. The two men couldn't be more different personality-wise. So naturally in the early stages of the rivalry they had every reason to dislike each other. Yet as things progressed and as they found out more about each other, the relationship softened. For all their differences, they were eerily similar on the court and because of that there was a deep-rooted respect. Things really started to change when they got together to shoot a commercial for Converse at Bird's home in Indiana. And when Magic first announced he had HIV, Bird was one of the first people to reach out to him. It's obvious how much that meant to Magic.

I believe that every professional athlete can learn so much from both of these guys. The respect they have for the game and for each other represents the greatness of sports. It's really what it's all about and this documentary captures it like nothing else I've ever seen. Brilliantly done.

I also found it amazing how much pain Bird was in during the latter stages of his career. Yet he kept toughing it out game after game, season after season. You'd be hard pressed to find any one who'd do that in today's game.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals (2010)

Exceptional documentary covering the rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The film covers their first meeting in high school, their battle for the NCAA National Championship and then their battles in the NBA. Throughout their battles on the court we get to see what made the two men who they become, what different things they were doing off the court and finally what brought the two of them together as friends. If you're a sports fan then you already know this story but it's really amazing what this HBO documentary is able to do because it's just so excellent that it really makes you forget what you already know and it makes you feel as if you're hearing these stories for the first time. The documentary is just so much fun and so touching that you can't help but get caught up in the excitement in these two men. The documentary starts off talking about Johnson and Bird's early lives and we learn where they got their drive to try and become the greatest of their era. This strong passion forced both of them to see the other as the rival and it's just fascinating seeing two people with so much passion and fighting for the same thing. If you know the story then you know many of the stuff discussed here but it's still very entertaining. This includes their first shot at a friendship while shooting a commercial and then there's the story of Johnson's announcement that he's HIV positive. Sport fans are really going to be impressed with this documentary but the film is so strong that even those who don't know Bird and Magic will still find this entertaining. This is certainly one of the most energetic and touching documentaries that's out there and it's well worth watching.

What a lovely and well done documentary. I didn't plan to watch it all but the story just made me sit back and soak it all in. I wish I could have seen these two play. I started following the sport when I saw Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls.

If you are fan of these two great basketball players and want to know more about them and their lifes this is a really good one to get that. You will end understanding how great was that era with these two legends and how amazing they were.

It's avaiable on You Tube in TheNBAHistorian, an Official channel!

. Some may think one hour and a half of documentary about a rivalty in basketball would drag in some point but it doesn't and that's mainly because Aaron Cohen and Charles Olivier built a brilliant narrative. There are funny, dramatic, emotional and tense moments, we feel the roller coaster that is an athlete's life and these two have very interesting experiences. The film explores everything about Magic and Bird and shows how different they are personaly and professionaly. It covers their childhoods, their teenager years, how they got in the professional basketball, their careers and hobbies and when and why they retired. Always in order to make audience understand their personalities and choices in life. Nothing in the documentary is out of place. Magic is extrovert, really charismatic and fits the city life, Hollywood, fame, while Bird is very shy and simple, more apart from media. There is also an attention to the historical context in which they reached stardom, the Civil Rights era, when the different color of the players used to matter a lot to the fans and was a reason for fights inside and outside the court. Moreover, the material they have: pictures, match and advertising videos plus interviews is fantastic and beautifuly gathered by Charles Olivier. I loved the documentary because I fell in love with Magic and Bird and their incredible stories and relashionship so I can't recommend this film enough to anyone that enjoys sports and documentaries.

For all my youth, Magic was the one, with even ever seeing the man play, but after seeing this Documentary, ewrything changed, and Larry Bird became my favorit Sports Star. This is the one Documentary, and the one Sports Rivalry that Towers above any one in Sports History. Its a Must watch.

If you grew up watching basketball in the 80's then you knew all about the Magic v. Bird rivalry. My brother is a Lakers fan to this day because of Magic and the Showtime Lakers, and I'm sure there are many Celtics fans out there because of Bird.

This documentary chronicles their upbringing and their rivalry that began in college. There are interviews from pros, fans, and analysts about the two. Their rivalry may have been exaggerated for the sake of the NBA, but it wasn't a myth, and the world benefited as a result.

Well, this basketball documentary about Bird & Magic tries another approach than the amazing, fantastic, incredible comments from the NBA production. Here, it's more psychological with less highlights and more interviews! But, finally, I found it boring and as much « false » : it's like basketball which is a team sport can be reduced to only one player, even if he has extraordinary skills. All the more i must say that Magic exhausts me with his constant smile and laughs and i prefer without hesitation Bird who does his job and quits. The documentary is however interesting about their early career (rare footages) and make understand how those 2 players just fit with their city. Just imagine if Bird had played in LA and Magic in Boston . The other thing that we can understand is how their competitiveness and thirst for victories can never be quenched .

For basketball fans this is amazing. Spectacular simple and easy to understand. Only thing lacking is that it is maybe not perfect for people like me who never watched a single game. You get the basics and understand their life story and how important they were to the game. Yet the doc never tries to hype them up or explain smaller things like tactics or NBA history. Rather we just follow their careers. Some pundits here claim that Magic and Bird saved NBA which is what I have heard too. Yet it is never explained. We just see them compete and then talk about it in 2010. No monetary deals are mentioned, no team history, no win streaks explained, no team profit margins revealed. It's just 2 great athletes. Which is a shame because if they did save NBA then surely that part is essential to their stories. Instead it looks like any doc about any good athlete. They played well, got sick, stopped. What did they influence?

Also, while Magic is presented as an amazing player Bird is kinda at times presented as just this White guy who is good at basketball who was hyped up for being White. They for example only mention he was good at shooting by having a teammate explain how he saw it in training. But Bird is still one of the best 3 point shooters of all time and clearly did this stuff in games. From the doc it was not clear what he did or what his playing style was. With Magic they go into greater details. Also, it did seem like Magic was a much bigger star overall which at times they didn't explain so it seemed like he was a way better player. Bird didn't like to give interviews or meet new people so Magic was a bigger showman overall and maybe Bird alone would not have saved NBA as he would just be a boring good player. The fight with Magic made him an essence of NBA. A showman by just playing.

Honestly if you know what they did to NBA already and how much profit they produced and how they popularized the game then this is ideal for you. You will not see how famous they were or are just that they were great players with many fans. Maybe having modern players and coaches talk about them too would have made this clear. Like modern Celtics and LA Lakers players and fans. That would illustrate it all to people who don't follow the teams. It would make it clear that they changed the game. Instead you just have to know this before watching it.

Eddie Johnson, who played 16 NBA seasons (1982-99) talked recently of Stern’s impact on the “NBA Today” show he co-hosts on Sirius XM satellite radio. “When David Stern had it, especially [early], there were about five or six teams ready to go under. Including the team I was playing for, the Kansas City Kings. He had to try to change that mindset. And what he did, he entrusted two individuals: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. He entrusted them to take the league and get it attention, and take it to a higher level.

On the other hand, Larry Bird played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 to 1992. He was known for his shooting skills, basketball IQ, and competitiveness. Bird had a remarkable rivalry with Magic Johnson, starting from their college days when Bird's Indiana State faced Johnson's Michigan State in the 1979 NCAA championship game. While Bird's team lost that game, it set the stage for their future battles in the NBA. Bird won three NBA championships with the Celtics and was named the NBA Finals MVP twice. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and won the MVP award three consecutive times from 1984 to 1986. The rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird was one of the greatest in sports history. Their contrasting styles and personalities captivated fans and elevated the popularity of basketball to new heights. Magic's flashy style and smile contrasted with Bird's stoic demeanor and gritty play. They faced each other in the NBA Finals three times, with Magic's Lakers winning two and Bird's Celtics winning one. Off the court, Johnson and Bird also made significant contributions to the game. Both players were instrumental in the formation of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team, also known as the "Dream Team." This team, which included other basketball legends like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, dominated the competition and won the gold medal. In retirement, both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird have remained influential figures in the basketball world. Johnson became a successful businessman, owning multiple companies and holding ownership stakes in sports teams. He also became an advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness after announcing his diagnosis in 1991. Bird found success as a coach and executive, working for the Indiana Pacers and winning NBA Coach of the Year award in 1998 and Executive of the Year award in 2012. The history of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird is not just the story of two basketball players, but rather a testament to the transformative power of sports. Their impact on the game and their rivalry will forever be remembered as a defining chapter in basketball history..

Reviews for "The Key Moments in Magic and Bird's Rivalry"

1. John - 2/5

I was really disappointed with "History of magic and bird". While I was expecting an intriguing and detailed exploration of these fascinating creatures, the book fell short. The content felt shallow and superficial, lacking depth and substance. Additionally, the writing style was dry and monotonous, making the reading experience quite boring. Overall, I found the book to be a missed opportunity to truly delve into the captivating history of magic and bird.

2. Sarah - 1/5

I honestly cannot understand the hype around "History of magic and bird". The book was poorly written and poorly researched. There were numerous factual errors and inconsistencies throughout, which made it hard to take anything seriously. Moreover, the author's attempts at humor felt forced and cringe-worthy. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in learning about the history of magic and bird. It was a complete letdown.

3. Michael - 2/5

"History of magic and bird" lacked the in-depth information I was hoping for. The book barely scratched the surface of the subject matter and failed to provide any significant insights or revelations. The writing style was convoluted and hard to follow, making it a struggle to stay engaged. The lack of proper citations or references also made it difficult to trust the accuracy of the information presented. Overall, I found this book to be a major disappointment and would not recommend it to those seeking an informative and comprehensive exploration of magic and bird history.

4. Emily - 2.5/5

I had high expectations for "History of magic and bird" but was ultimately let down. While the book touched upon interesting aspects of magic and bird history, it lacked coherence and organization. The chapters seemed disjointed and didn't flow smoothly, making it hard to follow the timeline of events. Additionally, the author's writing style was overly verbose and unnecessarily complicated, further detracting from the overall reading experience. Although the book had its moments, it ultimately failed to meet my expectations.

How Magic and Bird Led Their Teams to Multiple Championships