Talk about consistency. In the year prior, Johnson accounted for the same amount of win shares per 48 minutes of action (.207) as he did the following year. However, having played over 85 more minutes, Magic tallied 12.9 win shares on a PER of 22.9.

Although he had a very similar season by advanced measures, he surpassed his previous season's box score output. On averages of 18.6 points, 9.5 assists and 9.6 rebounds, the third-year veteran posted an improved box plus-minus of 8.3. Whether that was the reason or not, the Lakers won their second of five titles in the '80s while Magic earned Finals MVP honors for the second time in three years.