The 1980 NBA Finals was a memorable championship series that pitted league MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a sensational rookie named Magic Johnson against Philadelphia 76ers superstar Julius Erving, who was then the game’s most exciting and popular player.
The Los Angeles Lakers were considered underdogs going into the series, but behind Abdul-Jabbar’s dominance, they won two of the first three games.
In Game 4, the Sixers looked to fight back at The Spectrum in Philadelphia.
Abdul-Jabbar was held to 11-of-27 shooting, and although Johnson had an outstanding game with 28 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, it wasn’t enough.
Although Erving’s stats (23 points) were modest, he received plenty of help. But when the game was being decided in the fourth quarter, Dr. J took things into his own hands.
At one point, he went baseline, but he encountered Abdul-Jabbar, so he extended his arm behind the backboard, then brought it back in front of it and converted a most memorable layup.
The Sixers won the game, 105-102, and tied the series, but L.A. had the last laugh. Johnson had his own memorable moment by turning in a dominant Game 6 to lead the Lakers to the NBA championship.
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