Magic Johnson (b. 1959)

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Biography

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. Often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, Johnson spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After winning a national championship with the Michigan State Spartans in 1979, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers, then led the team to five NBA championships during their "Showtime" era. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. He retired again after fellow players protested his return, but returned in 1996, at age 36, to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time.

In Their Own Words (2)

I think sometimes we think, "Well, only gay people can get it; it's not going to happen to me", and here I am saying that it can happen to anybody.

Johnson on who can get HIV, from his official announcement about living with HIV (7 November 1991) , 1991

Everyone thought I was going to die like a year later, they didn't know. So I helped educate sports, and then the world, that a man living with HIV can play basketball. He's not going to give it to anybody by playing basketball.

Then & No Magic Johnson

Timeline

The story of Magic Johnson, told in moments.

1959 Birth

Born Earvin Johnson Jr. in Lansing, Michigan. One of ten children. Got the nickname "Magic" from a sportswriter after a 36-point, 18-rebound, 16-assist high school game.

36 points, 18 rebounds, 16 assists in a high school game. Did Magic feel like your real name? One of ten children in Lansing. Was basketball the way out?

1980 Event

Won the NBA championship as a rookie with the Lakers. Started at center in Game 6 in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds. He was 20 years old.

Starting at center as a rookie in the NBA Finals because Kareem went down. Were you terrified? 42 points and 15 rebounds in the championship clincher at 20. Was that the peak?

1991 Event

Announced he was HIV-positive and retiring from basketball. He was 32. Many expected him to die within years. He didn't. Returned for the 1992 All-Star Game and won MVP.

Announcing you were HIV-positive in 1991. Were you expecting to die? Everyone thought it was a death sentence. When did you realize it wasn t?

1992 Event

Played on the Dream Team at the Barcelona Olympics. First time NBA players competed. The team won gold by an average margin of 44 points per game. Johnson was the floor general.

Dream Team in Barcelona. Winning gold by 44 points per game. Was that competition or exhibition? Were the other countries happy to lose to you?

2012 Event

Became part of the ownership group that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.15 billion, a record price for a sports team at the time. His business empire spans movie theaters, restaurants, and real estate.

From basketball to a 2.15 billion dollar ownership group. Is business the second act or the real act? Movie theaters, restaurants, real estate. Was the empire planned?

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