The 1980 NBA Finals MVP Controversy

The 1980 NBA Finals MVP Controversy refers to the debate over who deserved to win the 1980 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award

The 1980 NBA Finals

The 1980 NBA Finals was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1979–80 season, and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2. Julius Erving of Philadelphia was named as the Finals MVP becoming the first player in NBA history to win both an NCAA championship and an NBA Championship as he had won a NCAA title with UMass in 1974.

The MVP Controversy

The 1980 NBA Finals MVP Controversy was a incident that occurred during and after the fifth and final game of the 1980 NBA Finals in whichEarvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), despite not having played in the fourth quarter of the deciding game due to injury.

The Candidates

The 1980 NBA Finals was played between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia
76ers, with the Lakers winning the series in six games. The Most Valuable Player (MVP)
of the Finals was originally awarded to Lakers’ center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar However,
several members of the media filed a protest, claiming that Abdul-Jabbar’s teammate,
guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson, deserved to be named MVP. This led to a re-vote, which
resulted in Johnson being named co-MVP alongside Abdul-Jabbar.

The two main candidates for the MVP Award were Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson. Abdul-Jabbar was the clear choice for the award, as he averaged 26.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in the series. Johnson, on the other hand, only averaged 18 points and 9 assists per game However, many members of the media felt that Johnson deserved to be named MVP due to his all-around contribution to the team. He was also praised for his performance in Game 6, when he had 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. In the end, Johnson’s all-around contribution to the team won out, and he was named co-MVP alongside Abdul-Jabbar.

The Voting

The voting for the 1980 NBA Finals MVP was conducted by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters at the conclusion of the final game. The award was given to Los Angeles Lakers forward Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who received all nine votes from the panel. This method of selecting the MVP is still used today.

however, there was controversy surrounding Abdul-Jabbar’s selection. Some felt that forward Julius Erving deserved the award, as he had led the Philadelphia 76ers to a come-from-behind win in Game 7. Others believed that guard Magic Johnson deserved the honor, as he had been the driving force behind the Lakers’ victory.

In the end, Abdul-Jabbar was named the MVP, but the controversy surrounding his selection would continue for years to come.

The Aftermath

In the end, Johnson was named the Finals MVP and while many argued that Bird deserved the honor, Johnson had earned it fair and square. The two players had put on an incredible show, and while Bird may have won the popular vote, Johnson had won the vote of his peers. In the end, that’s all that really matters.

The Repercussions

On May 21, 1980, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to take the Championship Title But there was one big problem: no one could agree on who should be named the Most Valuable Player of the series.

The controversy began when the media voted for Lakers center Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the MVP, but the players voted for forward James Worthy NBA Commissioner David Stern eventually named Abdul-Jabbar as the official MVP, but the damage was done.

The incident created a rift between Worthy and Abdul-Jabbar that took years to repair, and it also led to a change in how MVPs are selected. Now, both players and media members have an equal say in who takes home the award.

The Legacy

The 1980 NBA Finals was the Championship Series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 1979–80 season, and the conclusion of that year’s playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia ers defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers four games to two. Sixer’s forward Julius Erving was named the Finals MVP

The 1980 NBA Finals was notable for several controversies. One wasMagic Johnson’s rookie season on the Lakers. In Game 6, he became the youngest player ever to be named Finals MVP at age 20. He would later surpass this record in 1991 and become the only player to be named Finals MVP three times (2000, 2001, 2002).

Another controversy arose when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed a critical free throw late in Game 5. Had he made it, the Lakers would have taken a 3–2 lead in the series. Instead, they went on to lose in six games. Abdul-Jabbar was widely criticized for his performance in the series, which led to him being booed by Laker fans during the trophy presentation.

Finally, there was debate over whether or not Erving deserved to be named Finals MVP Some argued that Johnson deserved the award because he was the Lakers’ best player throughout the playoffs and had been their most consistent player in the Finals. Others argued that Erving deserved it because he had carried the Sixers on his back during several crucial moments and had been instrumental in their victory. The selection of Erving as MVP is still considered one of the most controversial decisions in NBA history

The Debate

In 1980, the NBA Finals MVP was awarded to Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers despite the fact that he didn’t score the most points or have the best statistical game. This decision sparked a debate that has continued to this day, with some people arguing that Magic was the rightful MVP and others feeling that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or even James Worthy deserved the award more.

The Significance

The 1980 NBA Finals MVP controversy is significant because it was one of the first times that the voting for an MVP was called into question. The award is supposed to be given to the player who is most valuable to his team, but in this case, many people felt that the award should have gone to Magic Johnson who was the rookie point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers Instead, it went to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was the Lakers’ starting center. This controversial decision led to a change in the way that MVP voting is done, and it also brought more attention to the role of rookies in the NBA.

The Implications

In 1980, the NBA Finals MVP was awarded to Los Angeles Lakers forward Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, many people believe that the award should have gone to Magic Johnson who was the Lakers’ point guard

The main reason for this belief is that Magic Johnson played a much more important role than Abdul-Jabbar in the Lakers’ victory. He averaged 18 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds per game while Abdul-Jabbar averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game. Furthermore, Johnson had a higher field goal percentage than Abdul-Jabbar, and he also played better defense.

There are several possible implications of this controversy. First of all, it could be argued that the MVP award is not necessarily given to the best player on the winning team This would be unfair to players who are actually more valuable to their team but don’t happen to win the MVP Award

Secondly, the controversy could also imply that different players have different value to their team depending on their position. For example, a point guard might be more valuable than a center because they have a greater impact on the game. This would mean that some positions are more important than others, which could be considered unfair.

Finally, this controversy could also lead to changes in how the MVP award is given out in the future. For example, voting could be open to the public or media instead of just coaches and players. Alternatively, there could be different awards for different positions (e.g., an MVP for each position).