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:
Larry Bird could have done without all the pregame hype before the 1979 NCAA title game against Magic Johnson.
Over the years, Rick Barry faced off against plenty of basketball legends. That's given him some unique perspective on GOAT debates.
Magic Johnson was on point with his assessment of the Boston Celtics after Sunday's Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat.
After winning his first Finals MVP award for his rookie season, Lakers legend Magic Johnson went on to win it two more times.
Magic Johnson was on top of the world in 1980, but the Los Angeles Lakers guard's 1981 season came to a crashing halt.
Magic Johnson had one of the most memorable postseason games in history in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals.
Magic Johnson won the first battle in his long-standing rivalry with Larry Bird when his Michigan State Spartans claimed the 1979 NCAA title.
Who do you think is better: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson. Surprisingly, all three men (almost) came to a consensus.
During a Dream Team argument about who was the best, Magic Johnson tried to drag Larry Bird into it but Larry Legend couldn't help but agree with Michael Jordan.
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are two of the best ever to play, but did one have a better supporting cast than the other?
