When the Los Angeles Lakers brought in Magic Johnson in 1979, there were immediate concerns about how two ball-dominant point guards would co-exist as the Lakers already had Norm Nixon, who led the team in that position.
Those doubts, however, quickly vanished as the Showtime Lakers captured two championships in the first three years of Magic’s reign. Still, what followed was one of the most shocking trades in franchise history when the team’s front office decided to trade Nixon to the then-San Diego Clippers despite proving he could co-exist on the same team with Johnson.
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The move shocked not only the fans but also the players, especially Michael Cooper, who later even admitted to feeling hurt watching his best friend get shipped away.
Cooper hated Nixon’s departure
From the start of the 1979-80 season, it was evident that the Purple and Gold had decided to build around Johnson. Yet Nixon adjusted impressively, averaging over 17 points per game (in the first three seasons together) and becoming a reliable offensive force.
Moreover, his speed matched that of Magic’s and the duo gave the team an up-tempo backcourt with elite playmaking and scoring. Additionally, with Nixon playing his part well, other players like Cooper were focused on putting their entire effort on the defensive end and earning All-Defensive Team honors.
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Speaking on his podcast, “Coop” recalled the deep bond he had developed with “Stormin Norman,” admitting that the latter’s departure disappointed him, especially because it happened so under the radar that no one on the team had an idea about it either.
“We lost Norm Nixon and that trade was made undercover. Nobody knew about that. Norm was averaging about 25 (points) and that trade hurt. I didn’t like that trade because, obviously, Norm being my best friend, but I thought we probably the fastest trio in the league – you know myself, Norm and Magic,” Cooper said. “We bring in Byron Scott, and boy we blew up after that.”
Cooper eventually understood the significance of that decision
After the Lakers lost to their archrivals – Boston Celtics, in the NBA Finals, many began to wonder whether trading away a steady proven veteran like Nixon was a mistake. But when Byron Scott stepped in and each player was assigned clear roles and positions, even Cooper came to understand that those behind the trade had a more long-term, strategic vision than he had initially realized.
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“The eye test for each trade doesn’t match what you think it is; it’s the ramification behind it. People doing those things behind know a little bit more or a lot more than we know out front,” Cooper added. “And there you have it.”
While Norm was one of the sparks that ignited the Showtime identity for the franchise in the ’80s, his departure was also a necessary shift. Not only did it allow Scott to embrace his position, but it even opened the doors for others like Jamaal Wilkes and James Worthy to get more time on the court and have more freedom to play their natural game.
As Mike’s admission indicated, even the players took time to realize that the move was made only with the vision of keeping the team in championship contention for future years.
Related: “A light went off” – The game that turned Michael Cooper into a defensive monster