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:
Magic Johnson says his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is definitely underrated.
Los Angeles Lakers legendary point guard Magic Johnson said he'd have no problems adapting to the style of play in today's NBA.
Magic Johnson admits to hating Larry Bird on the court, but he said he never felt that way about Michael Jordan.
Magic Johnson was blasted after the Los Angeles Lakers lost the 1984 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics.
While Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were legendary rivals, the two men also had an incredible respect for each other.
At this point in time, there's nothing new about Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan refusing to bury the hatchet. Magic Johnson exposed just how stupid that reality is.
Magic Johnson gave a lot of credit to former Lakers teammate Michael Cooper for the team's success in the 1980s.
Before he became a Hollywood fixture, Magic Johnson had to move from Michigan to Los Angeles. The transition, it seems, was a bit of a challenge.
Magic Johnson said he might have to step in and put a halt to the Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas feud.
While Magic Johnson says that he was happy to play with his guys and not join a super team, simply latching onto that assertion misses the point.
