Kareem and Magic: The Inside-Outside Duet of Showtime

The 1980s Lakers "Showtime" is remembered for Magic's pretty passes and fast breaks. But the true foundation was Kareem's interior rule.

Their pairing was a "slow-fast" duet: Kareem stabilized the half-court scoring base with the skyhook; Magic maxed the tempo with push and feeds. When opponents doubled Kareem, the ball swung to the open wing; when they shrank the perimeter, the skyhook was again unstoppable. Old and young, big and small, they fused LA into one unit.

In the 1980 Finals G6 Magic's 42 points at center became legend, but Kareem's earlier games were the series base; in 1985's Boston revenge it was Kareem himself taking Finals MVP. Two scripts proved this duo could star either way.

Their bond went beyond the floor: Magic saw Kareem as mentor; Kareem admired Magic's pure joy. Showtime's success was the perfect chemistry of "experience plus talent."

Related Reading

• 1980 NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1976 NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1977 NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Los Angeles Lakers)
• 1972 NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)
• 1974 NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Milwaukee Bucks)