Magic Johnson fits the theme of ‘teamwork,’ adds to his legacy as grand marshal of Rose Parade

When Los Angeles Lakers star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could not play in Game 6 of the championship series in 1980 due to an injury, rookie point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson played center, guard and forward in the game that clinched the NBA title, racking up 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

It was the opening championship act in a decade of dominance for the Lakers.

As great as his individual stat line was, Johnson’s performance offered a glorious look at...