Magic "Earvin" Johnson, Jr. was born on August 14, 1959 in Landing, Michigan. His career began at Everett High School in Lansing and he went on to Michigan State before being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. Magic had nine brothers and sisters and his father worked for General Motors while his mother was a school custodian. In his own words, Magic would say as a kid, "I practiced all day and I dribbled to the store with my right hand and back with my left-I even slept with my basketball."
Johnson became known as "Magic" while still playing on his high school basketball team. A reporter covering a game could find no other way to convey the skill with which Johnson played. After graduating from high school, Johnson chose to attend Michigan State in East Lansing, MI in order to stay close to home. While in college, Johnson played on the school team, the well known Spartans. While a Spartan, Johnson led the team to a 25-5 record and a Big Ten conference title in his first year! His record the following year was no less impressive; the Spartans defeated Larry Bird's Indiana State team to capture the national title in one of the most closely watched NCAA games ever.
Opting the pro route, Johnson joined the 1979 draft, where the Lakers picked him up. With a new coach in hand in Jack McKinney and a new owner (Dr. Jerry Buss), the fans couldn't wait to see one of the best college players in their Lakers uniform. Players from all teams saw the Magic of Johnson and although the NBA rookie of the year went to Larry Bird, the Lakers won the NBA Championship in 1979 with a 60-22 record. When coach McKinney was replaced by Paul Westhead the following year, Magic's numbers matched his college efforts at 18 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 73 apg. Proudly, he was the first rookie to start in an NBA All-Star Game-something that hadn't been done in eleven years!
In the 1980 NBA finals, Johnson scored an incredible 42 points, 15 board, 7 assists and three steals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson was the first rookie to win the MVP award in the NBA finals. Magic Johnson is a modest sort, saying only of his achievement: "I just wanted to do whatever the (Lakers) needed to do to win. I was having fun." Sadly, torn cartilage in his knee would keep him on the sidelines for 45 games in the following season.
Johnson recovered from his injury and the Lakers came back in a big way for the 1981-1982 season. The Lakers handily won their division title and again took on the 76ers in the finals, with another win for the Lakers and another MVP award for Johnson. While Johnson took some heat for the comments he made about Lakers coach Paul Westhead (who was replaced by the now legendary Pat Riley and left himself for the Chicago Bulls), he never let the criticism get to him and his performance in the game was never less than astounding.
In 1984, Magic signed a $25 million dollar contract with the Lakers and they won three NBA titles in the following four years. In the 1986-87 season, he scored an astounding 38 points against Houston and 46 points against the Sacramento Kings-a career high. During this season, he also achieved a career-high average of 23.9 points per game- and Johnson was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player of the Year. He would win this award again in 1989 and 1990.
Prior to the 1991-92 season, Magic made the announcement that he had tested positive for the HIV virus and would be retiring. He did play at the All-Star game that year and won the game's MVP Award, but at this point in his career, Magic turned to outreach-for HIV and AIDS and received the leagues J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Not one to be kept down, Magic played for the 1992 US Olympic "Dream Team, wrote a book on safe sexual practices, and ran several businesses. He worked for NBC as a sports commentator and with only sixteen games left in the 1993-94 season, he took the offer of replacing Randy Pfund as the Lakers head coach.
Magic Johnson made some incredible achievements in his 13 season career in the NBA. He scored 17, 707 points, 6.559 rebounds, 10,141 assists and 1,724 steals. Johnson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hal of Fame in 2002. He remains focused on his charitable work and his own companies; but even after years off the court he is still one of the biggest names in basketball. As his longtime rival and admirer Larry Byrd says of him: : Magic is head-and-shoulders above everybody else. I've never seen anybody as good as him.
Johnson became known as "Magic" while still playing on his high school basketball team. A reporter covering a game could find no other way to convey the skill with which Johnson played. After graduating from high school, Johnson chose to attend Michigan State in East Lansing, MI in order to stay close to home. While in college, Johnson played on the school team, the well known Spartans. While a Spartan, Johnson led the team to a 25-5 record and a Big Ten conference title in his first year! His record the following year was no less impressive; the Spartans defeated Larry Bird's Indiana State team to capture the national title in one of the most closely watched NCAA games ever.
Opting the pro route, Johnson joined the 1979 draft, where the Lakers picked him up. With a new coach in hand in Jack McKinney and a new owner (Dr. Jerry Buss), the fans couldn't wait to see one of the best college players in their Lakers uniform. Players from all teams saw the Magic of Johnson and although the NBA rookie of the year went to Larry Bird, the Lakers won the NBA Championship in 1979 with a 60-22 record. When coach McKinney was replaced by Paul Westhead the following year, Magic's numbers matched his college efforts at 18 ppg, 7.7 rpg, and 73 apg. Proudly, he was the first rookie to start in an NBA All-Star Game-something that hadn't been done in eleven years!
In the 1980 NBA finals, Johnson scored an incredible 42 points, 15 board, 7 assists and three steals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson was the first rookie to win the MVP award in the NBA finals. Magic Johnson is a modest sort, saying only of his achievement: "I just wanted to do whatever the (Lakers) needed to do to win. I was having fun." Sadly, torn cartilage in his knee would keep him on the sidelines for 45 games in the following season.
Johnson recovered from his injury and the Lakers came back in a big way for the 1981-1982 season. The Lakers handily won their division title and again took on the 76ers in the finals, with another win for the Lakers and another MVP award for Johnson. While Johnson took some heat for the comments he made about Lakers coach Paul Westhead (who was replaced by the now legendary Pat Riley and left himself for the Chicago Bulls), he never let the criticism get to him and his performance in the game was never less than astounding.
In 1984, Magic signed a $25 million dollar contract with the Lakers and they won three NBA titles in the following four years. In the 1986-87 season, he scored an astounding 38 points against Houston and 46 points against the Sacramento Kings-a career high. During this season, he also achieved a career-high average of 23.9 points per game- and Johnson was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player of the Year. He would win this award again in 1989 and 1990.
Prior to the 1991-92 season, Magic made the announcement that he had tested positive for the HIV virus and would be retiring. He did play at the All-Star game that year and won the game's MVP Award, but at this point in his career, Magic turned to outreach-for HIV and AIDS and received the leagues J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. Not one to be kept down, Magic played for the 1992 US Olympic "Dream Team, wrote a book on safe sexual practices, and ran several businesses. He worked for NBC as a sports commentator and with only sixteen games left in the 1993-94 season, he took the offer of replacing Randy Pfund as the Lakers head coach.
Magic Johnson made some incredible achievements in his 13 season career in the NBA. He scored 17, 707 points, 6.559 rebounds, 10,141 assists and 1,724 steals. Johnson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hal of Fame in 2002. He remains focused on his charitable work and his own companies; but even after years off the court he is still one of the biggest names in basketball. As his longtime rival and admirer Larry Byrd says of him: : Magic is head-and-shoulders above everybody else. I've never seen anybody as good as him.
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