Where Magic started

LANSING – A statue of Michigan State’s most outstanding basketball player Magic Johnson welcomes visitors to the Gilbert Pavilion which leads to a 27,000 square-foot display of memorabilia and giant LED screens immortalizing the greatest moments of the Spartans’ hardcourt history since 1902.

Michigan State supporters John and Wendy Gretzinger took us on a tour of the Tom Izzo Hall of History, Draymond Green’s strength and conditioning center, championship exhibit featuring the crystal NCAA championship trophies of 1979 and 2000, 15-foot LED columns showing Hall of Famers in action, captured moments of history and multiple interactive stations over a week ago.

Green, a Michigan State alum, donated $3.1 Million to finance the construction of the weight room while Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, another Spartan graduate and Quicken Loans mortgage finance chairman, put up $15 Million for the pavilion which was inaugurated last October. The project was finished at a cost of $50 Million. The annex serves as the lobby of the 14,759-seat Breslin Center, homecourt of the Spartans which was opened in 1983. 

Michigan State supporters have a lot to be proud of. The Spartans men’s basketball team has won two NCAA titles – first with coach Jud Heathcote in 1979 starring Magic, Greg Kelser and Jay Vincent and the second with Izzo in 2000 with Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and Jason Richardson. The Spartans have advanced to 32 NCAA tournaments, including 21 straight from 1998 to 2018 and made it to nine Final Fours.

Among the other former Michigan State stars are Steve Smith, Scott Skiles, Zach Randolph, Shawn Respert, Kevin Willis and Eric Snow. Ex-PBA imports from Michigan State include Kenny Redfield, Darryl Johnson and Antonio Smith. Darryl Johnson, who played for Cleveland, is recognized in the Wall of Fame honoring the Michigan State stars in the NBA.

Izzo, who’s entering his 24th year at the Michigan State helm, is revered as a campus hero and in the Gilbert Pavilion display is his life-size wax figure. He’s shown in a suit standing up with three players, also in wax, sitting on a bench as if in a basketball game. There’s enough space on the bench for visitors to take a photo sitting beside the players. Izzo has piloted the Spartans to 53 consecutive home wins from 1998 to 2002 and 28 from 2007 to 2009.

Magic isn’t just a Michigan State icon but also a Lansing product. He was born in Michigan’s capital city which is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Detroit. His statue outside the Gilbert Pavilion was dedicated in 2003 and entitled “Always A Champion,” citing his titles with Lansing Everett High School in 1977, Michigan State in 1979, the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 and the US Olympic Dream Team in 1992.

The Breslin Center seats are in green and white, the Spartans’ colors. Banners commemorating the varsity’s NCAA and conference triumphs hang from the rafters. The hardcourt is the same floor where the Spartans won the 2000 NCAA title in Indianapolis. The school bought the court from the NCAA and Final Four provider Horner Flooring. Right outside the stadium is an exhibit of “The Kiss,” the Spartan tradition of seniors going down on their knees bending to kiss the home floor in their last collegiate game. Respert and Cleaves are shown in the exhibit.

In a tribute to his alma mater, Green is quoted on a plaque at the Gilbert Pavilion explaining his donation to build the strength and conditioning center: “Michigan State means everything to me. I grew up in Saginaw and was lucky enough to attend Michigan State University where coach Izzo believed in me and gave me the chance to succeed. I would not be the person I am today without my Spartan experience and this donation reflects my deep appreciation to the university. This donation is not just about me. I want more kids to have the opportunities I had, thanks to Michigan State, and want to use this to stimulate all Spartans to give back to the best university in the world.”