1980 NBA Finals

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/1980-nba-finals

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the championship series?1980 NBA World Championship Series
2. What is the western conference representative?Los Angeles Lakers
3. What happened to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the 1980 NBA Finals?He sprained his ankle in Game 5, returned in the fourth quarter, but was unable to play in Game 6.
4. Who was the rookie that played all five positions in Game 6?Earvin "Magic" Johnson, a 20‑year‑old rookie, started at center and played every position, scoring 42 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and handing out 7 assists.

NBA Finals: The annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to determine the league champion.
Rookie: An athlete in their first year of professional competition in a sport.
MVP (Most Valuable Player): An award recognizing the player deemed most outstanding in a league season or championship series.
Showtime Era: A period in the 1980s associated with the Los Angeles Lakers' fast-paced, offensive-minded, and entertaining style of basketball.