The showdown with Larry Bird thrilled him; their rivalry had begun before the 1979 NCAA Finals.
It was 1978 in Lexington, Kentucky, when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, still in college, were selected to participate in the World Invitational Tournament. As teammates for Team USA, they went against the youth national teams of the Soviet Union, Cuba, and Yugoslavia.
Bird and Johnson were only substitutes, but their synergy in team practices completely overshadowed the starting lineup. Their talent was so dazzling that the so-called starters were no match for them.
For a variety of reasons, they communicated very little, but on the court, they had an unspoken harmony and deeply remembered one another.
Reflecting on his encounters with Larry Bird, the friendship, Johnson felt a yearning. He thought how wonderful it would be to meet the Celtics again in the Finals.
