On a recent appearance on 'The Jennifer Hudson Show,' Magic Johnson shared a fascinating piece of NBA history, discussing how a coin flip in the 1979 NBA Draft drastically shaped the futures of both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. The flip determined whether Magic would play for the Bulls or the Lakers, and as Magic reflected on the outcome, he emphasized its impact on the league’s history:
"You know it was a coin flip to see if I would play for the Bulls or the Lakers. I'm happy it turned out the way it did, you know why, Jennifer? Then it would be no Michael in Chicago and no Magic in LA. So it worked out." (1:15)
In 1979, Magic Johnson was the most coveted player entering the NBA Draft after leading Michigan State to an NCAA Championship. The first overall pick, however, came down to a coin flip between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers . The Lakers, who acquired the first-round pick through a trade with the Utah Jazz, won the flip and subsequently selected Magic. This decision ultimately set the course for one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
Had the coin flip gone the other way, Magic Johnson would have played for the Chicago Bulls, and the trajectory of the NBA might have looked entirely different. Johnson’s arrival in Los Angeles reinvigorated the Lakers, helping to spark their iconic rivalry with the Boston Celtics , led by Larry Bird.
This rivalry was critical in reviving the league’s popularity, which had been struggling with declining viewership. The Magic-Bird storyline became one of the most compelling narratives in sports during the 1980s, elevating both franchises and the NBA as a whole.
Furthermore, Johnson’s point about Michael Jordan is equally significant. In 1984, the Bulls selected Jordan with the third overall pick, laying the foundation for their future six-time NBA championship dynasty.
If Magic had gone to Chicago in 1979, the Bulls' roster and future draft strategy would likely have been drastically altered, possibly preventing them from selecting Jordan five years later. Without Magic in Los Angeles and Jordan in Chicago, the league’s history—and the legacies of two of its greatest players—might have been completely different.
In retrospect, that coin flip did more than just determine which team Magic Johnson would play for; it shaped the futures of the Lakers, the Bulls, and the entire NBA.
What If Chicago Bulls Had Won The Coin Flip And They Drafted Magic Johnson
If the Chicago Bulls had won the coin flip in the 1979 NBA Draft and selected Magic Johnson, the trajectory of NBA history could have been radically different. Magic was a transformative player, and his presence on any team would have elevated them, but the ripple effects of him landing in Chicago rather than Los Angeles are profound.
At the time, the Bulls were a mediocre team, struggling to make the playoffs. While Magic would undoubtedly have improved the Bulls, it's uncertain whether he could have turned them into an immediate championship contender in the same way he did for the Lakers.
The Bulls didn’t have the supporting cast that the Lakers had, including players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , who was a crucial piece in their championship runs. Without the legendary Magic-Bird rivalry that captivated fans and saved the NBA from declining viewership, the league's resurgence in the 1980s might never have occurred.
One of the most significant impacts of Magic joining the Bulls would be on the Magic-Bird rivalry itself. The storyline that defined the NBA in the 1980s, with Magic’s Lakers facing off against Larry Bird’s Celtics, might never have developed.
The East-West dynamic was crucial to this rivalry, as it allowed the two superstars to face off in the NBA Finals three times. If Magic had been in the Eastern Conference with the Bulls, those matchups would have been less likely, and the NBA might have lost out on one of its greatest rivalries.
Furthermore, the NBA itself was in financial trouble during the late 1970s. The excitement generated by the Lakers-Celtics rivalry helped revitalize the league, drawing in millions of new fans and boosting the NBA's popularity. Without that narrative, the league's growth might have stagnated, and the financial outlook could have been much bleaker.
Finally, Michael Jordan's future could have been drastically altered. If Magic had led the Bulls to moderate success in the early 1980s, they might not have had a high draft pick in 1984, potentially missing out on drafting Jordan. The combination of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan on the Bulls seems unlikely, and Jordan's legendary career with Chicago might have never happened.
In this alternate reality, both the Bulls and the NBA as a whole would have taken a very different path, potentially missing out on some of the league's most iconic moments.
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