2010 Black History Month: #26 Black Sports Moment - Magic Johnson

By: Luke Florence

2010 Black History Month: #26 Black Sports Moment

Magic Johnson's Sky Hook Wins Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals

The phrase 'big players come up with big plays in big games' comes to mind almost immediately when you mention Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals. To be fair, just about everyone playing in the 1987 NBA Finals could be considered a 'big player.' Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Robert Parrish just to name a few.

When you think of the 1980s, the two premier teams were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. One would have thought (including me) that they met up in the Finals for the entire decade. You would be wrong. In fact, they only faced each other three times for the NBA Championship.

The third, and final time (at least for the '80s) took place in 1987 and in some weird way marked the final conclusion of the Magic-Bird battle. Most, if not all of their meetings were memorable and Game Four of '87 was certainly not an exception to that rule.

With each team having one championship against the other, 1987 was the deciding series. The Lakers were up two games to one heading into Game Four, making it a must-win for Bird and the Celtics. Knowing that, the importance of what Magic did in the closing seconds was even more impressive.

Down by one with less than 15 seconds to go, Bird drained a three-pointer which probably should have been enough had not Magic pulled a rabbit out of the hat on the Lakers last possession.

I could tell you what he did, but in one of the greatest moments in NBA playoff history, images speak much louder, and in this case clearer than words could ever hope to accomplish.

Bird had a chance to make another three, but he just missed giving Magic and the Lakers a commanding three games to one advantage. Two games later the Lakers would defeat the Celtics and win their ninth NBA championship, and second over the Celtics.

Looking back on Magic's career, you could argue it's his signature play. Either way, it is enough to get a spot on this list. It would have been much higher had I remembered it, but just like Keith Smart, I was still crapping my diapers when it actually went down.

Hint for #25: Not a person, a place, or an event. It's a guideline.

Until next time, "read it, roll it, hole it."