How the Lakers really got their Magic!

The most magical franchise in NBA history almost missed out on their most magical player. It starts with Gail Goodrich, a Californian kid who played 8 of 14 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a great player, winning 2 national champions with UCLA and a NBA championship in 1972 with the Lakers.

This is not just a flash back to a great champion for yesteryear. This story is about a kid who assisted in bringing the greatest Laker to Los Angeles.

In 1976 Goodrich signed a 3 year contract with the New Orleans Jazz to play alongside superstar guard Pete Maravich.

New Orleans was lucky enough to have two future Hall Of famers playing in their back court. This unfortunately does not guarantee championships. As both players careers wound down they began to struggle with injuries. With Goodrich hurting his Achilles in t

his first game for the Jazz and he never fully recovered from that injury and retired in 1979. Pete Maravich only lasted 10 season retired in 1980 with knee problems that dog him from 1977.

The 1978/79 season was a disaster for the Jazz who finished the season with the worst record And per league rules, the Lakers were to receive compensation for losing a veteran free agent. The Lakers and Jazz agreed to send New Orleans' highest pick from the 1977 and 1979 draft to Los Angeles.

The 1977 pick was a pick from the NBA so the Jazz would release Moses Malone draft rights that the Jazz owned at the time. Moses Malone chose to play in the ABA and was picked up by the Blazers in the 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft after the league folded.

So the Lakers received the Jazz's 1st round selection in 1979 draft. That pick turned out to be the first pick in the draft and the Lakers took Michigan State point guard Ervin 'Magic' Johnson.

The Jazz who later moved to Utah for financial reasons to become the Utah Jazz have not won a NBA championship. Many Jazz fans still look back at this moment as one which changed the direction of their franchise.

Laker nation must always thank Gail Goodrich for him leaving for the Jazz. Without him they would not of been the powerhouse they are today.

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