"'Bad Boy Pistons', I don't think there's been a more physical team" - Magic Johnson declares 1989 Pistons as one of the greatest teams ever, says teams struggled to overcome their physicality
Magic Johnson is regarded as the greatest point guard and one of the greatest players of all-time. During his career with the LA Lakers, Johnson won three NBA MVPs, three Finals MVPs and five titles.
Two of those trips to the NBA Finals came against Isiah Thomas and the 'Bad Boy Pistons', arguably the most physical team of all-time. Johnson discussed what it was like to face the physicality of those Pistons teams.
On "Club Shay Shay," the Hall of Famer said:
"Isiah and his 'Bad Boy Pistons', I don't think there's ever been a more physical team than them. They imposed their will on you. They beat you up. If you flinched, it was over for you. In '88 when we played them, it was a physical matchup, seven game series, we won in Game 7, but the next year, in '89, they came back and beat us.
"They could do things very few teams could do. They could be physical and then they had that three-headed monster — Isiah, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson. I'm not even talking about John Salley, Rodman, Laimbeer."
Magic Johnson was asked by host Shannon Sharpe if he felt that the Pistons' physical style of play was real basketball. The Lakers legend responded:
"Yes. Only because Isiah and Joe still had finesse. Was it tough to play against it? Of course, but give them credit, they won back-to-back championships. I never take anything away from a champion.
"They proved that style could win and they won with it so give them credit, and, they're, to me, one of the greatest teams, as well, because defensively I don't know if we've seen a better team than the Pistons."
Over 30 years later, the 'Bad Boy Pistons' legacy as a physical team lives on. While it is unlikely that we will see another team play such a style of basketball, the Pistons proved that it can work.
Watch Magic Johnson discuss the 'Bad Boy Pistons' below:
.@MagicJohnson respects the Bad Boy Pistons: “One of the greatest teams ever”
“I don’t think there has been a more physical team than the Bad Boy Pistons. If you flinched, it was over for you.” https://t.co/6x8o0zP7T5
Magic Johnson's battles against the 'Bad Boy Pistons'
Entering the 1987-1988 season, Magic Johnson had already won four championships in his eight NBA seasons. Isiah Thomas and the 'Bad Boy Pistons' were yet to reach the NBA Finals. Additionally, Johnson's LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics had met in three of the previous four NBA Finals, so many felt the two teams were on a collision course.
However, the Pistons beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. This set up a showdown between Johnson and Thomas, who were close friends.
(1988) Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas greet each other with a kiss on the cheek before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. https://t.co/urSziyVkLJ
The 1988 NBA Finals were closely contested, as the teams split the first six games. In a very tight Game 7, Lakers legend James Worthy took over with a historic performance. Worthy scored 36 points on 15-22 shooting, while grabbing 16 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists, leading the Lakers to a 108-105 victory.
The following year, the two teams met in the Finals again. This time, however, Magic Johnson and Byron Scott were banged up, while Kareem-Abdul Jabbar was playing in his final season.
While each game was competitive, the series overall was not. The Lakers' injuries were too much to overcome and they got swept in four games, giving the Pistons their first title in franchise history.