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Lakers, Pistons and Celtics: The Championship-Caliber Contracts of 1985-1989

By N.B. Lindberg

LOS ANGELES, CA - May 1988: Kareem-Abdul Jabbar #33, head Coach Pat Riley, James Worthy #42, owner Jerry Buss and Mychal Thompson #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals, at The Forum, Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - May 1988: Kareem-Abdul Jabbar #33, head Coach Pat Riley, James Worthy #42, owner Jerry Buss and Mychal Thompson #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Finals, at The Forum, Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
(Photo by: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

1987 NBA Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
League Salary Cap: $4,945,000
Championship-Caliber Contract: Magic Johnson

Sometimes basketball is simple. Have the best player at the peak of their powers, let them cook, and collect your trophy. 1987 was Magic Johnson’s best season and his last before it was evident that some guy named Michael Jordan was the best player in the world.

The Lakers operated in a different financial stratosphere, which made Johnson’s $2.5 million salary, 50.6 percent of the cap, a lot more palatable. His 19.6 Win Shares between the regular season and playoffs was valued at only $2.32 million, 46.9 percent of the cap, meaning his surplus-value was negative for the season, -3.6 percent.

Related Story. 50 greatest NBA players not in the Hall of Fame. light

How is this a Championship-Caliber contract for the Lakers? This Lakers team was loaded with high-priced talent but everything they did on offense centered around Johnson’s passing brilliance. Every player’s statistics on the Lakers was improved because of Johnson. 1987 was also the year when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at 39 years old, began to fade as he posted his lowest total Win Shares in his career up to that point. The Lakers were finally Magic’s team and he navigated them to 65 regular-season wins an 11-1 record in the western conference playoffs and a 4-2 series victory over the Boston Celtics in the finals.

In the finals, Johnson averaged 26.2 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game to claim the title and the Finals MVP. Even more impressive was how he only committed 12 turnovers over the course of the six games while dishing out 78 assists. Magic led the playoffs in Win Shares and was the best player in the finals against an all-time great team. Sometimes your best player is your best contract and Magic was at his best in the biggest moments.