Magic Johnson

He started playing basketball at a young age and he idolized Marques Haynes and Earl Monroe growing up. In 1991, he married Earlitha Kelly. He had a very close relationship with Jerry Buss who owned the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1991, Johnson announced that he had contracted HIV.

High School and College Career

Johnson attended Everett High School. In 1977, he was named the Mr. Basketball Michigan. He was also named to the First Team Parade All-American and a McDonald’s All-American.

For college, he decided to stay close to home and attended Michigan State University. He had planned on becoming a television commentator and studied communication. While with Michigan State, he helped lead the team to the 1979 NCAA Championship.

He was also named the 1979 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Professional Career

He joined the NBA during the 1979 NBA Draft. He was the first overall pick of the draft, chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first season with the team, he was named to the 1980 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Also in 1980, he helped the Lakers win the NBA Championship. He would become an NBA Champion with the Lakers again four more times. He was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1980. He was named the MVP again in 1982 and 1987. He was also named an NBA All-Star for the first time in 1980. He would be named an All-Star again 11 more times.

In 1987, Jonson was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for the first time. He would be named the MVP again in 1989 and again in 1990. In 1990 and 1992, he was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP.

In a physical before the 1991-1992 season, Johnson discovered that he had tested positive for HIV. He later went on to be a strong advocate for the disease.

He retired after he announced that he was positive. He came back to play in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game. He also went on to play for the United States in the 1992 Summer Olympics.

In the 1993-1994 season, he returned to the NBA as a coach. He also rejoined the Lakers as a player in the 1995-1996 season. He recorded the final triple-double of his career in February of that year.

Outside of the NBA, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars. For a time, he also played in Scandinavia for the M7 Boras.

Career Highlights

• 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 - NBA champion
• 1980, 1982, 1987 - NBA Finals MVP
• 1987, 1989, 1990 - NBA Most Valuable Player
• 1980, 1982–1992 - NBA All-Star
• 1990, 1992 - NBA All-Star Game MVP
• 1983–1991 - All-NBA First Team
• 1982 - All-NBA Second Team
• 1980 - NBA All-Rookie Team
• 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 - NBA assists leader
• 1981, 1982 - NBA steals leader
• 1984 - IBM Award

• 2019 - NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

• NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)

• No. 32 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers

• 1979 - NCAA champion
• 1979 - NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• 1979 - Consensus first-team All-American
• 1978 - Second-team All-American – NABC
• 1978 - Third-team All-American – AP, UPI

• 1978, 1979 - First-team All-Big Ten

• No. 33 retired by Michigan State Spartans

• 1977 - First-team Parade All-American
• 1977 - McDonald’s All-American
• 1977 - Mr. Basketball of Michigan

Career NBA Statistics

• Points - 17,707 (19.5 ppg)
• Rebounds - 6,559 (7.2 rpg)

• Assists - 10,141 (11.2 apg)

• Basketball Hall of Fame as a player
• College Basketball Hall of Fame, Inducted in 2006

Medal Record, Men’s basketball, representing the United States

• Gold - 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games
• Gold - 1992 Portland FIBA Americas Championship

Team History

As Coach:

• 1994 - Los Angeles Lakers