When the Game Was Ours (47 page)

G
Games

MIN
Total Minutes

MPG
Minutes Per Game

PF
Personal Fouls

PPG
Points Per Game

RPG
Rebounds Per Game

SPG
Steals Per Game

STL
Total Steals

3PM-A
Three-Pointers Made-Three-Pointers Attempted

TO
Turnovers

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.

***

HIGH SCHOOL
: Everett, Lansing, Michigan

COLLEGE
: Michigan State University

DRAFTED BY
: Los Angeles Lakers, 1979 (first overall)

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
: NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988); NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987); NBA MVP (1987, 1989, 1990); nine-time All-NBA First Team (1983–91); All-NBA Second Team (1982); 12-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1990, 1992); Olympic gold medalist (1992); co-captain (with Larry Bird) of U.S. Olympic Team; elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2002).

ABBREVIATIONS

APG ASSISTS PER GAME

AST
Total Assists

BLK
Total Blocks

BPG
Blocks Per Game

FG
Field Goals

FGM-A
Field Goals Made-Field Goals Attempted

FT
Free Throws

FTM-A
Free Throws Made-Free Throws Attempted

G
Games

MIN
Total Minutes

MPG
Minutes Per Game

PF
Personal Fouls

PPG
Points Per Game

RPG
Rebounds Per Game

SPG
Steals Per Game

STL
Total Steals

3PM-A
Three-Pointers Made-Three-Pointers Attempted

TO
Turnovers

I'd like to thank my editor, Susan Canavan, whose guidance and support during this project were invaluable. There's no doubt—you made this a better book. Thanks to Jill Leone, Lon Rosen, and Jay Mandel for keeping all of us on course, which was no small task. Many people assisted me in researching this book, among them Jeff Twiss, Brian Olive, and Heather Walker of the Celtics; John Black of the Lakers; Craig Miller of USA Basketball; former Converse executives Gib Ford and Lou Nagy; and the unparalleled NBA duo of Brian Mclntyre and Tim Frank. My gratitude to Ed Kleven for dotting the
i
's and crossing the
t
's. Thanks to Ian Thomsen, Leigh Montville, Steve Fainaru, Don Skwar, and Todd Balf; I value your journalistic insight and, more important, your friendship. Thanks to the Westford moms for getting my kids where they needed to be, especially Eileen Barrett and Monet Ewing. A shout out to the Ya Yas—where would I be without you? Lifelong thanks to Janice McKeown and Jane Cavanaugh Smith, who have been there since the beginning. Stephanie Baird and Liz Douglas have been excellent sounding boards and cherished friends. Thanks to the Sunday morning basketball crew for all the Good Things they provide. To my parents, Margarethe and Fred MacMullan, to Sue, Vinny, Julia and Christopher Titone, and all the Boyles, far and near, much love and thanks. To Michael Boyle, an incredible husband and father, I can never thank you enough for your love and support and patience. My children, Alyson and Douglas, find a new way each day to fill my life with joy. Thanks, kids. I love you. And finally I'd like to offer my gratitude to Earvin Johnson and Larry Bird. I'm honored to have helped you tell your story.

J
ACKIE
M
AC
M
ULLAN

Abbot Pharmaceutical Company,
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Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem,
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–
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at All-Star entertainment,
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and argument over best team,
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in Laker games,
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–
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in Laker strategy,
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,
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in last stage of career,
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,
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and LB,
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,
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and marketing featuring MJ and LB,
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,
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and MJ,
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–
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rudeness of,
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–
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in TV commercial with LB,
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–
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Aguirre, Mark,
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Ainge, Danny,
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–
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Alcindor, Lew,
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.
See also
Abdul- Jabbar, Kareem

Ali, Muhammad, comparison with, vii

Allen, Ray,
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,
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,
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Anderson, John,
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Archibald, Nate "Tiny,"
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Artest, Ron,
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–
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Ashe, Arthur,
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Auerbach, Red,
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Avent, Anthony,
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Bailey, James,
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Baker, Chris,
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Ballenger, Dave,
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Banks, Gene,
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Barkley, Charles,
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–
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Barry, Rick,
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Baylor, Elgin,
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Beard, Dale,
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Behnke, Bob,
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Belkin, Steve,
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Bender, Jonathan,
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Benner, David,
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Benson, Kent,
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Bertka, Bill,
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Best, Travis,
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Bias, Len,
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Bing, Dave,
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Bird, Conner (son),
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Bird, Corrie (daughter),
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Bird, Dinah (wife).
See
Mattingly, Dinah

Bird, Georgia (mother),
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Bird, Joe (father),
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Bird, Larry (LB), x,
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and Abdul-Jabbar,
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in All-Star Game (1982),
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basketball personality of,
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playing through pain,
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on being "in the zone,"
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childhood of,
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–
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endorsement requests of,
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–
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(
see also
Converse commercials)

injuries and disabilities of,
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–
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back condition,
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–
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–
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and spinal fusion surgery,
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–
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,
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