This cover story, by Paul Attner, originally appeared in the April 27, 1987, i sue of The Sporting News under the headline Move Over Kareem Its Magic Time came as the Lakers became Magic Johnsons team, en route to the Lakers NBA Finals win over the Celtics, 4-2, and the Los Angeles icons being named MVP as well as TSNs Player of the Year.LOS ANGELES This is the season when all the pieces of the basketball puzzle have fallen into place for Earvin Johnson. He was always the consummate showman, but never an eye-popping scorer. No matter how much court magic he produced, he couldn't hide his unimpre sive career point totals.So Johnson developed a scoring arrogance this year, daring defenses to stop not only his pa sing, but also his shooting. He raised his average to 23.9 points a game, almost six above his career norm, yet he still led the National Basketball A sociation in a sists for the fourth time, carving out a career-high total with a 12.2 average. In the proce s. Arizona Cardinals Jersey some wonderful things have happened to both him and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers.Johnson is the odds-on favorite to win his first NBA Most Valuable Player award, which would make him only the third guard and the first since Oscar Robertson in 1964 to capture that honor. The Lakers, propelled by his leadership and production, shrugged off an embarra sing 4-1 playoff lo s to Houston last spring to rebound dramatically. They picked up their sixth straight Pacific Division title, won 11 of their final 13 games to compile the fourth-best record in NBA history (65-17) and wrapped up the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.And to think people were throwing dirt in our faces after Houston, counting us out of it before the season began, guard Michael Cooper said indignantly.But no one was counting on Los Angeles to present such a retooled look this season. These aren't the same Lakers who have jousted with the Boston Celtics since Kareem Abdul- Justin Murray Jersey Jabbar joined them 12 years ago. Their fast break has been turned up a notch, and their reliance on their majestic center has le sened. This is still a sensitive subject within the Lakers' organization because no one wants to diminish the luster that surrounds Abdul-Jabbar. But without question this Lakers team is Johnsons not Abdul Jabbars and its playoff chances will become a test of his magic power.The Lakers wont win the NBA title without a major contribution from Abdul-Jabbar, who failed to lead the team in scoring for the first time in his tenure with the club. But they discovered against Houston that he no longer is enough. The groundwork has been established this year for Johnson, who became the team's leading scorer, to carry the load throughout the postseason. In the tough going, Johnson will be the first option on offense as often as Abdul-Jabbar, if not more so. And on those days when the veteran center just can't produce, Johnson will be expected to make up for the drop in scoring.TSN ARCHIVES: It is a situation Johnson dreamed about, but really never expected to happen Zach Ertz Jersey while Abdul-Jabbar was still playing. Indeed, this has been a season of dreams for Magic. His team is on top again, his hopes of winning the MVP before he retires seems within his grasp, his position as probably the best playmaking guard ever is more secure and the spotlight is clearly on his every move.Yet, as it often does, life has played some cruel tricks to douse his happine s. His ecstasy on the court has been tempered by extraordinary sadne s in his private life. And his ma sive physical achievements have been hampered by the pain he endures in his legs just Jonathan Ledbetter Jersey getting out of bed on some mornings."Individually, this is the best season I've had," he said. "I've always wanted to accomplish everything there was in basketball, and as a team player I have. But as an individual player, I hadn't won the MVP. If I never did, the void would be there. The mi sing link would be there. The chain wouldn't be complete. I had to show people I was a complete player who could do everything. Now, if I don't win it this season, Ill be disappointed."But at the same time, he sadly said, "This has been the toughest season I've had in terms of things off the court the toughest."In late January, Johnson's sister, Mary, died on her 33rd birthday after a long struggle with lung problems. Johnson comes from a close-knit family of 12, and this was the first time death had touched him so closely. He was devastated by the lo s of his sister and, although he kept playing at his family's request, he found himself losing concentration on the court. For a while, it wasn't fun being Magic anymore.For all his public glibne s and bravado, Johnson is an extremely private man who retreats to his mansion in Bel Air when he needs to be alone. Although his sister's illne s had been long-term, only a few Lakers knew about it. When she died, Magic sought comfort from Cooper and Byron Scott, but even Abdul-Jabbar was unaware of her death until the team made an announcement.TSN ARCHIVES: Much has been made of the contrast between the public and private Johnson, even to the extent of portraying him as having dual personalities, Magic representing the Kyler Murray T Shirts public side and Earvin the private. But his mood swings really arent any more dramatic than the next guy's, especially if that guy has the same outgoing, infectiously delightful personality that feeds on a zest for life. Even the most upbeat of humans must come down once in a while, and Johnson landed with a thud in January.Single and wedded to basketball, he found himself alone and troubled, unable to talk out his problems.I'm a very private person, and I like to keep my private life to myself, Johnson said. I may be crazy and acting wild while I am in public, but when I go home, I will do what I want to do and do it quietly. Rondale Moore Jersey Besides, while my sister was sick, there was nothing anyone could do for me anyway.After she pa sed away, it was difficult, it was rough on my parents. And I tried to help them out. But it was hard for them to be parents again (to the rest of their children). You need somebody some times just to talk to, but I was here and my family was in Michigan. You put it all on your shoulders, and sometimes you need an outlet. My outlet was playing in games. But there wasn't a talking outlet, and that hurt."Johnson stared at the floor for a moment and shifted his weight. It has to work itself out," he said, almost in a whisper. "And maybe it hasnt happened as quickly as we all want. You still think back to the good times, and you talk to the nieces and nephews and it comes flooding back.The guys helped. They stood behind me and hugged me and encouraged me to fight my way through it. I just decided to dedicate this season to her and hope everything would work out."In some ways. Johnson has it all: fame, talent, a splendid house, a contract worth millions, a pricel