(1959-)

Who Is Magic Johnson?

Magic Johnson dominated the court as one of professional basketball’s best players for 13 years. He retired from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 after revealing that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, though he later returned in 1996 for one final season.

Johnson has since built up a business empire, which includes real estate holdings, Starbucks franchises, movie theaters and shares of professional sports teams. He is also a published author.

Early Life

Johnson was born Earvin Johnson Jr. on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. From a large family, Johnson grew up with nine brothers and sisters.

Both of his parents worked—his father for the General Motors plant in town and his mother as a school custodian. He had a passion for basketball and would start practicing as early as 7:30 a.m.

At Everett High School, Johnson earned his famous nickname, “Magic,” after a sportswriter witnessed him compile 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists in a single game.

College Career

Johnson continued to play in college for Michigan State University. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches tall, he made for an impressive point guard. Johnson excelled during his freshman year, helping his team clinch the Big Ten Conference title.

The following year, he played an important role in taking the Spartans all the way to the NCAA Finals. There they faced off against the Indiana State Sycamores. In one of the most famous matchups in college basketball history, Johnson went head-to-head with Indiana’s star forward, Larry Bird.

The Spartans proved victorious, and the Johnson-Bird rivalry would follow the players to their days with the NBA.

NBA Career with the Los Angeles Lakers

Leaving college after two years, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. He did well in his first season (1979-80) with the team, averaging 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.

Johnson won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award for his efforts in leading the Lakers to a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, winning four of six games in the championship series. The team also included such strong players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes and Norm Nixon.

During Johnson’s third season (1981-1982) with the team, the Lakers made the NBA Finals again. For the second time in his pro career, the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers for the championship title.

Additionally, Johnson, who scored 13 points and added 13 rebounds with 13 assists in Game 6 of the 1982 Finals, earned his second series MVP award. The following season (1982-1983) saw the third Finals match-up between the Lakers and the 76ers in four years.

This time, however, L.A. was defeated by Philadelphia, losing four consecutive games to the 76ers and winning none during the series.

Larry Bird Rivalry

In the 1984 NBA Finals, Johnson again encountered rival Bird, who had signed with the Boston Celtics. This was the first of several match-ups between the two teams.

The Celtics beat the Lakers in a tight competition—four games to three—for the 1984 championship. The Lakers, however, took down the Celtics the following year in the Finals.

Johnson and his team continued to be one of the NBA’s top competitors throughout the rest of the 1980s. In the 1987 NBA Finals, they again defeated the Boston Celtics, and Johnson received the NBA Finals MVP Award for the third and final time in his career.

That year Johnson also averaged a career-best 23.9 points per game, resulting in his first regular-season NBA MVP award—an honor he would receive again in 1989 and 1990.

HIV Diagnosis

In November 1991, Johnson retired from the Lakers after revealing that he had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He believed he contracted the disease through unprotected sexual activity.

The diagnosis was especially hard for Johnson. At the time he learned he had the disease, his wife Cookie was pregnant with their first child. Fortunately, both his wife and their son, Earvin III, tested negative for HIV.

At the time, many people thought the virus mostly affected homosexuals or intravenous drug users. There was also a lot of fear and confusion regarding how the disease could be transmitted.

Johnson’s decision to go public with his medical condition helped raise awareness about the disease. He established the Magic Johnson Foundation to support HIV/AIDS research efforts and awareness programs that same year. In 1992, he wrote the educational guide What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS.

Dream Team

Undeterred, Johnson played in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Along with Michael Jordan and Bird, he was part of the American “Dream Team” that won the gold medal.

He hoped to return to professional basketball for the next season, but he dropped that plan amidst fear from other players who were concerned about playing with an HIV-positive competitor.

Retirement

Johnson explored other options after leaving basketball. In 1992, he had his latest book, My Life, published. Johnson had previously written two books about himself and the game, 1983’s Magic and 1989’s Magic’s Touch.

He also appeared on television as a sports commentator. During the 1993-1994 basketball season, Johnson tried his hand at coaching with the Lakers. He then bought a small share of the team.

In 1996, staging a brief comeback, Johnson returned for a few months to the Lakers as a player. He finally retired for good that same year, leaving behind an impressive legacy.

Stats

Over his long career, Johnson scored 17,707 points and recorded 10,141 assists, 6,559 rebounds and 1,724 steals. He also became the all-time leader in NBA assists per game, with an average of 11.2—a title that he continues to hold today.

Johnson was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Magic Johnson Theater

Just as he had dominated the courts, Johnson became a powerful force in business. He created Magic Johnson Enterprises, which has a variety of holdings.

Much of his efforts have focused on developing urban areas, bringing Starbucks coffee franchises and movie theaters into underserved communities. In 2008, he shared his secrets for success with the book 32 Ways to be a Champion in Business.

Johnson then teamed up with his old rival Bird to write the 2009 book When the Game Was Ours, which explores their rivalry, their experiences on the court and the sport they love. That same year, he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sports Executive and Lakers President

After selling his stake in the Lakers in 2010, Johnson joined an ownership group that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team in 2012. He also became part-owner of the minor league Dayton Dragons and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

Johnson formally returned to the Lakers in early 2017 as president of basketball operations. He made a splash in July 2018 by signing megastar free agent LeBron James, but abruptly resigned his post at the end of the 2018-2019 NBA season.

Personal Life

Johnson’s son Earvin III was born in 1992. Johnson and his wife, Cookie, also have a daughter named Elisa, whom they adopted in 1995.

He also has a son, Andre Johnson, from a previous relationship.

---

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Magic Johnson
• Birth Year: 1959
• Birth date: August 14, 1959
• Birth State: Michigan
• Birth City: Lansing
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Earvin “Magic” Johnson dominated the court as one of the world’s best basketball players for more than a decade. In 1991, he announced that he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• Astrological Sign: Leo
• Schools
• Everett High School
• Michigan State University
• Interesting Facts
• Magic Johnson’s rivalry with fellow basketball legend Larry Bird began when the two attended college and lasted throughout their time in the NBA.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn’t look right,contact us!

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Magic Johnson Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/magic-johnson
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: April 19, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014