4/9/26

Jay C. Brandriet

It’s a common modern take for people to say, “Magic Johnson couldn’t shoot.”

Almost as if he’s the Ben Simmons who figured things out.

You could look at multiple career numbers from 3-point land and agree with this premise.

There are more layers to this.

STYLE AND FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

Field goal percentage is not a great measurement for a shooter.

It does speak for an overall efficiency about a guy putting up shots.

Magic was a terrific scorer on the fast break.

He also became an elite post player.

For his career, Johnson scored 19.5 points per game on spicy 52% shooting from the floor.

TRUE SHOOTING PERCENTAGE

One of the stats the kids today love.

Magic finished in the top 10 in true shooting percentage, 6 times.

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

Free throw percentage could be a little misleading as a shooting formula.

It is however the “mental shooting challenge” the sport always provides.

What Magic did in this category will get your attention.

Led the league in free throw percentage in 1990 (91.1%).

He was 5th in the NBA in 1991 (90.6%).

Earvin was 7th in 1986 (87.1%).

In 50 career Finals Games, Magic converted 87.4% from the line.

He wasn’t Larry Bird.

He just had a better career Finals free throw percentage than Larry Bird.

For his career, Earvin knocked down 84.8% of his foul shots.

CLUTCH SHOOTING

Half-court shot?

Three pointer on the move in the Boston Garden?

Foul line?

Running hook?

Magic could shoot in the clutch on my team any day.

THREE POINT SHOOTING

This is the category Magic would get the most critique.

Understood.

In the late 1980’s, Magic and his famous push shot were on board with letting it rip from downtown.

In the 1988 NBA Finals Billy Cunnigham was praising Johnson for “getting better at creating space for his team, even by threatening the three.”

In 1990, Johnson was 5th in 3-point makes and 18th in percentage (38.4%).

In 1991, he was 13th in makes.

Watching him swish 3 straight in the last minute of the 1992 All-Star game was the reminder, his game was evolving this direction.

SUMMARY

Magic had to leave the game at just 31 years old.

For my take to fully jive with you, believing Magic was becoming more dangerous from three is vital.

It had taken time for it to become a small priority.

His strengths were in other areas?

Yes.

Are you sure Magic couldn’t shoot?

Jay C. Brandriet