Showtime Lakers
After struggling for much of the 1970s, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Earvin "Magic" Johnson in 1979 to join superstar center, Kareem Abdul Jabaar. Magic and Kareem along with James Worthy, whom the Lakers drafted in 1982, dominated the NBA in the 1980s. Coached by Pat Riley, the Lakers' exciting, uptempo offense led to five championships during that decade. Other key role players included Kent Rambis, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, A. C. Green, and Jamaal Wilkes. The Showtime Era for the Lakers ended when Magic Johnson announced his retirement in 1991. Since then, a Showtime-type offense has been attempted several times, but never resulting in a championship.