Do You Believe In Magic?
Earvin Johnson Jr. earned his nickname on the team of Everett High School in Lansing, Mich. And ever since—whether it’s in basketball, in business, or in battling HIV—he has played to win.
1979: Johnson is selected first overall in the NBA draft by the Lakers and leads them to the championship in his rookie season.
1988: The Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons to claim their fifth NBA championship since Johnson joined the team.
1991: At 32, Johnson discovers he has HIV and announces his retirement. His wife and unborn son test negative.
1992: Back on the court, he wins the All-Star MVP, but retires again after protests from fellow players.
1994: Dr. David Ho puts Johnson on an experimental cocktail of antiretroviral drugs to help fight his HIV.
1995: Opens his first Magic Johnson movie theater in L.A.’s Crenshaw district, part of an effort to revive inner-city neighborhoods.
2011: He acquires a stake in the company that owns Vibe magazine and is rumored as a possible buyer for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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