The Lakers Coach Magic Got Fired 😳 Bob Ryan Explains

Bob Ryan and Gary Tanguay on the Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast: why did Magic Johnson refuse to play for Paul Westhead? Ryan tells the story: Jack McKinney's bicycle accident, Westhead taking over the Lakers, the clash over Showtime tempo vs. Kareem's low-post game, and Magic winning the battle "with the owner rather than the coach." Then Westhead's 1990-91 Denver Nuggets, which Ryan calls the craziest team in NBA history.

The numbers (Basketball-Reference): the 1990-91 Nuggets led the NBA in scoring at 119.9 points a game and allowed 130.8, an NBA record. They gave up 100 or more in all 82 games. Westhead won the 1980 NBA title with the Lakers, was fired 11 games into the 1981-82 season, and Pat Riley took over. In June 2026 Westhead received the NBCA's Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

🍀 Kareem in a Rocking Chair. Larry Bird Made ONE Phone Call. Bill Russell Just Disappeared. — Bob Ryan
youtu.be/Qhy2AGFyoFs
🍀 Bob Ryan on Wilt Chamberlain: His Stats Were SCIENCE FICTION!
youtu.be/kZ_DJZPDecI

CHAPTERS
0:00 Coming Up: Magic vs. Westhead
0:40 Setting Up the 1982 Lakers
1:06 How Paul Westhead Became the Lakers' Coach
2:01 Why Magic Clashed With Westhead & Riley Takes Over
3:05 Westhead's Nuggets: The Craziest Team in NBA History
5:11 Winning Time Casting & the Nuggets' Scorers
6:10 PrizePicks

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Join this channel to get access to perks, exclusive content, rate games, moments, footage and LIVE NBA Legends Q&A and AMAs with members! Start on link below! youtube.com/channel/UCWJOKseXd--YsDaUsOt06gA/join

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