THIS WEEK IN HISTORY MAY 16, 1980 They may be leading the 1980 NBA Finals 3-2, but you wouldn't guess it as the Los Angeles Lakers gather for the flight to Philadelphia for Game Six. Missing is talismanic captain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who suffers a badly sprained ankle in Game Five, which the Lakers somehow manage to win 108-103. Not to worry, says upstart rookie Earvin Magic Johnson, who boards the plane and plants himself in Abdul-Jabbar's customary front-row seat. He winks at coach Paul Westhead and then playfully announces to his teammates: 'Never fear, E. J. is here'! 'Showtime' has arrived. The 20-year-old point guard backs up the bravado with one of the most remarkable games in playoff history. He starts by jumping the opening tap in Abdul-Jabbar's place, then plays in every position on the floor at one time or another, from his customary role to Abdul-Jabbar's pivot spot at centre. The six-foot-nine Johnson scores 42 points, grabs 15 rebounds and hands out seven assists as the Lakers stun the legendary Julius Erving and his 76ers 123-107 to clinch the first of his five NBA championships. Westhead says of his amazing rookie: 'We all thought he was a movie-star player, but we found out he wears a hard hat. It's like finding a great orthopedic surgeon who can also operate a bulldozer.' Says former Lakers swingman Michael Cooper: 'There have been times when he has thrown passes and I wasn't sure where he was going. Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must've thrown it through somebody.' Johnson, snapped up by the Lakers to bring the normally reserved Forum crowds off their hands and on to their feet, becomes the first rookie to win the Finals MVP Award. The stunning effort exemplifies his uncanny ability to do whatever the Lakers need in order to win. Given the nickname Magic by a sports writer who sees the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists - although his devout Christian mother thinks the nickname is blasphemous - Johnson begins his rookie season by leaping into the arms of Abdul-Jabbar following a last-second victory over the Clippers on opening night. The Lakers centre tells the exuberant rookie to calm down, there are still 81 games to go - and that was only the regular season. Johnson finishes it by looking into the TV cameras and sending a message to Abdul-Jabbar back in his Bel-Air home: 'This one's for you, Big Fella!'
