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Johnson, Magic
- 1992 Olympic gold medalist, member of the Dream Team
- 12-time NBA All-Star (1980, 1982-1992), two-time All-Star MVP (1990, 1992)
- Five-time NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985 1987, 1988), three-time NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
- Named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)
- Said to be “what Bob Cousy was to the 1950s, what Oscar Robertson was to 1960s, what Julius Erving was to the 1970s,” by NBA.com; rival Larry Bird said to Chicago Sun-Times “Magic is head-and-shoulders above everybody else.”
- Tallest point guard in NBA history
- Played all five positions and scored 42 points as a rookie in the 1980 NBA Finals
- Holds 10 assist records including the NBA All-Star career record for most assists with 127, career playoff record for most assists with 2,346 and Los Angeles Lakers franchise all-time assist leader with 10,141
- Played 13 seasons for the L.A. Lakers and was named to the All-NBA First team nine times (1983-1986, 1988-1991) and NBA All-Rookie First team (1982)
- Retired in 1992 after testing positive for the HIV virus – “I think sometimes we think, ‘It's not going to happen to me,’” Johnson said on Nov. 8, 1991 (historychannel.com.) “And I'm here saying that it can happen to anybody, even me, Magic Johnson.”
- Awarded the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1992 because of his campaign to promote AIDS awareness and continues his campaign at present
- Grew up with nine brothers and sisters and passed the time singing and playing basketball – “I practiced all day," Johnson told USA Weekend. "I dribbled to the store with my right hand and back with my left. Then I slept with my basketball."
- Given the nickname ‘Magic’ by a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old accumulate 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists in a single game (his mother who is a devout Christian thought the name was blasphemous); also called June Bug growing up
- Became a commentator for NBC Sports and now is the Vice President of the L.A. Lakers (1994-present)
- Named to Fortune Magazine’s “Most Powerful Black Executives” list in 2002
- Has many community programs including a development corporation that brings enrichment to underserved markets across the country with movie theaters, coffee houses, restaurants and retail centers that will provide jobs within those communities
Johnson accomplished many feats in his basketball career in many different levels of play. In high school he was named the Associated Press and United Press All-State three times and McDonald’s All-American in 1976 and 1977. Accomplishing a NCAA Championship at Michigan State University (1979) and named the NCAA Most Outstanding Player, Johnson moved on to the NBA after his sophomore year of college. He has many NBA records including the All-Star 3 point field goal, MVP three-times (1987, 1989, 1990) and L.A. Lakers all-time steals leader with 1,724. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992. Another triumph was winning gold at the 1992 Olympics. “Standing on that platform, I said a silent prayer,” Johnson said about his Olympic experience at thinkexist.com. “I thanked God for giving me the strength and the opportunity to come back, to play basketball again, and to be part of that whole magnificent Olympic experience. It’s a memory I will always cherish.”
Related Links
Official Web site: Earvin 'Magic' Johnson
On making your dreams come true: “You’re the only one who can make the difference,” said Johnson at thinkexist.com. “Whatever your dream is, go for it.”
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Height: 6' 9"
Born: 8/14/1959
Hometown: Lansing, Mich.
Sport: Basketball
Event: Point Guard
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