On this date: Lakers draw first blood vs. Celtics in 1984 NBA Finals
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird played against each other in the 1979 NCAA title game, then entered the NBA the following season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, respectively.
But in their first five pro seasons, they met in only the two regular-season games per year.
By the 1983-84 campaign, fans across the nation were hungry to see these two titans meet for the NBA world championship.
That season, it happened: The Lakers and Celtics met in the NBA Finals amid palpable hype and excitement. The fact the two teams already had a classic rivalry from decades past simply added to the mix.
L.A. finished the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals two days before the start of the championship series, and its players were tired. Still, as the Finals tipped off in historic Boston Garden, Showtime was on full display.
The Lakers instantly pounced on Boston, taking a 34-22 lead at the end of the first quarter. Although the Celtics rallied in the second half, Johnson and company held on for a 115-109 win.
The man who led the way was 37-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Despite suffering a severe migraine headache prior to the tip, he poured in 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
It was just the start of a classic series and a classic second chapter in the greatest rivalry in basketball history.
List
Jack McKinney's family is happy with his portrayal in 'Winning Time'
