Who Won the 1990 NBA MVP Award and How Did They Achieve It?
I still remember watching that 1990 NBA season like it was yesterday - the energy around Magic Johnson's comeback season felt electric. When people ask me about legendary MVP performances, my mind always goes straight to Magic's incredible 1990 campaign. Having studied basketball for decades, I've come to appreciate that what made Magic's MVP season so special wasn't just the raw numbers, though they were certainly impressive. It reminds me of something I once heard about volleyball setters - that the most important attribute isn't about skill or strategy, but something deeper. Magic embodied that same principle on the basketball court.
The Lakers finished with a 63-19 record that season, and Magic's statistics were absolutely staggering. He averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field. Those numbers still blow my mind when I look back at them. But here's what really stood out to me - it was how he made everyone around him better. Watching him orchestrate the offense was like watching a master conductor leading a symphony. He had this incredible ability to read defenses two or three plays ahead, almost like he could see the future unfolding on the court. I've always believed that the greatest players possess this sixth sense, and Magic had it in spades.
What many casual fans don't realize is that Magic came into that season with something to prove. After missing significant time due to injury the previous year, there were whispers that maybe his best days were behind him. Boy, did he silence those critics. He started the season with this ferocious intensity that I haven't seen matched often. In November alone, he recorded five triple-doubles, setting the tone for what would become one of the most dominant individual seasons in NBA history. The way he controlled games was just beautiful to watch - he could score when needed, but his primary focus was always on making the right basketball play.
I've always been fascinated by players who elevate their game when it matters most, and Magic did exactly that throughout the 1990 season. There was this one game against Boston that season where he completely took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points and dishing out 4 assists in the final eight minutes. That's the kind of performance that separates good players from MVP-caliber players. He had 19 triple-doubles that season, which at the time felt almost superhuman. Looking back now, I think what made his MVP case so compelling was how he balanced individual excellence with team success. The Lakers weren't just winning - they were dominating, and Magic was the engine driving everything.
The competition for MVP that year was actually quite fierce. Charles Barkley was putting up monster numbers in Philadelphia, averaging 25.2 points and 11.5 rebounds, while Michael Jordan was being, well, Michael Jordan - scoring 33.6 points per game for Chicago. But here's why I think Magic deserved the award over both of them: his impact transcended statistics. When you watched Lakers games, you could see how every player on the court responded to his leadership. He had this unique ability to make role players feel like stars and stars feel like superstars. That intangible quality is something you can't measure with advanced analytics, but you know it when you see it.
What really cemented his MVP case for me was how he performed in crucial moments throughout the season. There was this stretch in March where the Lakers went 14-2, and Magic averaged 24.8 points, 12.1 assists, and 8.3 rebounds during that run. Those numbers still seem almost fictional when I look them up. But beyond the stats, it was his decision-making that stood out. He knew exactly when to push the tempo, when to slow things down, when to get his own shot, and when to involve his teammates. That basketball IQ is something I've rarely seen matched in all my years watching the game.
The voting results reflected just how dominant his season was - he received 66 first-place votes out of a possible 92, which was an overwhelming majority. When they announced he'd won the award, nobody was particularly surprised because he'd been so consistently brilliant all season long. I remember thinking at the time that this might be the peak of basketball excellence I'd ever witness. Little did I know we'd see other incredible MVP seasons in the years to come, but Magic's 1990 campaign still holds a special place in my heart.
Reflecting on it now, what makes Magic's 1990 MVP season so memorable isn't just what he accomplished statistically, but how he accomplished it. There was a joy to his game that was infectious, a leadership quality that was undeniable, and a basketball intelligence that was simply off the charts. In many ways, he demonstrated that the most important attribute for a great player isn't just about physical gifts or technical skills - it's about understanding the game on a deeper level and making everyone around you better. That's the true mark of an MVP, and that's why Magic Johnson's 1990 season remains one of the most compelling MVP stories in NBA history.
