So, how many rings does Magic Johnson have? Magic has five NBA Championship rings.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is considered to be the greatest point guard of all time. He is also among the winningest NBA players as the leader of the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s.
En route to winning titles, Magic accumulated numerous individual awards and accolades. So, how many rings does Magic Johnson have? How good was he?
How Many Rings Does Magic Johnson Have?
Johnson played for 13 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and has five championship rings to show for it. He first won the NBA championship as a rookie in 1980. Magic then added more championship trophies by winning in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
Johnson won three Finals MVPs for good measure, so you can be sure he’s produced some of the best Finals numbers out there.
Here are some of the best Magic Johnson stats in the NBA Finals:
1.) Averaged 19.4 points, 11.7 assists, and 7.9 rebounds in 50 NBA Finals games.
2.) Most APG (assists per game) in an NBA Finals series with 14.0. This happened in 1985.
3.) Most total assists in NBA Finals (587) and the most APG in NBA Finals (11.7).
4.) Nine (9) NBA Finals appearances (good for fifth all-time)
5.) The only rookie to win Finals MVP (1980)
6.) Averaged 26.2 points, 13.0 assists, and eight rebounds in the 1987 NBA Finals
7.) Eight triple-doubles in NBA Finals history, second only to LeBron James (11)
An Overview of Magic’s Title Runs
Magic’f 50 games played in the NBA Finals is seventh all-time. Interestingly, even though he has won five out of nine NBA Finals series, Johnson had a losing per-game record on the big stage. That’s because the Los Angeles Lakers were swept twice– in 1983 and 1989. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls handled him pretty well in 1991 with a gentleman’s sweep (4-1).
That said, Johnson’s five rings aren’t something to scoff at. He faced some of the fiercest competitors of his time, among them Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics and Isiah Thomas’ Detroit Pistons.
First Championship Ring (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia Sixers, 1980)
As a wide-eyed rookie with a constant smile, Johnson was doing well in his first year. However, the Los Angeles Lakers were unmistakably Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s team. Kareem was the reigning league MVP, with averages of almost 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.4 blocks in the regular season.
As great as Abdul-Jabbar was, he was somehow better in the Finals! He torched Philly for 33.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks in 5 games. But then, tragedy struck. The big man rolled his ankle in the middle of Game 5 and must sit in Game 6. And that’s when Magic happened.
Starting at center with their superstar out, Johnson was all over the place– scoring 42 points, grabbing 15 boards, and dishing out seven assists– in Game 6. Magic called that game ‘the best of his career,’ and it probably was. That performance netted him the NBA Finals MVP, and he remains the only rookie to have that distinction. Magic won a ring his rookie season.
Second Championship Ring (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia Sixers, 1982)
The series was all about a balanced scoring attack for the Lakers. Six Lakeraveragedng double-digits in scoring, paced by Jamaal Wilkes’ 19.7 PPG. The migraine-stricken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 18 PPG. Johnson was good for eight dimes per night but shared playmaking duties with Norm Nixon (10 APG). Magic led the team in rebounds (10.8) and steals (2.5).
After a back-and-forth of five games, the Purple and Gold handled their business in Game 6. In true “Showtime” fashion, Magic finished the series with a triple-double, amassing 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists.
Third Championship Ring (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics, 1985)
This featured a rematch of the previous season’s NBA Finals, which the Celtics won. The pressure to perform and get the monkey off their backs was undoubtedly on the Lakers’ side. After all, the Celtics won all previous eight championship meetings, dating back to 1959!
Game 1 sure looked like the Celtics planned to keep the streak going. They destroyed the Lakers, 148-114, behind six players scoring double-digits. (The game was such a blowout it was dubbed the “Memorial Day Massacre.”) The Purple and Gold bounced back by winning the next two games, while the Celtics pulled off a 107-105 squeaker in Game 4.
Thfollowingxt two games belonged to James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was named Finals MVP. Johnson was his usual self, filling the gaps in rebounding and dropping dimes. Like his personal tradition, Magic closed out the Celtics with a triple-double, scoring 14 points, dishing 14 assists, and grabbinten10 boards.
Fourth Championship Ring (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics, 1987)
After playing in the NBA Finals for three consecutive years, the Celtics still had the upper hand, 2-1. If anything, losing to Boston a third time would have made anyone on a Lakers’ jersey lose face. Magic Johnson was not about to let that happen.
One of the most iconic moments in this series was Magic’s skyhook to defeat Boston in Game 4, 107-106. That allowed the Lakers to take a commanding 3-1 lead. More importantly, that play erased the stigma of “Tragic Magic,” a derisive nickname given to Johnson for his previous late-game blunders.
After finishing the Celtics in Game 16 with a masterful 19-assist performance, Johnson’s final numbers were nothing less than stellar. He averaged 26.2 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists per game for another Finals MVP-worthy performance.
Fifth Championship Ring (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons, 1988)
Probably the most challenging championship under Johnson’s tenure, the Lakers had to battle the Bad Boys of Detroit for seven games. The Purple and Gold had to dig deep into their experience angrily as they faced a 2-3 deficit going into Game 6.
Johnson was a consistent figure in this series, but they had to find to handle more of the scoring load. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was aging, and it’s visible that Detroit’s gauntlet of big demanded him uncomfortable. Thankfully, James Worthy and Byron Scott answered the call.
If you’re a longtime basketball fan, you may remember Game 6 as the “sprained ankle game” of Isiah Thomas. He had 43 points in a heroic performance, but that sore ankle bothered him enough to be a non-factor in the second half of Game 7. The Pistons cut a 15-point Laker lead to one, 106-105, but there wasn’t enough time to pull off a miracle.
Worthy compiled 36 points, 16 rebounds, and ten assists in the game, while Johnson had 14 assists and 19 points. This would be the last Lakers championship until 12 years later.
Magic Johnson’s All-Time Records
1.) Highest APG average in NBA history (11.2)
2.) Tied for best career win-loss percentage (74%)
3.) Nine-time All-NBA First Team
4.) Most assists in the playoffs (2,346)
5.) Most triple-doubles in the playoffs (30)
6.) Highest APG average in playoffs (12.4)
Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird: Who’s Better?
The careers of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are forever intertwined. They played against each other in the Finals three times, and their rivalry is credited with making the NBA what it is today. But who’s better in the eyes of most basketball fans, Magic or Bird?
Individually, it’s closer than anyone might think. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are cut in the same cloth, two unselfish superstars who made their teammates better. Magic may be the better passer and court general, but Bird is a better scorer and rebounder. That’s not saying Magic couldn’t score or Bird couldn’t pass, either. As pointed out, the two are the same players who are all about winning.
Championships-wise, Johnson has the edge. But winning a championship is more of a team achievement, which implies Magic may be playing on a better team.
He had prime-level Kareem, another top-10 player of all time, on most of these runs. James Worthy was his perfect running mate, while he also had Norm Nixon and Jamaal Wilkes until 1985. This trio had 12 All-Star appearances between them. Michael Cooper was a perennial DPOY candidate, and Byron Scott and A.C. Green are legitimate starting-level players.
Of course, Bird also played with All-Stars such as Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Danny Ainge. This group had 13 All-Star appearances, and Robert Parish, the starting center, had nine by himself.
The point is, you don’t have a clear-cut option if the two choices are Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. It’s like choosing between a Porsche or a Lamborghini; both are owned and manufactured by the same company, which means there is no wrong answer.
Top Ten Magic Johnson Plays Video
Magic’s Background and Life Off-Court
Earvin Johnson was born in Lansing, Michigan n on August 14, 19an. He attended Everett High School and led his team to a state championship in 1977. After his 36 points, 16 assists, and 18 rebounds game, sportswriter Fred Stabley, Jr., nicknamed him “Magic.”
Johnson played for two years at Michigan State Universityleadinged, leading his Spartans to an NCAA Championship as a sophomore. The Spartans and Magic beat Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores in the 1979 title game.
Johnson was the first overall pick in the first round of the 1979 NBA Draft — the LA Lakers’ first-ever number-one overall pick.
He married his high school sweetheart Cookie, and they have three children. They reside in Beverly Hills, California.
Johnson won a gold medal for the United States at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 with “The Dream Team.” This team is widely considered one of the best basketball teams ever assembled.
Magic retired in 1991. Shortly after that, he announced that he had contracted HIV. He came back to play in the 1992 All-Star game, where he was voted to be a starter by public vote. He won the All-Star MVP award.
Off the court, Magic has invested wisely in real estate and businesses. He is an entrepreneur, broadcaster, and motivational speaker. Magic is part of the investment team that has purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers and the LA Sparks. He has also been an advocate for HIV and AIDS prevention.
His estimated net worth is over $620 million. His business is called Magic Johnson Enterprises and includes a movie studio, theaters, and a marketing company.
List of Players with the Most NBA Championship Rings
The most NBA championships player list is below.
Six or More Rings
Bill Russell – Boston Celtics (11)
Sam Jones – Boston Celtics (10)
Satch Sanders – Boston Celtics (8)
KC Jones – Boston Celtics (8)
John Havlicek – Boston Celtics (8)
Tom Heinsohn – Boston Celtics (8)
Jim Loscutoff – Boston Celtics (7)
Robert Horry – Houston Rockets, LA Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs (7)
Frank Ramsey – Boston Celtics (7)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Milwaukee Bucks and LA Lakers (6)
Michael Jordan – Chicago Bulls (6)
Scottie Pippen – Chicago Bulls (6)
Bob Cousy – Boston Celtics (6)
Five Rings
George Mikan – Minneapolis Lakers (5)
Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers (5)
Jim Pollard – Minneapolis Lakers (5)
Don Nelson – Boston Celtics (5)
Slater Martin – Minneapolis Lakers (5)
Magic Johnson – Los Angeles Lakers (5)
Michael Cooper – Los Angeles Lakers (5)
Larry Siegfried – Boston Celtics (5)
Ron Harper – Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers (5)
Dennis Rodman – Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls(5)
Steve Kerr – Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs (5)
Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs (5)
Derek Fisher – Los Angeles Lakers (5)
Four Rings
Steph Curry – Golden State Warriors (4)
Draymond Green – Golden State Warriors (4)
Andre Iguodala – Golden State Warriors (4)
Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors (4)
LeBron James – Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers (4)
Tony Parker – San Antonio Spurs (4)
Shaquille O’Neal – Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat (4)
Manu Ginobili – San Antonio Spurs (4)
Horace Grant – Chicago Bulls (4)
John Salley – Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers (4)
Will Perdue – Chicago Bulls (4)
Robert Parish – Boston Celtics (4)
Jamaal Wilkes – Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors (4)
Kurt Rambis – Los Angeles Lakers (4)
Bill Sharman – Boston Celtics (4)
Gene Guarilia – Boston Celtics (4)
Frank Saul – Rochester Royals and Minneapolis Lakers (4)
Vern Mikkelsen – Minneapolis Lakers (4)
Final Thoughts
There is a short list of NBA players who may lay claim to the GOAT title. Make no mistake about it; Magic Johnson is on that list. He was a three-time league MVP, a perennial All-Star selection, and All-NBA team member. But like any other great player, Magic was all about winning rings.
How many rings does Magic Johnson have? Johnson and the “Showtime” Lakers dominated the 80s with five championships. They were the first to repeat as championships (1987 and 1988) since the Boston Celtics (1968 and 1969); Johnson also reached the Finals four other times.
Magic Johnson’s work is a testament to his genius as a basketball player. He was not about volume scoring, but he could stuff the stat sheet in his sleep because of his uncanny basketball IQ. He was selected as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.
Being a winner is difficult, but only a few athletes have ever been able to accomplish it repeatedly. Johnson isn’t simply someone who has achieved great success; he showed that he could do it repeatedly.
Johnson’s Legacy
Earvin Magic Johnson is considered to be the greatest point guard of all time. He is among the winningest NBA players as the leader of the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s.
En route to winning titles, Magic accumulated numerous individual awards and accolades. So, how many rings does Magic Johnson have? How good was he?
By Jan Rey with Mike O’Halloran
Jan is a sucker for all things basketball and still yells, “Kobe!” every time he tosses a crumpled paper into a trash bin. Mike has written three books on youth basketball coaching.
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