Magic Moments: A behind-the-back pass that defied explanations and expectations

Magic Johnson’s mastery of his craft in the open floor was always a treat. When he led the fast break, the intrigue wasn’t just to whom he might pass the ball, but how. A no-look dish was as common as a two-handed chest pass.

Would Magic jump, turn his back to his intended target and flip the ball behind his head? Would he pull off some wizardry by showing the ball to everyone before dropping it off for an assist, or keep it for a layup by getting past a defender who has no idea what the legendary point guard would do in transition?

Johnson also had a keen sense of who was trailing a play. If an opponent was fixated on keeping him from getting to the rim, he had no problem finding the trailer for an easy two points. Johnson did all of this with unmatched showmanship, making him the perfect floor general for the Showtime Lakers.

One of his best-known plays is from March 19, 1985, at Phoenix, in a season when Johnson was on his way to his third NBA championship. It’s one of the five plays in a series presented by Top Shot commemorating some of the best moments from Johnson’s career.

What makes this highlight special? Let’s start with Magic breaking the rules of conventional basketball: running a two-on-three fast break.

The defense should have the advantage, but that doesn’t matter here. Johnson covered so much ground so quickly that he was able to keep the defense on its heels. That’s why Byron Scott knows to keep running. Anytime Johnson had the ball on the break, there was an opportunity for something special to happen. So as Johnson scoops up the loose ball, the Suns know they’re in trouble. Here comes the Magic Man, maintaining pressure with each stride down the court.

Defenders are taught to stop the ball, but that’s not so simple with Johnson. Why? You never knew what he was going to do with it. Sure, he’d give it up if his path to the basket was stopped, but how?

That was the quandary for Phoenix rookie Jay Humphries, who goes for the steal only to have Johnson go behind his back and send Humphries spinning around, completing a 360 while grasping for the basketball. The highlight ends with Magic finding Scott for a one-handed dunk.

Humphries spun around quickly enough to see teammate Alvin Scott get dunked on as he tried to catch up to the ball.

The play captures many of the elements of Magic’s unique game. He strides up the court, using his 6-foot-9 frame to get across half court quickly. That same unmatched height at point guard allowed Johnson to see plays and make passes defenses could not anticipate.

“I always wanted to make my teammates better,” Johnson told Insider. “I cared about passing the ball more than I cared about scoring myself. And what I wanted to do was entertain the crowd all at the same time. I just had to perfect the no-look pass and set my teammates up for an easy shot. … And I loved hearing the crowd go ‘AHHHH!’ And when my teammate scored, they went, ‘Wow!’ And then they went to the office talking about that pass. ‘Can you believe what Magic did last night? He did a no-look pass, and we went crazy!’ I loved hearing that.”

The flash came with a purpose. Sure, going behind his back made for a great highlight and got the crowd excited, but it also made defenders spin around and reach for air as they tried to figure out exactly what was going on.

It’s one thing for a defender to stumble against a crossover dribble. It’s another to be left searching for the ball as if in a game of hide-and-seek as Johnson goes behind his back and finds a teammate streaking down the court to his left while looking right.

Scott, like any teammate of Johnson, knew to be ready because there was no situation where Johnson couldn’t find a teammate for an easy score.

Johnson’s career ended with 10,141 assists, which is now sixth all time, but he still holds the league record for career assists per game (11.19). He left the game as the NBA’s assist king. Of players in the top 10, the only one of comparable size is LeBron James, who is seventh with 10,045. But even James doesn’t orchestrate the fast break like Johnson, whose artistry on the court remains unmatched.

Though the idea of shooting 30-plus 3-pointers a game was absurd in the 1980s, that doesn’t mean pace wasn’t a big deal. Johnson pushed the pace at every opportunity. It was the essence of Showtime basketball. The razzle-dazzle was a staple too. You don’t make people forget your birth name is Earvin if you can’t wow them with plays they haven’t seen before.

If you don’t believe that, ask Humphries where the ball is. He still might be looking for it.

This story is part of the Magic Johnson Moment series presented by Top Shot.