
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 16, 1991                   TAG: 9104160315
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INGLEWOOD, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Medium

JOHNSON SETS MARK FOR ASSISTS

Magic Johnson, the conductor of "Showtime" for the Los Angeles Lakers since 1979, surpassed Oscar Robertson as the NBA's career assist leader in Monday night's 112-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Entering the game, Johnson, a three-time league MVP, needed nine assists to break Robertson's record of 9,887. He finished the game with 19.

Johnson tied it with 6:46 left in the second quarter, setting up James Worthy for a short jump shot. He got his record-breaking ninth assist with 5:44 left in the period, lobbing a pass to Terry Teagle, who made a 15-foot jumper from the right baseline.

The game was stopped, and Johnson received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 17,505 at the Forum and hugs from his teammates.

"I'd like to first of all thank all my former teammates from Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] on down, Jamaal [Wilkes], Coop [Michael Cooper], Norm [Nixon]," Johnson said. "Without them putting the ball in the basket, there would be no record here."

He got emotional when talking about his father, who watched Johnson break the record via satellite from his home in Michigan.

"Without those two beautiful people, the `Magic Makers,' I wouldn't be here," Johnson said. "I know my dad is at home sitting in the same seat that he used to sit in and teach me how to play the game.

"Mom and dad, thank you," Johnson said, his voice betraying his emotion. "I love you so much."

The game was delayed for nearly 15 minutes.

Anticipating Johnson would break his record against the Mavericks, Robertson sent Johnson a congratulatory telegram Monday.

It took Johnson three minutes to get his first assist Monday night, but he had seven by the end of the period.

The 6-foot-9 Johnson came to the Lakers after his sophomore year at Michigan State as the first overall selection in the 1979 NBA draft and the tallest point guard in league history.

Johnson, who led Michigan State to the NCAA championship in 1979 and has helped the Lakers win five NBA titles, needed less than 12 seasons to break the mark it took Robertson 14 seasons to establish. He has helped the Lakers qualify for the NBA playoffs in each of his 12 seasons with the team.

Robertson, now 52, played for the Cincinnati Royals from 1960-70 and for the Milwaukee Bucks from 1970-74.

Keywords:
BASKETBALL

by CNB