An exclusive and “all access” look at National Basketball Association legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson is in development and expected to be released in 2021. The documentary will look at the five-time NBA champion’s historic career with the Los Angeles Lakers and his success as an entrepreneur.
Due to the recent success of the ESPN documentary “The Last Dance,” chronicling the career of NBA icon Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, became ESPN’s highest-rated documentary, (https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/18/media/espn-the-last-dance-ratings/index.html) an inside look into the career of one the NBA’s greats will look to be another successful documentary.
The 60-year-old NBA ambassador has granted film crews “unprecedented access” for the making of the documentary according to Dan Loumena of the Los Angeles Times. (https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-06-11/new-all-access-magic-johnson-documentary-set-for-2021)
Johnson’s career includes 12 NBA All-Star game appearances, three NBA MVP awards and nine NBA First Team selections. Drafted in 1979 as the No. 1 pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his remarkable playmaking ability.
A point guard standing at 6 foot, 9 inches was not the norm in the early 1980s and Johnson was able to use his height to his advantage, scanning the floor easily for his teammates for spectacular dimes. Averaging a remarkable 11. 2 assists for his career Johnson’s 10,141 assists total assists rank him fifth best in NBA history (http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/assists).
Viewed as a savior to the Los Angeles Lakers franchise due to his natural talent along with his charismatic and engaging personality, Johnson was a box-office draw in Laker Land. Winning an NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP in his rookie year led to a revitalization of the now highly touted franchise. Before Johnson’s arrival to the Los Angeles Lakers, he captured a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Championship in 1979 defeating Indiana State and his fabled rival in Larry Bird.
Johnson’s and Bird’s rivalry will likely be one of the focal points in the documentary as the two brought life back to the NBA during the 1980s as Johnson’s Lakers and Bird’s Celtics won five and three NBA titles during the decade, respectively. Viewership for the NBA increased during this time as well as the popularity of the league due to the exceptional talent both players displayed and their booming sponsorships off the court with notable brands such as Converse.
Although Johnson’s NBA career came to an abrupt halt due to his diagnosis of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) , he was part of the 1992 Olympic team known as the “Dream Team” made up of future hall of famers such as Michael Jordan Karl Malone.
The post NBA career of the basketball legend includes a business career owning several notable franchisees such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks, as well as becoming the president of basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2017-2019.
Johnson’s successful business career as well as his NBA career are just two elements to what looks to be an exciting peek into a man that has be idolized for decades in the world of sports and popular culture.
Isaiah Ramirez may be reached at Prospector at [email protected]
