Five championships. Nine Finals appearances. A staggering 65.1% playoff win rate. The Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s weren’t just a great team, they were an empire. But what made them different from other talented squads? It wasn’t just skill; it was a mindset. Confidence so deep it reached beyond the locker room. To the ball boys even. And as Kenny Smith learned firsthand, that swagger was downright unreal
Their distinguishing factor? An unyielding mentality. Every practice felt like a playoff game, and the team held every player accountable. Winning wasn’t just a goal for the Lakers; it was their identity.
And they did. The Lakers didn’t just compete; they dominated the game at the time. Championship after championship, they set the gold standard for success. Their championship years were 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. Crazy, right? Their secret? Unwavering confidence. This unshakable confidence extended beyond the players. So much so that a ballboy’s remark left Kenny Smith speechless. So what created that unstoppable mindset? Magic Johnson’s story might have the answer.
Magic Johnson’s story offers a glimpse into this mindset. Recently, he recalled a conversation with Kenny Smith, who was stunned by how deep the Lakers’ confidence ran. Magic recalls, “Kenny Smith used to be on TNT. So he pulls me aside and says, ‘Magic, I got to tell you two stories.’ I said, ‘Okay.’” After taking a 2-0 lead against the Houston Rockets, a ball boy casually told Smith, “I’ll see you next season.”
Smith, confused, reminded him that the series wasn’t over yet. But the ball boy simply shrugged, already certain the Lakers would handle business. Magic added, “The ball boy said, ‘You guys won’t be coming back.’” That level of belief wasn’t just from the players. It extended all the way to the staff.
National Action Network 2023 Convention Day 2 Earvin Magic Johnson participates in chat with mayor Eric Adams and Al Sharpton at NAN 2023 convention day 2 at Sheraton Times Square. National Action Network holds an annual conference inviting elected official, civil rights leaders and public to speak and participate in conversations about civil and human rights in the USA. New York New York United States Copyright: LevxRadin
Smith also noticed something unusual: the Lakers never trash-talked their opponents. Instead, they trash-talked each other. Johnson recalled Smith’s words, ‘The second thing that blew me away was that you guys never talked trash to us. You talked trash to each other.’” Moreover, during a game, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper loudly challenged Johnson, saying, “Maxwell said he could guard him?” The goal? To fire up their own teammate. That kind of internal competition was what kept them sharp and made them nearly unbeatable.
Magic Johnson shares how he acquired his business acumen
Magic Johnson mastered the basketball business, too. But how did he make the leap from the NBA to building a billion-dollar empire? During his appearance on Byron Scott’s Fast Break, he also opened up about the lessons he carried from the Lakers into the business world.
“Everything I learned on the court, I also apply in business—the same discipline, same work ethic, same focus,” he explained. It sounds simple, but what does that really mean? “Listen, I was 150% in, right? No distractions, no nothing. And I tell the team—the players and all the teams I’m a part owner of—I tell them the same thing: You gotta be focused.” That relentless drive didn’t fade when he left the court—it powered his business ventures.
Just like he studied opponents before a game, he now studies every business move. “You gotta be smart at what you do… I research everything or tell my team to research it.” He never goes in blind—he prepares, just like he did before every big game.
And then there’s branding. Magic knew the Lakers weren’t just a team—they were an experience. “You gotta protect your brand, just like we grew the Laker brand.” He took that lesson and built businesses people trusted, just like they trusted his game.
His key to success? Laser-sharp focus. “This has gotta be your only thing… you gotta just be locked in on winning.” Whether on the court or in the boardroom, Magic’s formula never changed. That’s how he turned his lessons from basketball into a billion-dollar empire.
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