Magic Johnson

At 64 years old, Magic Johnson has this physical status:

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr., an American retired professional basketball player and former NBA executive with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), was born on August 14, 1959) and retired from basketball administration (NBA).

For 13 seasons, he was a point guard for the Lakers.

Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers, who captured championships in high school and college.

In his rookie season, he received a championship and the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, and he also won four more titles with the Lakers in the 1980s.

Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but he returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award.

After hearing a number of riots from his colleagues, he returned to the Lakers in 1996 to play 32 games for the third and final time. Johnson has received three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations, among other things.

He made the league's all-time leader in average assists per game at 11.2.

Johnson was a member of the 1992 United States Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team"), which captured the Olympic gold medal in 1992.

Johnson joined the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a barnstorming squad that traveled around the world playing exhibition games after leaving the NBA in 1992.

In 1996, Johnson was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. Johnson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 for his individual contributions and then as a member of the "Dream Team" in 2010.

In 2007, ESPN named him the best NBA point guard of all time.

Larry Bird, the Boston Celtics' colleague who appeared in the 1979 NCAA finals and three NBA championship series, is well documented. Since his retirement, Johnson has been a champion for HIV/AIDS research and safe sex, as well as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, broadcaster, and motivational speaker.

His public declaration of his HIV-positive status in 1991 helped to debunk the myth that HIV is a "gay disease" that heterosexuals should not worry about; his bravery in releasing this information was widely lauded.

Johnson, who was named as one of America's most influential black businessmen in 2009, has a variety of entrepreneurial interests and was a part-owner of the Lakers for many years.

Johnson is also a member of a consortium of investors who bought the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and the Los Angeles Sparks in 2014.

Early life

Earvin Johnson Jr. was born in Lansing, Michigan, to General Motors assembly worker Earvin Sr. and school janitor Christine. Johnson, who had six siblings and three half-siblings by his father's previous marriage, was influenced by his parents' strong work ethic. His mother spent many hours after work each night to prepare the next day's meals, while his father did janitorial work at a used car lot and accumulated garbage, despite never missing a day at GM. Johnson would often accompany his father in the garbage can, and neighborhood children would tease him, "Garbage Man."

As a youth, Johnson discovered basketball as a sport. Bill Russell, his favorite basketball player, admired more for his numerous titles than his athletic ability. Earl Monroe and Marques Haynes, as well as Earl Monroe and Marques Haynes, were all idolized, and he trained "all day." Johnson came from an athletic family. Johnson played high school basketball in his home state of Mississippi, and Johnson found the game's finer points. Johnson's mother, who came from North Carolina, had also played basketball as a child, and she grew up watching her brothers play the game.

Johnson had begun to worry about a future in basketball by the time he had reached his eighth grade. He had already established himself as a good junior high scorer, scoring 48 points in a game. Johnson looked forward to being at Sexton High School, a school with a strong basketball program and history that happened to be just five blocks from his home. His plans changed dramatically when he learned that he would be bused to Everett High School rather than Sexton, which was predominantly black. Pearl and his brother Larry had bused to Everett the previous year but had no joy. There were instances of bigotry in buses carrying black students and white parents who were refusing to send their children to school. Larry was kicked out of the basketball team after a brawl during practice, causing him to beg his brother not to play. Johnson did join the basketball team but became outraged after several days as his new teammates mocked him at practice, not even passing the ball to him. Before head coach George Fox intervened, he almost got into a brawl with another player. Johnson eventually accepted his situation, and a select group of black students aspired to him as their leader. When recalling the events in his autobiography, My Life, he reflected about how his time in Everett had changed him:

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High school career

When he first started playing for Everett High School as a 15-year-old sophomore, he earned a triple-double of 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists. Fred Stabley Jr., a Lansing State Journal sports writer, gave him the moniker after the game, despite Johnson's mother's suspicion that the name was sacrilegious. Johnson led Everett to a 27–1 loss-loss record in his third high school career, while shooting 28.8 points and 16.8 rebounds per game, and led his team to a overtime victory in the state championship game. Johnson devoted the championship to his best friend, Reggie Chastine, who was killed in a car crash the previous summer. Chastine owed a lot of praise for his growth as a basketball player and as a person, saying, "I doubted myself back then." In Chastine's car, Johnson and Chastine were almost always together, whether playing basketball or riding around. Magic ran from his house and cries uncontrollably as they learned of Chastine's death. Johnson, who completed his high school years with two All-State picks, was also named to the 1977 McDonald's All-American team.

College career

Despite being recruited by several top-ranked universities, such as Indiana and UCLA, Johnson decided to play close to home. In East Lansing, he made his college decision in Michigan and Michigan State. When coach Jud Heathcote told him he could play the point guard position, he ultimately decided to attend Michigan State. The talent on Michigan State's roster had also drew him to the program.

Johnson did not intend to play professionally, rather focusing on his communications studies and his aspirations to be a television commentator. As a rookie, Johnson, Jay Vincent, and Mike Brkovich all scored 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, leading the Spartans to a 25–5 record, the Big Ten Conference championship, and a berth in the 1978 NCAA tournament. The Spartans made it to the Elite Eight, but they lost just barely to eventual national champion Kentucky.

Michigan State earned a second trip to the NCAA tournament during 1978-79, where they advanced to the championship game and met Indiana State, led by senior Larry Bird. Michigan State defeated Indiana State 75–64, with Johnson named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He was selected to the 1978–79 All-American team for his 1981-1982 appearance. Johnson spent two years in college, averaging 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, a record that was not present in the 1979 NBA draft. Jud Heathcote resigned as the Spartans' coach after the 1994–95 season, and Johnson returned to the Breslin Center on June 8, 1995 to compete in the Jud Heathcote All-Star Tribute Game. With 39 points, he led all scorers.

Professional career

Johnson was the first overall draft by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. Johnson said that playing with the Lakers was "most exciting" because he had the opportunity to work alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the team's 7 ft. 2 center who was the team's top scorer in NBA history. Despite Abdul-Jabbar's popularity, he had failed to win a championship with the Lakers, and Johnson was supposed to assist them in achieving this aim. Even though Lakers coach Jack McKinney was still one of the best in the league, he had the 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) rookie Johnson, who some analysts believed should play forward, as a point guard. Johnson, who averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game on the season, was chosen to the NBA All-Rookie Team, and was named an NBA All-Star Game starter.

In the 1980 NBA Finals, the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by forward Julius Erving. The Lakers owned a 3–2 lead in the series, but Abdul-Jabbar, who earned 33 points a game in the series, suffered his ankle in Game 5 and was unable to participate in Game 6. Coach Paul Westhead, who had been replacing McKinney early in the season after a near-fatal bicycle crash, decided to start Johnson at center in a 123-107 victory, despite playing guard, forward, and center at different times during the game. Johnson was the first rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award, and his flawless play is still one of the best in NBA history. He was also one of four players to win NCAA and NBA championships in a row.

Johnson was sidelined early in the 1980-81 season after suffering torn cartilage in his left knee. He missed 45 games and said that his recovery was the most "down" he had ever felt. Johnson did return before the 1981 playoffs, but Lakers' then-assistant and future head coach Pat Riley later said Johnson's much-anticipated return made the Lakers a "divided team." In the first round of playoffs, the 54-win Lakers defeated the 40-42 Houston Rockets, where Houston defeated the Lakers 2–1 after Johnson airballed a last-second shot in Game 3.

Johnson signed a 25-year, $25 million deal with the Lakers in 1981, the highest-paying job in sports history up to that point. Johnson fought Westhead early in the 1981–82 season, who Johnson said the Lakers were "slow" and "predictable." After Johnson demanded to be traded, Lakers owner Jerry Buss fired Westhead and swapped him with Riley. Although Johnson denied liability for Westhead's dismissal, he was booed around the league, even by Laker fans. Buss was also dissatisfied with the Lakers' offense and had intended to dismiss Westhead a few days before the Westhead–Johnson altercation, but assistant GM Jerry West and GM Bill Sharman persuaded Buss to delay his decision. Despite his off-court woes, Johnson averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and a league-high 2.7 steals per game, and was named a member of the All-NBA Second Team. He also joined Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only NBA players to reach at least 700 points, 700 rebounds, and 700 assists in the same season. In the 1982 NBA Finals, the Lakers advanced to the 1982 playoffs and met Philadelphia for the second time in three years. The Lakers beat the Sixers 4–2, beating Johnson for his second NBA Finals MVP award after a triple-double in Game 6 for Johnson. Johnson averaged 16.2 points on a.533 shooting, 10.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game during the championship series against the Sixers. Johnson later said that his third season was when the Lakers first became a great team, and he owes a lot to Riley.

During Johnson's first nine seasons as a manager, he averaged 16.8 points, 10.5 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game, earning his first All-NBA First Team nomination in 1982-83. For the third time, the Lakers advanced to the Finals, featuring center Moses Malone as well as Erving. With Johnson, James Worthy, and Bob McAdoo all recovering from injuries, the Lakers were swept by the Sixers, with Malone named the Finals MVP. Johnson averaged 19.0 points on.403 shooting, 12.5 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game in a losing effort against Philadelphia.

West, the Lakers' general manager, had promised Nixon to discourage Johnson from disclosing the ball-handling duties prior to Johnson's fifth season. Johnson had another double-double season, scoring 17.6 points, 13.1 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game. For the third year in a row, the Lakers and Bird's Celtics met in the Finals, where Johnson's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met for the first time in the postseason. The Lakers won the first game and led by two points in Game 2 with 18 seconds to go, but the Lakers lost 124–121 in overtime after Gerald Henderson missed a shot off before the final buzzer sounded. Johnson won by 137–104, but he made several critical mistakes late in the game, including Game 4. Johnson had the ball stolen by Celtics center Robert Parish in the last minute of the game, but then missed two free throws that may have won the game. Game 4 was won by the Celtics in overtime, and the two teams split in the next two games. As the Lakers trailed by three points in the final minute, opposing point guard Dennis Johnson stole the ball from Johnson, a game that effectively ended the game. In the midst of street fan celebrations, Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre consoled him that night, talking into the morning in his Boston hotel room until the morning. Johnson averaged 18.0 points on a.560 shooting, 13.6 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game during the Finals. Later, Johnson referred to the series as "the one championship we should have had but didn't get."

Johnson averaged 18.3 points, 12.6 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game in the 1984–85 NBA Finals, where the Lakers defeated the Celtics again. In a 34-point loss in Game 1, the Lakers got off to a bad start when they gave the Celtics a 148 points to start the season. However, Abdul-Jabbar, a 38-year-old man, scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in Game 2, and his 36 points in a Game 5 victory were instrumental in Los Angeles's 3–2 victory. Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, who averaged 18.3 points on.494 shooting, 14.0 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game in the championship series, said the Finals win was the highlight of their careers after the Lakers defeated the Celtics in six games.

With 18.8 points, 12.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game, Johnson averaged a double-double in the 1985-86 NBA season, 1985–86. The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals, but they were unable to beat the Houston Rockets, who advanced to the Finals in five games. Johnson averaged a career-high of 23.9 points, as well as 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game, and received his first regular season MVP award. For the third time in the NBA Finals, the Lakers faced the Celtics for the third time, and Game 4 Johnson defeated Celtics big men Parish and Kevin McHale 107–106. Los Angeles defeated Boston in six games thanks to Johnson's "junior, junior, junior sky-hook." After averaging 26.2 points on.541 shooting, 13.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.33 steals per game, Johnson was awarded his third Finals MVP title.

Even though no team had won consecutive titles since the Celtics did so in the 1969 NBA Finals, Lakers coach Pat Riley openly that they would defend the NBA crown until the 1985 NBA championships. Despite missing ten games due to a groin injury, Johnson had another good season with averages of 19.6 points, 11.9 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Lakers swept the San Antonio Spurs in three games, then went on to face Thomas and the Dallas Mavericks in the finals, beating Bill Laimbeer, John Salley, Vinnie Johnson, and Dennis Rodman for their physical style of play. Before Game 1, Johnson and Thomas kissed each other on the cheek, they described as a demonstration of brotherly affection. After the teams split the first six games, Lakers forward and Finals MVP James Worthy had his first career triple-double of 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading his team to a 108–105 victory. Despite not being named MVP, Johnson had a good championship run, scoring 21.1 points on.550 shooting, 13.0 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. It was his fifth and final NBA championship of his career.

Johnson's 22.5 points, 12.8 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game earned him his second MVP award in 1988–89, and the Lakers continued to play the Pistons in 1989 NBA playoffs. The Lakers were a no match for the Lakers after Johnson went down with a hamstring injury in Game 2; they defeated them 4–0.

Johnson received his third MVP award in a competitive 1989–90 NBA season in which he averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game. However, the Lakers lost in the Western Conference semifinals, the Lakers' first playoff appearance in nine years, to the Phoenix Suns. Mike Dunleavy served as the Lakers' head coach from 1990-91, when Johnson had taken responsibility for the league's third-oldest point guard. He had grown more ferocious and more nimble in his earlier years, but he was also slower and less nimble. The offense had more half-court sets under Dunleavy, and the team had a renewed focus on defense. Johnson had a good season on the lamography, with averages of 19.4 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game, and the Lakers reached the 1991 NBA Finals. They met the Chicago Bulls, led by shooting guard Michael Jordan, who was dubbed the best player of his time. Despite the fact that the sequence was depicted as a match between Johnson and Jordan, Bulls forward Scottie Pippen defended effectively against Johnson. Despite two triple-doubles from Johnson throughout the series, Finals MVP Jordan led his team to a 4–1 victory. Johnson averaged 18.6 points on.431 shootings, 12.4 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game in his last championship run.

Johnson discovered he had tested positive for HIV after a physical examination before the 1991-92 NBA season. Johnson declared in a press conference on November 7, 1991, that he would not resign immediately. He said that his wife Cookie and their unborn child did not have HIV, and that he would live to "battle this deadly disease."

Johnson initially said he didn't know how he contracted the condition, but later admitted that it was because of having several sexual partners during his playing career. He admitted to having "harems of women" and spoke openly about his sexual interests because "he was convinced that heterosexuals were at risk." Only a small percentage of HIV-positive Americans had contracted it from heterosexual sex at the time, and it was initially believed that Johnson was gay or bisexual, but he denied both. Isiah Thomas was accused later of spreading the news, which Thomas denied.

Johnson's HIV news in the United States became a national news story, and ESPN named him as the seventh-most memorable moment of the past 25 years in 2004. Many publications praised Johnson as a hero, and then-U.S. President George H. W. Bush declared, "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for those who likes sports."

Despite Johnson's retirement, the former NBA All-Star Game in Orlando Arena was voted by fans as a starter, but several NBA players, including Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, said Johnson should not play, and several NBA players, including Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, said it would be in danger of contamination if Johnson suffered an open wound while on trial. After scoring 25 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds, Johnson led the West to a 153-113 victory and was named All-Star MVP. After he made a last-minute three-pointer, the game came to an end, and players from both teams rushed to congratulate Johnson.

Johnson was chosen to compete in the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics for the US national team, also known as the "Dream Team" because of the NBA stars on the roster. The Dream Team, as well as Johnson, included fellow Hall of Famers such as Bird, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley, and was considered unbeatable. The Dream Team dominated in Olympic competition after winning the gold medal at the 1992 Tournament of the Americas, defeating opponents by an average of 43.8 points per game. During the Olympics, Johnson averaged 8.8 points per game, and his 5.5 assists per game was second on the team. Johnson mainly due to knee pains, but he did receive standing ovations from the crowd, and he encouraged HIV-positive people.

Johnson declared his intention to stage an NBA comeback before the 1992–93 NBA season. After participating in several pre-season games, he retired before the regular season, citing controversies surrounding his return caused by resistance from many current players. In a September 2011 interview, Johnson said that in retrospect he wishes he had never retired after being diagnosed with HIV, saying, "I would not have retired now if I knew what I know now." Despite the physical, highly competitive, and scrimmages leading up to the 1992 Olympics, Johnson said that several of his former teammates remained worried about his return to the NBA. He resigned because he "didn't want to hurt the game," he said.

During his time as a journalist, Johnson wrote a book on safe sex, operated several companies, and traveled Asia, Australia, and New Zealand with a basketball team made up of former college and NBA players. Johnson founded "A Midsummer Night's Magic," a yearly charity festival that featured a celebrity basketball game and a black tie dinner in 1985. The funds went to the United Negro College Fund, and Johnson held this fundraiser for 20 years, but it came to an end in 2005. "A Midsummer Night's Magic" came later under the Magic Johnson Foundation, which he founded in 1991. The 1992 festival, which was the first one held after Johnson's appearance in the 1992 Olympics, raised over $1.3 million for UNCF. Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and celebrity trainer Spike Lee guided the blue team to a 147–132 victory over the white team, which was coached by Arsenio Hall.

Johnson came back to the NBA for the Lakers near the 1993–94 NBA season, replacing Randy Pfund and Bill Bertka, who served as an interim coach for two games. "I've always had the desire (to coach) in the back of my mind," Johnson, who took the job at the behest of owner Jerry Buss' bemoan. He argued that his health was not a point, while dismissing questions about returning as a player by saying, "I'm retired." Let's leave it at that." Johnson took over a team that had a 28–38 record and lost his first game as head coach, a 110–101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks amid rumors that general manager Jerry West would only coach until the end of the season. Vlade Divac, Elden Campbell, Tony Smith, Kurt Rambis, James Worthy, and Michael Cooper, who was brought on as an assistant coach, was coaching a team with five of his former teammates on the roster. Johnson, who had a guaranteed player contract that would pay him $14.6 million in the 1994-95 NBA season, has signed a separate deal with the team that received no compensation. The Lakers did well, winning five of their first six games under new owner John Johnson, but Johnson resigned as coach after losing five games. The Lakers ended the season on a ten-game losing streak, and Johnson's last appearance as a head coach was 5–11. Stating that it was never his intention to teach, he decided instead to purchase a 5% stake of the team in June 1994.

When Johnson re-joined the Lakers during the 1995–96 NBA season, he made his second comeback as a player. Johnson began vigorous workouts to help his fight against HIV, boosting his bench press from 135 to 300 pounds, and lifting his weight to 255 pounds during his retirement. He officially returned to the team on January 29, 1996 and appeared in his first game against the Golden State Warriors the following day. Johnson had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists as a result of the Lakers' 128-118 victory. In a victory over the Atlanta Hawks on February 14, Johnson scored 15 points, as well as 10 rebounds and 13 assists. In 32 games, he averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, and he finished tied for 12th place with Charles Barkley in voting for the MVP award. Johnson dominated the games by 22,10, and the Lakers' final return to the team was a huge success. Although Johnson did well in 1996, there were fights both on and off the court. Cedric Ceballos, who was furious because of a reduction in his playing time after Johnson's arrival, has been with the team for several days. He missed two games and was stripped of his position as team captain. During a game on April 9, Nick Van Exel received a seven-game suspension for bumping referee Ron Garretson. Johnson had been scathing of Van Exel, saying his activities were "inexcusable." Johnson was banned five days later after he bumped referee Scott Foster, who was left suspended for three games. Due to a calf injury, he missed several games. Despite these challenges, the Lakers finished as the fourth seed and 53-29 in the NBA Playoffs, a record. Despite being battling the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets, the Lakers had a home court advantage in the five-game series. In a Game 1 loss, the Lakers failed, causing Johnson to remark about his job as a coach Del Harris' offense. Johnson led the way to a victory in Game 2 with 26 points, but the Rockets only gained 7.5 points per game for the remainder of the season.

Johnson initially stated a desire to return to the team in the first round of the playoffs, but he later talked about joining another team as a free agent, aiming to see more playing time at point guard rather than power forward. Johnson changed his mind and retired permanently, saying, "I am going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992."

Despite being out of the NBA, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a barnstorming group made up of former NBA and college players. As his team played in Australia, Israel, South America, New Zealand, and Japan, Johnson joined former pros Mark Aguirre, Reggie Theus, John Long, Earl Cureton, Jim Farmer, and Lester Conner. They also toured the United States, playing five games against teams from the CBA. Johnson had 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists in the All-Stars' 126-121 victory over the Oklahoma City Cavalry in the last game of the CBA series. The Magic Johnson All-Stars had a record of 55-0 by the time Johnson returned to the Lakers in 1996, earning as much as $365,000 per game. Johnson worked with the team for many years, with perhaps the most memorable game being played in November 2001. Johnson played for the All-Stars against his alma mater, Michigan State, at the age of 42. Despite participating in a celebrity game to honor coach Jud Heathcoate in 1995, this was Johnson's first meaningful game played in Lansing in 22 years. Johnson had a triple-double and watched the entire game, but his all-star team lost by two points to the Spartans. Johnson's half-court shot at the buzzer would have won the game, but it fell short. Johnson played in his second exhibition game against Michigan State on November 1, 2002. Johnson's team defeated the Spartans 104–85, with 12 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in his National Basketball League debut as he played with the Canberra Cannons of Australia's National Basketball League rather than his usual group of players.

Johnson, a 1999 recruiter for M7 Borrows (now known as 'Bor's Basket,') was undefeated in five games with the team. Johnson became a co-owner of the club after one season, but the club was forced to rebuild after a season. He joined the Danish team The Great Danes later.

Executive career

Johnson named Jim Buss as the president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers on February 21, 2017. In an effort to free up space under the league's salary ceiling, the Lakers attempted to sign multiple star players and cleared current players, including future All-Star D'Angelo Russell, off of their roster under Johnson. In 2018, the franchise reached an agreement with free agent LeBron James on a four-year contract, but attempts to move Anthony Davis during the 2018–19 season were unsuccessful. During Johnson's tenure as a coach, the Lakers did not make it to the playoffs. Johnson resigned from the Lakers in April 9, 2019, citing his desire to return to his role as an NBA ambassador in an impromptu news conference.

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