It was the first time we saw Bird and Magic on the same court. It was the last time a tiny school made it to the college hoops title game with a real chance to hoist the trophy. It was the 1979 NCAA Men’s Basketball title game, and it remains one of the most important sporting events in the history of the sport.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the 1979 March Madness national championship game between MSU and Indiana State. It’s worth remembering.
The 1979 NCAA Tournament Finals between Michigan State University and Indiana State stands as one of the most iconic moments in the history of college basketball. The championship game not only showcased the talents of two transcendent players, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but also marked the beginning of a legendary rivalry that would extend to the professional ranks in the NBA.
1979 Final Four in March Madness
The road to the NCAA Tournament Finals was a thrilling journey for both Michigan State and Indiana State, as they navigated through the earlier rounds to reach the pinnacle of college basketball. The Final Four that year included Michigan State, Indiana State, DePaul, and Pennsylvania. DePaul, led by coach Ray Meyer and future NBA star Mark Aguirre, showcased a formidable lineup. Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school, made a surprising run to the Final Four, displaying the unpredictable nature of March Madness.
However, the spotlight was undoubtedly on the championship clash between Michigan State and Indiana State. Magic Johnson, the charismatic point guard for the Spartans, and Larry Bird, the versatile forward for the Sycamores, were the driving forces behind their respective teams’ success. The anticipation leading up to the matchup between Johnson and Bird was palpable, as both players had captured the imagination of basketball fans with their unique skills and leadership qualities.
The championship game took place on March 26, 1979, at the Special Events Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a showdown between two undefeated teams, with Michigan State boasting a 25-0 record and Indiana State standing at 33-0. The clash of unbeaten teams added an extra layer of excitement and intensity to the championship atmosphere.
The game lived up to its billing as a duel between Magic and Bird. Magic, known for his exceptional court vision and playmaking abilities, orchestrated the offense for Michigan State, finishing the game with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. On the other side, Larry Bird displayed his scoring prowess, contributing 19 points and 13 rebounds. The contest went down to the wire, but it was Michigan State that emerged victorious with a 75-64 win, securing their first NCAA championship.
Record Television Ratings for 1979 NCAA Title Game
The 1979 NCAA Tournament Finals was not just a basketball game; it was a cultural phenomenon. The matchup between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird drew unprecedented attention, capturing the imagination of sports fans across the nation. The game set a record for television ratings, with an estimated 35 million viewers tuning in to witness the clash of two basketball titans. The charisma of Magic and Bird, combined with their extraordinary skills, helped elevate college basketball to new heights and laid the groundwork for the sport’s future popularity.
The impact of the 1979 NCAA Tournament Finals extended far beyond college basketball. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, who had become the faces of their respective programs, soon made the leap to the professional ranks in the NBA. Magic was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, while Bird was taken sixth overall by the Boston Celtics. Their entry into the NBA marked the beginning of a transformative era for the league.
Bird and Magic Went on to Redefine the NBA
Magic and Bird wasted no time in making their mark in the NBA. In their rookie seasons (1979-1980), both players led their teams to remarkable turnarounds. Magic guided the Lakers to an NBA championship, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in a memorable six-game series. Meanwhile, Larry Bird helped transform the Boston Celtics, leading them to a 32-game improvement from the previous season and reaching the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Lakers.
The rivalry between Magic and Bird continued to flourish in the NBA, and the two legends faced each other in the NBA Finals three times during the 1980s (1984, 1985, and 1987). These matchups added another layer of drama to the already intense Lakers-Celtics rivalry. The battles between Magic’s “Showtime” Lakers and Bird’s Celtics became the defining narrative of NBA basketball during that era.
Their head-to-head duels in the NBA Finals solidified the Magic-Bird rivalry as one of the greatest in sports history. The contrasting styles and personalities of the two players, coupled with their mutual respect and competitiveness, captivated basketball fans and transcended the sport. The impact of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird extended beyond the court, as they played pivotal roles in popularizing the NBA and elevating it to a global phenomenon.
All these years later, the 1979 NCAA Tournament Finals between Michigan State and Indiana State stands as a pivotal moment in the history of basketball. The clash between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird not only defined the championship game but also set the stage for their legendary careers in the NBA. The popularity of the matchup helped propel college basketball to new heights, and the subsequent success of Magic and Bird in the professional ranks further cemented their status as two of the greatest players in the history of the sport. The enduring legacy of the 1979 NCAA Tournament Finals lies not only in Michigan State’s victory but in the transcendent impact it had on the careers of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, shaping the landscape of basketball for years to come.
