How Many Rings Does Magic Johnson Have?

Magic Johnson has always had plenty on his entrepreneurial plate after a stellar NBA career that spanned 13 years with the Los Angeles Lakers. After his basketball career came to an end, Johnson focused on the business die of sports, taking ownership stakes in the Los Angles Dodgers, LA Sparks, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, and now the Washington Commanders of the NFL.

While he’s recently been in the news for taking over the football team formerly owned by Daniel Snyder, Johnson will always be known for his time on the basketball court. His rivalry with Boston Celtics star Larry Bird helped vault the NBA into another stratosphere. He made 12 All-Star appearances and was named All-NBA 10 times. He was also named MVP three times, but how many rings does he have?

Magic Johnson won five championships with the Lakers

After winning a coin flip against the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers earned the right to select first in the 1979 NBA Draft. They used that selection on Johnson, a 6-foot-9 point guard who was fresh off an NCAA championship with Michigan State.

Johnson wasted no time in making an impact in the NBA. As a rookie, he averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists, leading the Lakers to the first of five championships in the decade.

Johnson played a significant role in securing that first title when he suited up at center for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was out with an injury. Johnson finished with 42 points and 15 rebounds in a series-clinching 123-107 victory. He was also named MVP of the Finals.

With Johnson running the show, the Lakers never went more than two consecutive seasons without winning a championship in the decade. After missing out on a Finals appearance in 1981, the Lakers beat the 76ers in the ’82 Finals, with Johnson winning Finals MVP again. The teams met again in ’83, but the Sixers got revenge by sweeping the Lakers.

In all, the Lakers reached the championship round in every year of the decade except 1981 and 1986. Johnson won his titles in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. He also has eight more rings as an owner, including five as a minority owner with the Lakers.

Johnson now hoping to make his mark in the NFL

Johnson recently made headlines when it was announced he became part-owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, teaming with majority owner Josh Harris.

Johnson is looking to add another ring to his collection. Before he jumped on board with the Commanders, he had one question for Harris.

“First thing I said was, ‘Do you want to win?'” Johnson said during an introductory press conference. “And he said yes.

“I said I’m in because I don’t invest in sports teams for ego. I invest to win.”

Johnson said part of his role is getting out in the community and explaining how he intends to change the culture of the organization.

“We want to invite the community to be a part of what we’re building here,” Johnson said. “That’s going to be a part of my role — to get out into the community and help them understand what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.”