People

By Guy D. Garcia

Long known for his dazzling sleight of hand on the basketball court, Earvin ("Magic") Johnson outmaneuvered his competition in the ballot box last week as he was named the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player. The 6-ft. 9-in. Michigander is the first guard in 23 years to win the award and only the third to do so in N.B.A. history. Receiving 65 first-place votes and a total of 733 points from the selection panel, Johnson, 27, streaked past Chicago Bull Michael Jordan (ten votes) and Boston Celtic Larry Bird (one vote), who had been named mvp for the past three years. Now in his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson shot 52% from the field and 85% from the free-throw line, for an average career high of 23.9 points, and topped the team with 138 steals. Joked Johnson: "I'd like to thank Larry Bird for having a slightly off year and letting me win the award."

With reporting by David E. Thigpen/New York