Magic Johnson

Earvin Johnson Jr., better known as Magic Johnson, is a Hall of Fame basketball player and an executive for the Los Angeles Lakers. Since retiring from the NBA, Johnson has become a successful businessman as well as a spokesman for HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus awareness.

In June 2009, his wife, Cookie Johnson, launched a line of jeans, CJ by Cookie Johnson, for full-figure women.Women's Wear Daily: Daily Buzz: A New Full-Figure Denim Line (June 15, 2009)

Johnson and Kobe Bryant spoke at the memorial service for the late pop music icon Michael Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009.

Earvin Johnson, Jr. was born in Lansing, Michigan, on August 14, 1959. The Hall-of-Fame basketball player started his formal playing career at Lansing Everett High School where he earned the nickname of Magic. In his youth he was notorious for traveling everywhere with a basketball in hands, which would explain his superior ball handling skills even with an eventual height of 6'9". When he declared for college, he stayed true to his roots choosing to stay near his hometown by attending Michigan State University. In 1979, he led the Michigan State Spartans Basketball team to a championship against Larry Bird and Indiana State University. This would mark the beginning of a legendary rivalry, and eventual friendship that would be recognized as one of the landmarks in sports history.

On October 14, 2008, it was announced that Johnson would join the ESPN and ABC coverage of NBA games as a studio analyst.ESPN.com: Magic joins ESPN, ABC as NBA studio analyst

In 1979, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Magic with the first pick in the NBA draft. With his up tempo fast break, and creative passing skills the media soon referred to the Lakers spectacle led by Magic as Showtime. Every night the enthusiastic point guard would demonstrate his all around skills leading the league with triple doubles. He would reward the franchise for their faith in him with an NBA Championship in his very first season. The highlight of his rookie campaign would be his clutch performance against Julius Erving and the Philadelphia 76ers in game six of the NBA Finals. Replacing the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic led the Lakers with 42 points, 15 rebounds three steals, and seven assists and earning the NBA Finals MVP.

He would go on to lead the Lakers to four more championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988, as well as winning the League MVP in 1987, 1989, and 1990.

Among his other notable accomplishments include three NBA Finals MVP, 12 Time All-Star, Twice the All-Star Game MVP, being named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team,9 First Team All NBA selections, and a Gold Medal representing Team USA with the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics.

Magic Johnson was not only one of the premier players in the league in his area, he also redefined the point-guard position. Magic Johnson did everything that was needed in order to help the Lakers win throughout the course of his career. An example of this would come during Johnson’s rookie season of 1979-1980.

It was game 6 of the NBA Finals and the Los Angeles Lakers would be without their center Kareem Abdul Jabbar who was forced to sit out due to an ankle injury he suffered in the previous game. Seemingly in trouble without Jabbar in the middle, Magic Johnson would play center for Los Angeles and even jumped for the opening tap. Magic Johnson would have the game of his young career as he would score 42 points, haul in 15 rebounds to go with 7 assists and 3 steals as well. Johnson’s performance earned him the Most Valuable Award in the Finals; the first time a rookie would ever win the honor.

In 1991, the world was shocked to discover that Magic had acquired the HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus. At the time he was the most famous celebrity to acquire the virus, he decided to dedicate his life to bringing about ,positive awareness on the subject. He briefly attempted a comeback in 1992, but lack of information and unwarranted fear on the subject of his HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus forced him to retire again. Than in 1996, he made another comeback, but the years away from the court had diminished his skills and the team's focus on youth encouraged him to retire for good. He was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and he has transitioned to a successful businessman with his ventures which include Magic Johnson Theaters, and Magic Johnson Enterprises.

• August 14, 1959: Born
• 1979: Debuts with the Los Angeles Lakers
• 1979-1980: NBA Champion
• 1981-1982: NBA Champion
• 1984-1985: NBA Champion
• 1986-1987: NBA Champion
• 1987-1988: NBA Champion
• 1987: NBA MVP
• 1989: NBA MVP
• 1990: NBA MVP
• 1991: Retires from NBA due to HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• 1992: Olympic Gold Medal
• 1996: Returns for one last season with Los Angeles Lakers
• 2002: Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame