Magic vs. Bird: Their legendary 1979 NCAA title game battle

In the massive 1979 NCAA title game, a career-long rivalry began between basketball legends Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Magic and the Michigan State Spartans got the best of Bird's Indiana State Sycamores, 75-64. Watch all the highlights from the matchup here.
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[@HOE-rv6ie]

They both have #33 in their jersey. Bird continued to have that at Celtics while Magic had to change to #32 because that was already held by Jabbar at Lakers.

[@MusicManSeanB]

Amazing that for 3 decades, this game was the highest rated/watched National Championship Game in history. This game was my introduction to basketball as a 7 year old kid.

[@9MagTV]

My 1st Year Watching Basketball On Television, I Was 12, From Chicago And Bird Beat My Hometown Depaul Blue Demons Who Had Mark Aguirre. College Was Better Than The NBA Until 1983.

[@adrianwalsh6053]

I was 8 years old when they played that game !!!I'm sure that was a classic,(classic game)

[@adrianwalsh6053]

I wanna watch the full game 🎮 😩

[@jftube3333]

It's available on youtube. Look it up

[@jeffreyhowerton1320]

Whooo that dunk was nasty that magic did I turned my face away from the screen when he did that it looked like a Shawn Kemp dunk or something I mean vicious wow they were balling out

[@gsuandre5579]

i love how bird is consider a poor defender, but he has so many defensive key play on his career to win games.

[@SpaceGhost67]

Bird, broken thumb, triple teamed, and still almost pulled it off! GOAT

[@gangtime8705]

Magic top 3 of all time

[@ooozie6285]

🧢

[@jeffreyhowerton1320]

And dude just went sailing by on the floor I know he had skid burns cuz once magic rolled over him he had no choice but try absorb the brunt of the hit

[@JP-wu8ek]

Lol @ "The Bird".

[@brandonpotter4641]

3:16 commentator said "4 point play"... How's that possible without a 3 pointer? Someone help lol

[@MusicManSeanB]

The old "airborne" rule back in the day, when an offensive player is already in the air, and the defender tries to slide under and though the intent may be try and take a charge, it also leaves the offensive player vulnerable to have their legs taken from under them. So if in this case, Magic who dunked on the defender Bob Heaton, the basket counted, and he's awarded an additional 2 free throws. It's the back then version of someone converting a basket on a flagrant foul these days.

[@brandonpotter4641]

@@MusicManSeanB Interesting!! Never heard of this. And out of curiosity, if he missed the dunk and still got the "airborne" call, would it be two free throws and the possession back, or?

[@MusicManSeanB]

@@brandonpotter4641 I believe back then it was only 1 free throw plus possession. But of course in this case, Magic was able to convert, thus the 2 free throws to make it a rare 4 pointer back then. The rule was to protect players from getting undercut on purpose. One of the most gruesome injuries was during the either the 80-81 or 81-82 season, when Kentucky's Sam Bowie on a fast break caught an alley-hoop, and after dunking it through, had his legs taken out from beneath him, breaking his leg...which was the start of his long-term leg problems.

[@brandonpotter4641]

@@MusicManSeanB Good info brotha!

[@MusicManSeanB]

@@brandonpotter4641 no problem guy.

[@delhatton]

Larry Bird didn't win his championship game either. We might say that he had the last laugh.

[@FreshPrincex4]

Are you referring to Caitlin Clark?

[@delhatton]

@@FreshPrincex4 Yes

[@jeffreyhowerton1320]

Whooo that dunk was nasty that magic did I turned my face away from the screen when he did that it looked like a Shawn Kemp dunk or something I mean vicious wow they were balling out