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:
A Converse sneaker commercial showed that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson didn’t carry their heated rivalry off the court.
The Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson rivalry dates back to 1979, but Magic said it didn’t get heated until 1982.
Magic Johnson had a tough time accepting the loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1984 NBA Finals.
While there were plenty of similarities between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, K.C. Jones once explained why they were different.
The Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers met in the NBA Finals for the first time in 1988.
Magic Johnson and Dennis Johnson often socialized in the offseason, but that all changed after D.J.’s trade to the Boston Celtics in 1983.
The Boston Celtics had no business beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1984 NBA Finals.
There was a time when Larry Bird actually felt sorry for his biggest rival, Magic Johnson, during their playing days.
Is the Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson rivalry bigger than Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell?
Magic Johnson hopes to eventually add another championship ring to his collection as part-owner of the Washington Commanders.
