as the #1 pick in the First Round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers

Magic Johnson was selected as the #1 pick in the First Round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers

After what turned out to be their final season in New Orleans, the Jazz were dealt a further humiliation when the Los Angeles Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft.

with the first pick of the second round

Dallas drafted Magic Johnson with the first pick of the second round in 1981.

Lonzo Ball

Magic Johnson, who took over as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations in February, selected UCLA’s Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

to the first overall pick by the LA Lakers

Soon, Magic Johnson was drafted to the first overall pick by the LA Lakers in 1979.

The Jazz's #1 pick in 1979

The Jazz's #1 pick in 1979 (the first overall choice) was used by the Lakers to select Magic Johnson.

the first pick in the 1979 NBA Draft as a 6’9” point guard

Magic Johnson was the first pick in the 1979 NBA Draft as a 6’9” point guard.

with The Lakers's second first overall pick, who was rated the greatest NBA point guard of all time by ESPN in 2007

The Lakers also drafted Magic Johnson in 1979 with The Lakers's second first overall pick, who was rated the greatest NBA point guard of all time by ESPN in 2007.

Among his many, many highlights as an executive with the Lakers

Among his many highlights as an executive with the Lakers: the Lakers drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, then brought in Kobe Bryant and eventually Shaquille O'Neal to play alongside Bryant.

in 1979

Earvin “Magic” Johnson was drafted in 1979, joining multiple-time league MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to create the league’s most dynamic duo.

the first draft choice of the Cowboys

In 1977, basketball player Magic Johnson was the first draft choice of the Cowboys, gained 1,007 yards, won Rookie of the Year honors and was a starter in the Super Bowl, becoming the first player to win a college title one season and the Super Bowl the next.

in the fourth round of the 1988 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls

Magic Johnson was selected in the fourth round of the 1988 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and managed to stick around the NBA through 1998, even though Magic Johnson played in only 341 games and started only 54.

the 1st pick in the NBA Draft the following season by the Los Angeles Lakers

Magic Johnson was the 1st pick in the NBA Draft the following season by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Among Jerry West's many highlights as an executive with the Lakers

Among Jerry West's many, many highlights as an executive with the Lakers: Jerry West drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, then brought in Kobe Bryant and eventually Shaquille O’Neal to play alongside Bryant.

with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft

On this day in 1979, the Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

with the No. 1 pick and

Magic Johnson was drafted by the Lakers with the No. 1 pick and Bird came into the league after signing the richest rookie deal for an NBA player.

Lonzo Ballwith Kyle Kuzma

President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson, equipped Lonzo Ballwith Kyle Kuzma in the draft and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brooke Lopez in some offseason moves to assist in leading the Lakers into a more successful season than the past or into a hopeful playoff spot in an already crowded Western Conference.