“I was so happy to see him step off the plane with two trophies” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explained why he refused to accept Magic Johnson giving an NBA Finals MVP to him originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The greatest duos in NBA history are often those who not only respect each other but are also willing to sacrifice individual accolades for the success of their teammate and their team and there is not a clearer example of that bond than the one between Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during their first title run with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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The moment the team returned to the city to celebrate with their fans and other organization members, Magic was ready to hand his Finals MVP trophy to Abdul-Jabbar, recognizing who he truly believed was the driving force behind their success.
Abdul-Jabbar was super happy for Johnson
While Magic entered the league with plenty of hype and charisma, the 1979-80 season largely belonged to Kareem. He averaged 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game.
As a result, he won an All-Star nod, the MVP honor, a spot on the All-NBA First team and All-Defensive First team. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he elevated his production to 31.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in the Playoffs.
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More precisely, in the championship round against the Philadelphia 76ers, Kareem seemed unstoppable, averaging 33.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 4.6 blocks over the first five games before picking up an ankle injury. So, while Magic stepped up with an iconic 42-point and 15-assist double-double to lead the Purple and Gold over the finish line, he realized that it was Abdul-Jabbar who was the real catalyst for the team.
Years later, in an interview with ESPN, Abdul-Jabbar admitted to rumors that Johnson was willing to gift him the Finals MVP trophy. But, showing his true character, he refused because he was ecstatic to see his rookie teammate shine in the spotlight.
“I said, ‘You know, I think I deserve it,” Abdul-Jabbar said with a subtle smirk. “You know, the public got a hold of that and they would take it the wrong way and that wasn’t the case, man. I was so happy to see him step off the plane with two trophies. That’s fine by me, with some polish on it,” Kareem fondly recalled.
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That is what made the pair of Kareem and Magic iconic
There have been plenty of center-guard duos in the league, but what made Kareem and Magic stand apart was the way they fed off each other’s accomplishments and energy, never letting ego get in the way. Whether it was Magic creating for Kareem or Abdul-Jabbar doing the extra work on defense to cover for Magic’s weaknesses, the duo constantly lifted each other up and, in doing so, led the Lakers to five championships together.
Safe to say, their chemistry was not just built on talent; in fact, it was built on mutual admiration, humility and a shared commitment to sharing the spotlight season after season.
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Perhaps, who knows, had these not been the main ingredients, the Showtime Lakers would have never reigned supreme as the most successful franchise of the ’80s decade. It’s a well-known fact that the ego is the main ingredient that has destroyed championship teams throughout history, but that’s something Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar never let get in the way.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.