NBA On TNT - Kevin Johnson (37p) Battles Magic Johnson (43p) In LA! Great Game! 1990 WCSF G5

Last game as a Laker for Michael Cooper and Pat Riley
www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199005150LAL.html
KJ: 37p/8a/3r/2s 14/23 FG 9/10 FT
MJ: 43p/8r/7a 15/26 FG 13/16 FT

[@DJVijilante]

Kevin Johnson is a top ten PG and one of the most underrated players in the history of the NBA.

[@plainsimple244]

Yeah, Kevin Johnson had his shot in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993-1995 .... Thing is, ironically the game is political; I hated how the Suns lost in '91 to the Jazz early, what was that? That was to avoid the Lakers losing or Portland losing to Phoenix.

[@hainavidotcom]

Man, I remember this series. I was shocked! KJ was HIM! That crossover finish was nice. Lakers shot themselves in this series.

[@manuginobilisbaldspot2]

This game illustrates in great relief that stat watchers are idiots. Magic could’ve done this his entire career. 43/6/10 and a 43/8/7 in back to back games…but they lost. His greatness was elevating his teammates. Worthy simply did not show up for this series. 39% shooting 21 times a game = upset loss.

[@plainsimple244]

Same thing with Isiah Thomas, could have averaged 30 a game but averaged 18 a game; took only 9 shots in game 1 and 9 shots in game 2 in the 1991 ECF; Dumars took just 10 shots in game 1 and only 10 in game 3; Laimbeer took just 7 shots in game 1 and only 2 shots in game 2 while Daly played Edwards only 11 minutes in game 2 and just 9 minutes in game 3 while Salley got only 9 minutes in game 2 -- you do that you lose; Worthy was the key in '91 against the Bulls, his injury helped his UNC teammate. If you look at game 1, the Lakers were supposed to lose that game as well which is why Magic passed it out for a 3 instead of doing the safe thing drawing a foul or taking an easier shot and that shot went in-and-out for Jordan at the end.

[@D3d23]

Johnson & Johnson 🍻

[@timhoward5]

Johnson vs Johnson.

[@Riles3152]

89-91 Kevin Johnson was a top 5 PG in the league and clearly on a HOF trajectory. Too bad injuries derailed the rest of his prime. He was a more talented and athletic version of Chris Paul in his young prime.

[@damonsonnier34]

Kevin Johnson also had a great game by scoring 37 points along with passing 8 times. That is at least 53 points generated, and it accounted for 50% of the Suns total points.

[@ziginaigra]

if u look at assists like that than magic is goat lol

[@PIP...33]

@@ziginaigra MAGIC PASS TO JABBAR. STOCK HAD 2 PPG OSTERTAG. IT IS 5000% CHANCE THAT U GONNA AVERAGE DIME ON KAREEM THAN ON OSTERTAG. BTW DONT BRING MALONE CAUSE IM GONNA PULL OTHER HOFS MAGIC HAD TO PASS LIKE WORTHY NIXON MCADOO.

[@Celtics6-0vsMonkeyJordan]

@@PIP...33 Jonh dimes in bad team far more impressive than any Magic year. Even without Kareem he still had incredible Vlade who learned Skyhook have billion IQ and understand game likewise able to scoring from 3 , post or poster. At least prior Ostertag Eaton won DPOY or was top blocker.

[@skillymusic]

Yes! Looking forward to more KJ!

[@MDBBall]

👍

[@user-xw5cg1zo7h]

NBC number 1 fan, live in Arizona Phoenix, footprint arena in America west arena 4:43 pm

[@plainsimple244]

Ironically, this Lakers' team could have beaten the Bulls in '91 and would have been a great match-up against Detroit in '90 and Phoenix could have been a team in the Finals in either 1990 or 1991.

[@yellowduck-2024]

6'1 KJ fared well against 6'9 EJ

[@willie4275]

Kevin Johnson and Tim Hardaway in there Prime with lil Penny would Destroy current NBA Period "UnStoppable" 👑zzz

[@plainsimple244]

I liked how they showed up close as they were running down the court, KJ had another gear and just went crazy.

[@hugefan-tb8ou]

KJ Mark Price and Bill Laimbeer should be in the HOF

[@juanfranciscosantana4793]

Tom Chambers too.

[@Riles3152]

KJ and Price weren't great and elite for a long enough period of time. Of course it's because of injuries, but it is what it is. You shouldn't put people in the HOF because you think they would have continued a great career if not for injuries. But the basketball HOF doesn't have legitimate high standards, unfortunately. So they actually could end up in the HOF. Laimbeer was an all-time great ROLE player. He was not an individual HOF. But then again Rodman and Ben Wallace made it in so I guess Laimbeer has a shot to.

[@juanfranciscosantana4793]

@@Riles3152 so why grant hill was inducted in the naismith basketball Hall of fame ???? Then KJ and Tom Chambers deserve too

[@Riles3152]

@@juanfranciscosantana4793 I don't believe Grant should have gotten in either. At least based on his NBA career alone. Like KJ and Price, injuries derailed his prime. He had about 6 HOF caliber years before he left Detroit and his long period of knee issues began. But the basketball HOF takes into account what you did in college, Olympics and oversees as well. Grant had an all-time great COLLEGE career and won 2 national championships, so ALL things considered, you could justify Grant Hill getting in taking his WHOLE basketball career into consideration. If the NBA had it's own HOF, like the NFL and Major League Baseball, then no way Grant Hill would be justified getting in. Bottom line, the standard for getting into ANY pro sports HOF should be extremely high. It's HOF not hall of VERY GOOD.

[@juanfranciscosantana4793]

@@Riles3152 KJ and price were menbers of dream team 2 in 1994 .

[@damonsonnier34]

The stats were very close, but I am going to give this matchup to Magic Johnson. He nearly had a triple double. He was also able to generate at least 57 points by scoring 43, along with passing 7 times. The Lakers scored a total of 103 points, and Magic accounted for 55.3% of those points.

[@georgestamatakis697]

He was a huge liability on defense. He couldn't guard anyone

[@ziginaigra]

@@georgestamatakis697 lol

[@Celtics6-0vsMonkeyJordan]

@@georgestamatakis697 magic is overrated he pile up rpg due to 6'9 height , his dimes to jabbar worthy and others is also question. He is incredible flashy passer but if u put him in solid team that Ronaldinho no look thing dont work. Far more impressive is Stockton or Zeke passing because they did not had 4 scorers in team who can finish or open up for easier receive pass from PG. He was good help defender in traffic again due to his pf height, but perimeter or switch on good ball handler makes him under average. To me he is very good PF with incredible flashy style and floor observation likewise ball control but his WNBA set shoot form is not great either.

[@PIP...33]

@@Celtics6-0vsMonkeyJordan HE NEED SUPERSTARS WHO ARE SMART AND GREAT FINISHER TO PULL THOSE. WE SAW WHY SACRAMENTO TRADED WILLIAMS. CAUSE THAT PASS CAN BE FINISHED ONLY BY SUPERSTAR HALL OF FAMERS WEBBER AND DIVAC. THAT THING NOT WORK IF 90% OF YOUR ROSTER IS ROLE PLAYERS.

[@Celtics6-0vsMonkeyJordan]

@@PIP...33 Yeah Bibby get them over the top. J-Will would fit perfect in superteam what he proved with Toine, Zo, Glove, Flash & Shaq) 4 superstars. Those Pistol Magic and his things could not work if u dont have loaded team with hof's and smart incredible finishers scorers.