One year at Michigan State — led the Spartans to the 1979 national championship against Larry Bird.
Earvin Johnson Jr. was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1959. He attended Michigan State University for two seasons before declaring for the 1979 NBA Draft. His college career culminated in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game against Indiana State and Larry Bird — a game that drew the highest television ratings in college basketball history and launched a rivalry that would define professional basketball for the following decade. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. His Michigan State career produced averages of 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game — numbers that showcased the complete all-around game that would make him an NBA legend. He led Michigan State to the Big Ten title in 1979. He was the consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year. His departure after two seasons — and Bird's after four at Indiana State — means that one of college basketball's greatest individual games remains the only time these two legends faced each other in college competition. The 1979 championship game remains the most watched college basketball game in the sport's history.
National Championship (1979)
Career Honours
- National Championship (1979)
- Tournament MOP (1979)
- Big Ten Player of Year
- All-American