"I think I'll be a lot better player this season" - Magic Johnson's bold prediction after winning Finals MVP as a rookie
For every all-time great, there is one trait that stands out - unwavering confidence in their abilities from the very beginning. Magic Johnson was the perfect embodiment of that. Though he lost the Rookie of the Year award in the 1979-80 season to Larry Bird, the 6'9" point guard led the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA title as the Finals MVP, edging out teammate Kareem Abdul Jabbar for the honor.
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That high-level performance on the most-pressurized stage gave one certainty to Magic: that he was going to do even better in the 1980-81 season, individually and nobody could stand in his way.
Magic had full belief in his abilities
Transitioning from a college level to the grand stage of the NBA is never easy. And representing a large-market franchise like the Lakers, the challenge is even tougher. But Johnson made it look effortless. He averaged 18 points,7.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game in the regular season and then elevated his production to 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, a playoff-high 9.4 assists and 3.1 steals per game in the playoffs. By no means did it seem that Magic wasn't already an experienced veteran in the league.
More importantly, that level of poise and production gave the Lakers' point guard the assurance that he had already figured the league out.
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As a result, in an interview with the legendary Bill Russell, the three-time MVP did not hesitate to say that he would improve across all areas in the upcoming 1980-81 campaign.
"Well, I think doing the same - playing my role, which is to rebound some, score a little bit and try to just smack them on their hands; keep them kinda fired up. That was my role and I think it won't change," Magic Man commented on whether he could improve his performance bar even further in the following season.
"But I think I'll be a lot better player this season than last season because of just knowing what to expect now," he added.
Related: Baron Davis recalls getting manhandled by John Stockton in his rookie year: "All them little tricks, he knew how to do all of that stuff"
Johnson stood tall on his confidence and delivered
Though a knee injury midway through the 80-81 season to Magic derailed the Purple and Gold's overall trajectory, he stayed true to his bold prediction. Over 37 regular-season games, he improved his numbers across the board, averaging 21.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and a league-leading 3.4 steals per game - proving that even in a shortened season, his growth was undeniable.
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This spoke volumes about the mindset that Magic possessed. Ever after the league had taken notice of him after he rose to stardom after leading the Showtime Lakers to a title as a rookie, Johnson only continued to work twice as hard to be even better. Put simply, he believed in his evolution and showed that no opponent could slow his momentum down.
That being said, Magic couldn't lead the Lakers to defend their crown, but perhaps that kind of belief he had, just in terms of getting better, is exactly what every young player needs if they hope to carve out their name in NBA history.
Related: When K.C. Jones called Larry Bird the best of all time after just six seasons: "Go down the list of the greats and I doubt you'll come up with anyone with all those credentials"
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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