Magic Johnson
After growing up in Lansing, Michigan, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. took his basketball talent to Michigan State University. He reached the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight and the championship game in his two respective years with the Spartans and then declared for the 1979 NBA Draft.
The Los Angeles Lakers took Johnson with the first overall pick, setting into motion 13 seasons with the franchise. Considered one of the best point guards of all time, Magic won five championships and an NBA Finals MVP with the Showtime Lakers. Following an HIV diagnosis in 1991, he retired from the NBA to address his health. Johnson did represent the United States at the 1992 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the Dream Team. After returning to the Lakers for one season, he retired for the final time in 1996.
In 2002, Johnson entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both an NBA player and member of the Olympic Dream Team. He served as the Lakers' President of Basketball Operations from 2017 to 2019. The now-62-year-old continues to advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and safety.
- Former teams: Los Angeles Lakers
- Position: Point guard, shooting guard, and power forward
- Height: 6'9″
- Accomplishments: Five-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, and 2002 Hall of Fame induction
- Drafted: No. 1 overall in 1979 by the Los Angeles Lakers
- Shoots: Right
- Nicknames: Magic, The Magic Man, Tragic, E.J. the Deejay
Visit Magic Johnson's Basketball Reference page.
Read the latest articles about Magic Johnson:
Five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson recently gave his thoughts on the ongoing GOAT debate involving Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Can LeBron James match or better some of the greatest NBA Finals closeout performances in Los Angeles Lakers history?
During their time on the Dream Team, Magic Johnson talked trash to Michael Jordan; the Lakers legend instantly paid the price.
Who was the first NBA player to make $10 million in a single season?
Longtime activist Craig Hodges asked Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson to boycott Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals to protest social injustice.
Who was the better player in the 1980s, Larry Bird or Magic Johnson? Veteran center, Olden Polynice, gave his take.
These days, Magic Johnson is worth $600 million. His professional career, however, started out with a surprisingly humble and dirty job.
While Earvin Johnson became a star as ‘Magic,' not everyone loved the title. In fact, Magic's own mother considered the nickname blasphemous.
Magic Johnson can top Michael Jordan and ‘The Last Dance' with his upcoming documentary that will showcase the Lakers legend's inspiring life.
Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan both had Hall of Fame careers before retiring. In retirement, both have been successful in business and have a lot in common in their lives outside of basketball.
