Magic Johnson Autographed Sports Illustrated Cover Print Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Boston 15x20

The 1978-79 college basketball season was important for setting the tone for what was to come in the basketball landscape. Michigan State’s Magic Johnson and Indiana State’s Larry Bird soared in popularity, with Bird winning national player of the year. The two stars ended up matching up in the National Championship Game, with Johnson leading his Spartans to the title while winning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. With this matchup drawing national attention with record-breaking viewership, this was just the beginning of a budding rivalry. The rivalry continued into the NBA with Johnson going to the Los Angeles Lakers and Bird to the Boston Celtics. Whenever the two squared off it was must-watch basketball, and both always viewed it as the games of the year. With both players and their teams dominating the NBA, the Lakers and Celtics met each other in the NBA Finals three times in four years, with Magic’s Lakers winning two of the three. Johnson would win a total of five championships with them all taking place in the 1980s and besting Bird’s three. In a time when the NBA was struggling, the rivalry of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird helped revitalize the sport in the 1980s, with the league’s popularity reaching new heights.

This Sports Illustrated cover print is autographed by Magic Johnson with a black paint pen. Johnson’s signature was witnessed by an Upper Deck representative as part of UDA’s 5-step authentication process.