Who helped who's career blossom more. Magic for Kareem or Kareem for Magic

[mdonnelly1989]

Who helped who's career blossom more. Magic for Kareem or Kareem for Magic

[Maxthirty]

Uh, what? Kareem had already “blossomed” before Magic was in the league.

[Wolfgang630]

Magic for Kareem. Kareem wasn’t doing squat in LA without Magic.

[SkyBill40]

No Magic, no showtime. No showtime, no titles.

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[kcktiny]

Jabbar was a 5x MVP, 6x all-NBA 1st team, 3x all-NBA 2nd team player before Magic ever stepped into the league.

[Indomitable]

Both it was beneficial for both.

Kareem help him more when he was young and Magic got him at least 4 more years.

[Sofia]

They were both alright

[The Master]

Kareem in 1979 as a 32yo had one title won and two playoff series won in the last 5 years. He was literally an upgraded Jokic in terms of relation between individual accolades and team success.

Lakers with Magic and washed Kareem were still a heavy contender while Magic won three times an MVP in that period.

Also, peak of Magic correlates with Kareem's decline, and while it is way too mono-causal, there's a synergy factor that I think benefitted Kareem more than Magic, as Magic was simply a better offensive player and the more he had ball in his hands, the better for him and for the offense.

Obviously, it was to the big extent mutually beneficial as there's no dynasty without one of them most probably, but taking into account context, I'm pretty confident in saying that Magic helped Kareem more. It doesn't mean he was a better player or anything, Kareem was just super unlucky support-wise while Magic still played on super strong teams without KAJ or with limited help of his. After all, Lakers won two titles and made it to the finals two times more with 19ppg Kareem, role player Kareem, or without Kareem.

[DaPessimist]

Neither of these players needed one another to be all-time great players. Kareem was already a legend when Magic joined the league, and Magic was going to be dominant with or without Kareem.

[The4thHorseman]

Neither of these players needed one another to be all-time great players. Kareem was already a legend when Magic joined the league, and Magic was going to be dominant with or without Kareem.

Would be interesting though to see how Magic would have played without Kareem while being first scoring option for his first 8-10yrs in the league. Whether it be those Lakers or on a different team if the assists would go down and ppg increase etc.

[Blame Rasho]

Got to love the free agency rules at the time where the Jazz had to give up picks for signing Gail Goodrich.

They complimented each other perfectly. They were generational stars of their respective eras. Even right now there has never been another Kareem or Magic in terms of impact and overall significance to the NBA.

I know most people for right or wrong always had a bad vibe with Kareem, and well Magic always was endearing to the public.

[SkyHook]

Both it was beneficial for both.

Kareem help him more when he was young and Magic got him at least 4 more years.

This is the best answer here. No notes.

[tsherkin]

I think they had good synergy. Magic went immediately into a winning situation, and then his energy and playmaking seriously extended Kareem's career, and added another 5 titles to his resume, and somewhat repaired his image in Los Angeles and in general. He also helped Kareem open up and become more accessible to the fans, which was pretty cool.

But yeah, that's a synergistic relationship for sure.

[Indomitable]

Magic for Kareem. Kareem wasn’t doing squat in LA without Magic.

Kareem had just won a championship without Magic.

Magic never won without Kareem.

This is a silly thread.

These two made each other's career

[og15]

Magic for Kareem. Kareem wasn’t doing squat in LA without Magic.

Kareem had just won a championship without Magic.

Magic never won without Kareem.

This is a silly thread.

These two made each other's career

What do you mean by just won?

[jokeboy86]

Magic for Kareem. Kareem wasn’t doing squat in LA without Magic.

To be fair to Kareem, the 70s had the same parity similar to why Jokic and Giannis have yet to win their 2nd ring in this era.

[og15]

Magic for Kareem. Kareem wasn’t doing squat in LA without Magic.

To be fair to Kareem, the 70s had the same parity similar to why Jokic and Giannis have yet to win their 2nd ring in this era.

So what you're saying it's that one of those two just needs a Magic level player to join them, I see, I see.

[JellosJigglin]

Uh, what? Kareem had already “blossomed” before Magic was in the league.

Kareem's career was almost over by that point. Everyone was writing him off in the media as a has-been. Magic revived his career and made the game easier for him.

We saw what Magic did in the Finals at 19 years old when Kareem was injured. Played all 5 positions and dominated and won the game himself.

[kcktiny]

Kareem's career was almost over by that point. Everyone was writing him off in the media as a has-been.

Almost over? A "has been" you say?

That the same media that just a season before in 1978-79 named Jabbar all-NBA 2nd team and NBA head coaches named him all-defensive 1st team?

A Jabbar that was 4th in the league in minutes played, 1st in blocked shots, 4th in rebounds, and 7th in points scored? Who then in the playoffs played 46 min/g, scored 28.5 pts/g, with 12.6 reb/g, 4.8 ast/g, and 4.1 bs/g?

That Kareem?

Just out of curiosity, what is your definition of a has been?

[mdonnelly1989]

Wow, tied on votes! Interesting.