Magic Johnson facts for kids
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Johnson in 2022
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | August 14, 1959 Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
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| High school | Everett (Lansing, Michigan) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Michigan State (1977–1979) | |||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1979 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1979–1991, 1996, 1999–2000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979–1991, 1996 | Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Magic M7 Borås | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Magic Great Danes | |||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 17,707 (19.5 ppg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 6,559 (7.2 rpg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 10,141 (11.2 apg) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. Many people consider him the greatest point guard of all time. Johnson played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
After winning a college championship with the Michigan State Spartans in 1979, Johnson was the very first player picked in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers. He led the team to five NBA championships during their exciting "Showtime" era. Johnson retired suddenly in 1991 after announcing he had contracted HIV. However, he returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, where he won the All-Star MVP Award. After some players expressed concerns about his return, he retired again for four years. He came back in 1996, at age 36, playing 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the last time.
Johnson was famous for his amazing court vision, passing skills, and leadership. He was one of the best players of his time. His career achievements include three NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVPs, and being named to the All-NBA First Team nine times. He also played in twelve All-Star games. He led the league in assists four times. Johnson holds the NBA record for most assists per game in both the regular season (11.19) and the playoffs (12.35). He also has the most career playoff assists and most career playoff triple-doubles.
Johnson was a co-captain of the "Dream Team" in 1992. This team won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona. This made Johnson one of only eight players to achieve the basketball Triple Crown. After leaving the NBA in 1991, he created the Magic Johnson All-Stars. This team traveled the world playing exhibition games.
In 1996, Johnson was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In 2021, he was chosen for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame twice. First in 2002 for his own career, and then in 2010 as a member of the Dream Team. His friendly rivalry with Boston Celtics star Larry Bird is well-known. They played against each other in the 1979 college finals and three NBA championship series.
Since retiring, Johnson has become a strong supporter of HIV/AIDS prevention and safe health practices. He is also a successful businessman, a generous giver, a broadcaster, and a speaker. Johnson used to be a part-owner of the Lakers. He was also the team's president of basketball operations in the late 2010s. He helped start Guggenheim Baseball Management, which manages the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB). He also owns parts of the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA), Los Angeles FC (MLS), the Washington Commanders (NFL), and the Washington Spirit (NWSL). Johnson has won 15 championships in total: one in college, five as an NBA player, and nine as an owner. Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, in 2025. As of May 2025, his wealth is estimated at US$1.5 billion, according to Forbes.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Dreams
Earvin Johnson Jr. was born in Lansing, Michigan. His father worked at General Motors, and his mother was a school janitor. Johnson had six siblings and three half-siblings. His parents taught him the importance of hard work. His mother cleaned their home and prepared meals after work. His father did janitorial work and collected garbage. Johnson often helped his father with the garbage route. Neighborhood kids sometimes teased him, calling him "Garbage Man." His mother raised him in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Johnson loved basketball from a young age. His favorite player was Bill Russell, who won many championships. He also looked up to players like Earl Monroe and Marques Haynes. He practiced basketball "all day." Johnson came from an athletic family. His father played high school basketball in Mississippi. Johnson learned many basketball skills from him. His mother, from North Carolina, also played basketball as a child. She grew up watching her brothers play.
By eighth grade, Johnson started thinking about a future in basketball. He was a great junior high player, once scoring 48 points in a game. He wanted to play at Sexton High School, which had a successful basketball team. Sexton was only five blocks from his home. However, his plans changed when he learned he would be bused to Everett High School. Everett was mostly white, while Sexton was mostly black.
Johnson's sister Pearl and brother Larry had been bused to Everett the year before. They had a difficult time. There were incidents of racism, like rocks thrown at buses. White parents sometimes refused to send their children to school. Larry was even kicked off the basketball team after an argument. He begged his brother not to play. Johnson joined the basketball team but was upset when his new teammates ignored him. They wouldn't even pass him the ball. He almost got into a fight before his coach stepped in.
Eventually, Johnson accepted his situation. The small group of black students looked to him as their leader. In his autobiography, My Life, he wrote about how Everett changed him. He said that being bused to Everett was one of the best things that happened to him. It helped him understand and communicate with different people.
High School Basketball Success
Johnson earned the nickname "Magic" at age 15. This happened when he achieved a triple-double (36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists) as a sophomore at Everett. Fred Stabley Jr., a sports writer, gave him the name. Johnson's mother, a religious Christian, thought the name was not respectful.
In his final high school season, Johnson led Everett to a 27–1 record. He averaged 28.8 points and 16.8 rebounds per game. He also led his team to an overtime victory in the state championship game. Johnson dedicated this win to his best friend, Reggie Chastine. Reggie had died in a car accident the previous summer. Johnson said Reggie helped him a lot as a player and a person. He finished his high school career with two All-State selections. Many considered him the best high school player ever from Michigan. He was also chosen for the first McDonald's All-American team in 1977.
College Career at Michigan State
Many top colleges wanted Johnson, like Indiana and UCLA. But he chose to play close to home. His final choice was between Michigan and Michigan State in East Lansing. He picked Michigan State because coach Jud Heathcote promised he could play point guard. The talented players already on Michigan State's team also attracted him.
Johnson didn't plan to play professionally at first. He focused on his communication studies major. He wanted to become a television commentator. As a freshman, he averaged 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. He led the Spartans to a 25–5 record and the Big Ten Conference title. They reached the Elite Eight in the 1978 NCAA tournament. They lost closely to the eventual champions, Kentucky.
In the 1978–79 season, Michigan State made it to the NCAA tournament again. They reached the championship game and played against Indiana State. That team was led by Larry Bird. This game was the most-watched college basketball game ever. Michigan State won 75–64. Johnson was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. He was also selected for the 1978–79 All-American team. After two years in college, Johnson decided to enter the 1979 NBA draft. He averaged 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game in college.
NBA Career Highlights
Joining the Los Angeles Lakers
The 1979 NBA draft saw Johnson picked first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson was thrilled to play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the team's tall center. Abdul-Jabbar was already a top scorer, but the Lakers hadn't won a championship. Johnson was expected to help them achieve that goal. He wore number 32 for the Lakers because Abdul-Jabbar already had number 33.
Lakers coach Jack McKinney decided Johnson, who was 6 feet 9 inches tall, would play point guard. Some thought he should play forward instead. Johnson averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game in his first season. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and became an NBA All-Star Game starter.
The Lakers finished the regular season with a 60–22 record. They reached the 1980 NBA Finals to play the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Julius Erving. The Lakers led the series 3–2. But Abdul-Jabbar, who was averaging 33 points, sprained his ankle in Game 5. He couldn't play in Game 6. Coach Paul Westhead (who replaced McKinney earlier) decided Johnson would start at center. Johnson had an amazing game, scoring 42 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists. He also had 3 steals in a 123–107 win. He played guard, forward, and center during the game. Johnson became the only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award. His performance is considered one of the best in NBA history. He also became one of only four players to win college and NBA championships in back-to-back years.
Early Challenges and More Championships
In the 1980–81 season, Johnson was injured. He tore cartilage in his left knee and missed 45 games. He said his recovery was the hardest time he had felt. Johnson returned for the 1981 playoffs. However, the Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round.
In 1981, Johnson signed a huge 25-year, $25 million contract with the Lakers. This was the biggest contract in sports at the time. Early in the 1981–82 season, Johnson argued with coach Westhead. Johnson felt Westhead's offense was too slow. After Johnson asked to be traded, Lakers owner Jerry Buss fired Westhead. He replaced him with Pat Riley. Johnson denied causing the firing, but fans across the league booed him. Despite this, Johnson played great. He averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and a league-high 2.7 steals. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team. He also became one of only three NBA players to get at least 700 points, 700 rebounds, and 700 assists in one season.
The Lakers made it through the 1982 playoffs. They faced Philadelphia again in the 1982 NBA Finals. Johnson had a triple-double in Game 6. The Lakers beat the Sixers 4–2, and Johnson won his second NBA Finals MVP award. He averaged 16.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.5 steals in the series. Johnson later said this season was when the Lakers became a truly great team. He gave credit to coach Riley for their success.
During the 1982–83 NBA season, Johnson averaged 16.8 points, 10.5 assists, and 8.6 rebounds. He earned his first All-NBA First Team nomination. The Lakers reached the Finals again. For the third time, they faced the Sixers, who now had Moses Malone and Erving. Johnson's teammates were hurt, so the Lakers lost 4–0. Malone was the Finals MVP. Johnson averaged 19.0 points, 12.5 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in the series.
Rivalry with Larry Bird and More Titles
Before Johnson's fifth season, the Lakers traded Norm Nixon. This allowed Johnson to handle the ball more. Johnson had another great season, averaging 17.6 points, 13.1 assists, and 7.3 rebounds. The Lakers reached the Finals for the third year in a row. This was the first time Johnson's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met in the playoffs.
The Lakers won the first game. In Game 2, they led by two points with 18 seconds left. But Johnson couldn't get a shot off, and the Lakers lost in overtime. In Game 3, Johnson had 21 assists in a big win. However, he made key mistakes late in Game 4. The Celtics won Game 4 in overtime. The teams split the next two games. In the deciding Game 7 in Boston, the Lakers were down by three points. Celtics guard Dennis Johnson stole the ball from Magic, ending the series. Johnson later called this series "the one championship we should have had but didn't get."
In the 1984–85 regular season, Johnson averaged 18.3 points, 12.6 assists, and 6.2 rebounds. He led the Lakers to the 1985 NBA Finals, where they faced the Celtics again. The series started badly for the Lakers, losing Game 1 by 34 points. But Abdul-Jabbar, at 38, played incredibly well. He scored 30 points and had 17 rebounds in Game 2. His 36 points in Game 5 helped the Lakers take a 3–2 lead. The Lakers beat the Celtics in six games. Johnson averaged 18.3 points, 14.0 assists, and 6.8 rebounds in the series. Both Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson said this Finals win was a career highlight.
Johnson had another great season in 1985–86 NBA season, averaging 18.8 points, 12.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds. The Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals. But they lost to the Houston Rockets in five games. In the next season, Johnson averaged a career-high 23.9 points, plus 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds. He won his first regular season MVP award. The Lakers met the Celtics for the third time in the NBA Finals. In Game 4, Johnson made a last-second hook shot over two Celtics players to win 107–106. This shot helped Los Angeles beat Boston in six games. Johnson won his third Finals MVP title. He averaged 26.2 points, 13.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.33 steals per game.
Repeating as Champions
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Before the 1987–88 NBA season, Lakers coach Pat Riley promised they would win the NBA title again. No team had won back-to-back titles since the Celtics in 1969. Johnson had another strong season, averaging 19.6 points, 11.9 assists, and 6.2 rebounds. He missed 10 games due to a groin injury. In the 1988 playoffs, the Lakers swept the San Antonio Spurs. Then they won two tough 4–3 series against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. This led them to the 1988 NBA Finals against Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were known as the "Bad Boys" for their physical play.
Johnson and Thomas were good friends. They greeted each other with a friendly kiss before Game 1. The teams split the first six games. In the deciding Game 7, Lakers forward James Worthy had a triple-double (36 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists). He led his team to a 108–105 win. Johnson also played very well in the series. He averaged 21.1 points, 13 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. This was his fifth and final NBA championship.
In the 1988–89 NBA season, Johnson's great play earned him his second MVP award. He averaged 22.5 points, 12.8 assists, and 7.9 rebounds. The Lakers reached the 1989 NBA Finals again. They faced the Pistons once more. However, Johnson got a hamstring injury in Game 2. The Lakers were then swept 4–0 by the Pistons.
Playing without Abdul-Jabbar for the first time, Johnson won his third MVP award. This was after a strong 1989–90 NBA season. He averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 assists, and 6.6 rebounds. But the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals. This was their earliest playoff exit in nine years. Mike Dunleavy became the Lakers' head coach in 1990–91. Johnson was one of the league's oldest point guards. He had become stronger but also slower. Under Dunleavy, the team focused more on defense. Johnson played well, averaging 19.4 points, 12.5 assists, and 7 rebounds. The Lakers reached the 1991 NBA Finals. They faced the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The series was seen as a battle between Johnson and Jordan. Bulls forward Scottie Pippen defended Johnson very well. Despite two triple-doubles from Johnson, Jordan led his team to a 4–1 win. In his last championship series, Johnson averaged 18.6 points, 12.4 assists, and 8 rebounds.
HIV Announcement and Olympic Dream Team
Johnson played with the Lakers in the McDonald's Open in Paris, France, in October 1991. He was named the tournament MVP as the Lakers won gold. However, after a medical check-up before the 1991–92 NBA season, Johnson found out he had tested positive for HIV.
On November 7, 1991, Johnson held a press conference. He publicly announced his immediate retirement. He shared that his wife, Cookie, and their unborn child did not have HIV. He said he would dedicate his life to "battle this deadly disease." Johnson later explained that he contracted the disease through various relationships during his playing career. He spoke openly about this to help everyone understand the risks.
Johnson's HIV announcement was a huge news story in the United States. Many articles praised Johnson as a hero. The U.S. president at the time, George H. W. Bush, called him "a hero for anyone who loves sports."
Despite retiring, fans voted Johnson to start in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Some players, including Karl Malone, were concerned about playing against him. Johnson led the West team to a 153–113 win. He was named All-Star MVP after getting 25 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. The game ended with him making a last-minute three-pointer. Players from both teams ran to congratulate him.
Johnson was chosen to play in the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. He joined the U.S. national team, known as the "Dream Team." This team included other Hall of Famers like Bird, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley. The Dream Team was considered unbeatable. They won the gold medal with an 8–0 record. They beat opponents by an average of 43.8 points per game. Johnson averaged 8.0 points and 5.5 assists per game in the Olympics. He played less due to knee problems. But he received standing ovations from the crowd. He used this chance to inspire people living with HIV.
Post-Olympics and Later Career
Before the 1992–93 NBA season, Johnson wanted to make an NBA comeback. After practicing and playing in some pre-season games, he retired again. He cited controversy from other players about his return. In 2011, Johnson said he wished he had never retired after his HIV diagnosis. He felt he "didn't want to hurt the game."
During his retirement, Johnson wrote a book about safe health practices. He ran several businesses and worked as a TV commentator for NBC. He also toured with a basketball team of former college and NBA players. In 1985, Johnson started "A Midsummer Night's Magic." This yearly charity event included a celebrity basketball game and a fancy dinner. The money raised went to the United Negro College Fund. He held this event for twenty years. "A Midsummer Night's Magic" later became part of the Magic Johnson Foundation, which he started in 1991.
Return to the Lakers as Coach and Player
Johnson returned to the NBA as coach for the Lakers near the end of the 1993–94 NBA season. He replaced Randy Pfund. Johnson took the job because owner Jerry Buss asked him to. He said his health was not an issue. He also downplayed questions about playing again, saying, "I'm retired." Johnson coached a team that included five of his former teammates. The Lakers started well, winning five of their first six games under Johnson. But after losing the next five, Johnson announced he would resign as coach after the season. The Lakers finished the season with a ten-game losing streak. Johnson's final record as a head coach was 5–11. He said coaching was never his dream. Instead, he bought a 5% share of the team in June 1994.
At 36, Johnson tried another comeback as a player. He rejoined the Lakers during the 1995–96 NBA season. He had been working out intensely to fight HIV, gaining muscle. He officially returned on January 29, 1996. His first game was the next day against the Golden State Warriors. Coming off the bench, Johnson had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists in a Lakers win. On February 14, he recorded the last triple-double of his career. He scored 15 points, with 10 rebounds and 13 assists against the Atlanta Hawks. Playing power forward, he averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 32 games. He considered his final comeback "a success."
The Lakers finished with a 53–29 record and made the playoffs. They faced the defending champion Houston Rockets. The Lakers lost to the Rockets three games to one in the first round. After the playoffs, Johnson initially wanted to return for the 1996–97 NBA season. But he also thought about joining another team as a free agent. A few days later, Johnson changed his mind and retired permanently. He said, "I am going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992."
Magic Johnson All-Stars and International Play
Johnson still wanted to play competitive basketball. He formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars. This team was made up of former NBA and college players. In 1994, Johnson and other former pros played games in Australia, Israel, South America, Europe, New Zealand, and Japan. They also toured the United States. By the time he returned to the Lakers in 1996, the Magic Johnson All-Stars had a 55–0 record.
Johnson played with the team often over the next few years. A memorable game was in November 2001. At 42, Johnson played against his alma mater, Michigan State. This was Johnson's first important game in his hometown of Lansing in 22 years. In front of a sold-out arena, Johnson had a triple-double and played the whole game. But his all-star team lost to the Spartans by two points. Johnson's half-court shot at the buzzer would have won the game, but it fell short. In November 2002, Johnson played another exhibition game against Michigan State. This time, his team won.
In 1999, Johnson joined the Swedish team M7 Borås. He was undefeated in five games with them. Johnson also became a part-owner of the club. He later joined the Danish team The Great Danes.
Rivalry with Larry Bird
Johnson and Bird became rivals after Johnson's Michigan State team beat Bird's Indiana State team in the 1979 NCAA finals. Their rivalry continued in the NBA. It reached its peak when the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers met in three NBA Finals between 1984 and 1987. The Lakers won two of those three Finals. Johnson said that for him, the 82-game regular season had 80 normal games and two Lakers–Celtics games. Bird also admitted that Johnson's daily game stats were the first thing he checked.
Many journalists believed the Johnson–Bird rivalry was so exciting because it showed many differences. It was the Lakers versus the Celtics. It was Hollywood flashiness ("Showtime") against Boston's hardworking style ("Celtic Pride"). The rivalry was also important because it brought national attention back to the NBA. Before Johnson and Bird, the NBA had declining interest and low TV ratings. With these two future Hall of Famers, the league gained many new fans. According to sports journalist Larry Schwartz, Johnson and Bird saved the NBA.
Despite their on-court rivalry, Johnson and Bird became close friends. This happened during the filming of a 1984 Converse shoe commercial where they acted as enemies. Johnson attended Bird's retirement ceremony in 1992. He called Bird a "friend forever." Bird also formally inducted Johnson into the Hall of Fame.
In 2009, Johnson and Bird worked with journalist Jackie MacMullan on a book called When the Game Was Ours. The book described their rivalry and friendship. The next year, HBO made a documentary about their rivalry called Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals.
Magic Johnson's Basketball Legacy
In 905 NBA games, Johnson scored 17,707 points, grabbed 6,559 rebounds, and made 10,141 assists. This means he averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. His 11.2 assists per game is the highest average in NBA history. Johnson shares the playoff record for assists in a single game (24). He holds the Finals record for assists in a game (21). He also has the most playoff assists ever (2,346). He is the only player to average 12 assists in an NBA Finals series, doing it six times. He holds the All-Star Game record for assists in a single game (22) and for career assists (127). Johnson is one of only eight players to achieve the Triple Crown. This means winning a college championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal.
Johnson brought a fast-paced style of basketball called "Showtime." It included "no-look passes off the fast break, perfect alley-oops from halfcourt, spinning feeds and overhand bullets under the basket through triple teams." Fellow Lakers guard Michael Cooper said Johnson's passes were sometimes so surprising, he wasn't sure where they were going. Johnson could control a game without scoring much. He ran the offense and passed the ball with great style. In the 1982 NBA Finals, he was named Finals MVP even though he averaged only 16.2 points. This is the lowest average for any Finals MVP in the three-point shot era.
Johnson was special because he played point guard despite being 6 feet 9 inches tall. This size is usually for bigger players who play closer to the basket. He has 138 triple-double games in his career. This places him fourth all-time behind Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and Nikola Jokić. Johnson is the only player in NBA Finals history to have triple-doubles in more than one series-winning game.
For his achievements, Johnson was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. He was also selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him in 2002. In 2006, ESPN.com called Johnson the greatest point guard of all time. They even suggested he might be better than Michael Jordan. Bleacher Report also ranked Johnson first among all-time NBA point guards. In 2022, The Athletic ranked Johnson as the 5th greatest player in NBA history. He was the highest-ranked point guard. At the 2019 NBA Awards, Johnson received the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (shared with Bird). In 2022, the NBA started giving MVP awards for the conference finals. The Western Conference Finals MVP trophy is named after Johnson.
Awards and Honors
Basketball Triple Crown
NBA
- 5× NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
- 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1987, 1989, 1990)
- 3× NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
- 9× All-NBA First Team (1982–1990)
- All-NBA Second Team (1981)
- 12× NBA All-Star (1980, 1982–1992)
- 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1990, 1992)
- McDonald's Open winner (1991)
- McDonald's Open MVP (1991)
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1991)
- NBA Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
- 4× NBA assists leader (1982, 1983, 1985, 1986)
- 2× NBA steals leader (1980, 1981)
- Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996
- Selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021
- No. 32 retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
- Statue in front of Crypto.com Arena
- Trophy named in Johnson's honor (Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy) awarded to Western Conference Finals MVP (established in 2022)
USA Basketball
- Olympic gold medal winner (1992)
- Tournament of the Americas gold medal winner (1992)
NCAA
- 2× Big Ten champion (1978, 1979)
- NCAA national championship (1979)
- NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player (1979)
- Consensus first-team All-American (1979)
- No. 33 retired by Michigan State Spartans
- Statue at Michigan State
High school
- 1977 Michigan high school state champion (Lansing Everett High School)
- McDonald's All-American (1977)
- Mr. Basketball of Michigan (1977)
Halls of Fame
- Michigan Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 1998
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – 2001
- 2× Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee:
- Class of 2002 – individual
- Class of 2010 – member of "The Dream Team"
- National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2006
- FIBA Hall of Fame – Class of 2017 (as a member of "The Dream Team")
- U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame – Class of 2009 (as a member of "The Dream Team")
- California Hall of Fame – Class of 2011
Sports Ownership
- 5× NBA champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010) — as part owner/executive of the Los Angeles Lakers
- WNBA champion (2016) — as part owner of the Los Angeles Sparks
- 2× World Series champion (2020, 2024) — as part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers
- MLS Cup champion (2022) — as part owner of Los Angeles FC
National
Presidential Medal of Freedom, United States (January 4, 2025)
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Executive and Ownership Roles
On February 21, 2017, Johnson became the president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. Under his leadership, the Lakers tried to get many star players. They also cleared players from their team to make room under the league's salary cap. The team signed LeBron James in 2018. However, they did not make the playoffs during Johnson's time as an executive. On April 9, 2019, Johnson resigned from the Lakers. He said he wanted to return to his role as an NBA ambassador.
In January 2012, Johnson joined a group to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. In March 2012, his group won the bid to buy the Dodgers for $2 billion. Johnson is seen as the public face of the ownership group. The Dodgers won the 2020 and 2024 World Series.
Johnson also helped buy the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA in 2014. He won the WNBA championship as an owner in 2016. Johnson also announced he was a co-owner of a new Major League Soccer (MLS) team, Los Angeles FC. This team started playing in 2018 and won the MLS Cup in 2022.
In 2023, Johnson invested $240 million in a group that bought the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). This deal was for $6.05 billion. Johnson, a lifelong NFL fan, called this a "dream." In September 2024, Johnson joined the investment group for the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Personal Life and Business Ventures
Johnson had a son, Andre Johnson, in 1981 with Melissa Mitchell. Andre was raised by his mother but visited Johnson every summer. He later worked for Magic Johnson Enterprises.
In 1991, Johnson married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly. They had a small wedding in Lansing. Johnson and Cookie have a son, Earvin III ("EJ"). They adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995. Johnson lives in Beverly Hills and has a vacation home in Dana Point, California.
Johnson is a Christian. He has said his faith is "the most important thing" in his life.
Relationship with Jerry Buss
Johnson had a very close relationship with Lakers owner Jerry Buss. He saw Buss as a mentor and a father figure. Johnson called Buss his "second father" and "one of [his] best friends." He visited Buss for five hours in the hospital a few months before Buss's death in 2013. Johnson was emotional when Buss died. He said, "Without Dr. Jerry Buss, there is no Magic." Buss bought the team in 1979, just before drafting Johnson. Buss took a special interest in Johnson. He introduced him to important business contacts in Los Angeles. He also showed him how the Lakers organization worked. Eventually, Buss sold Johnson a share of the team in 1994. Johnson credits Buss with teaching him the business knowledge that helped him become a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Buss supported Johnson when he announced his HIV diagnosis in 1991. He always kept Johnson close to the organization. He brought him in as a part-owner and even as a coach. Johnson had never seriously thought about coaching. But he agreed to coach the Lakers in 1994 at Buss's request. In 1992, Buss gave Johnson a contract that paid him $14 million a year. This was to make up for years when he wasn't the league's highest-paid player. Even though Johnson's retirement in 1992 meant this contract was void, Buss insisted he still be paid. This arrangement allowed Johnson to coach the team without extra salary. After Johnson stopped coaching, Buss sold him a 4% share in the Lakers for $10 million. Johnson then served as a team executive.
Media and Business Interests
In 1997, Johnson's company, Magic Johnson Entertainment, signed a deal with Fox. In 1998, Johnson hosted a late-night talk show called The Magic Hour. The show was canceled after two months due to low ratings. After his talk show, Johnson started a record label. It was first called Magic 32 Records. It was renamed Magic Johnson Music when he partnered with MCA in 2000. Johnson also helped promote Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour. He has also worked as a motivational speaker. He was an NBA commentator for Turner Network Television for seven years. Then he became a studio analyst for ESPN's NBA Countdown in 2008.
Johnson runs Magic Johnson Enterprises. This is a large company worth $700 million. It includes Magic Johnson Productions, a promotional company. It also has Magic Johnson Theaters, a chain of movie theaters. Johnson also created the Magic Card, a pre-paid MasterCard. This card helps low-income people save money and shop online. In 2006, Johnson created a food service company with Sodexo USA called Sodexo-Magic. In 2004, Johnson and his partner Ken Lombard sold Magic Johnson Theaters.
In 2012, Johnson launched a cable TV network called Aspire. It features programs for black audiences. Johnson started thinking about life after basketball while still playing. He wondered why many athletes failed in business. He sought advice from experts. Johnson learned everything he could about business. He often met with company leaders during road trips. Johnson's first business, a sports store called Magic 32, failed after one year. It cost him $200,000. This taught him to listen to his customers.
Johnson has become a leader in investing in urban communities. He creates new opportunities in areas that need them. This includes his movie theaters and his partnership with Starbucks. He approached Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz with the idea of opening coffee shops in urban areas. Johnson showed Schultz the strong buying power of minority groups. Johnson was able to buy 125 Starbucks stores. These stores reported higher sales than average. This partnership, called Urban Coffee Opportunities, put Starbucks in places like Detroit, Washington, D.C., Harlem, and Los Angeles. Johnson sold his share in the stores back to Starbucks in 2010. This ended a successful twelve-year partnership. He has also invested in urban real estate. According to Forbes, Johnson became a billionaire in 2023.
In 1990, Johnson and Earl Graves Sr. bought a large share in a Washington, D.C. PepsiCo bottling company. This made it the largest minority-owned facility for PepsiCo in the U.S. Johnson became a minority owner of the Lakers in 1994. He reportedly paid over $10 million for his share. He also held the title of team vice president. Johnson sold his ownership in the Lakers in October 2010. But he continued as an unpaid vice president for the team. In February 2017, Johnson returned to the Lakers as an advisor to Jeanie Buss.
In 2015, Johnson bought a majority share in EquiTrust Life Insurance Company. This company manages $14.5 billion in financial products. He is also an investor for aXiomatic eSports, which owns Team Liquid.
Politics
Johnson supports the Democratic Party. In 2006, he publicly supported Phil Angelides for Governor of California. He supported Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential campaign. In 2010, he supported Barbara Boxer for her re-election to the U.S. Senate. In 2012, he supported Barack Obama for president. In 2015, he again supported Hillary Clinton in her second presidential campaign. He hosted a fundraiser for her campaign on August 22, 2016.
HIV Activism
I think sometimes we think, "Well, only gay people can get it; it's not going to happen to me", and here I am saying that it can happen to anybody.
Johnson was one of the first sports stars to publicly announce he had HIV. AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser encouraged Johnson to share his diagnosis. Johnson recalled in a 2011 interview that Glaser made him promise to "become the face of the disease and really go out and help people and educate people about it."
After his announcement in November 1991, Johnson created the Magic Johnson Foundation. It aimed to help fight HIV, but later expanded to other charity goals. In 1992, he joined the National Commission on AIDS. This committee was appointed by members of Congress and the Bush Administration. Johnson left after eight months. He said the White House had "completely ignored" the panel's work. He also said they opposed the commission's ideas, which included universal healthcare and expanding Medicaid for low-income people with AIDS. He was also the main speaker for the United Nations (UN) World AIDS Day Conference in 1999. He has served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
HIV was often linked to specific groups. But Johnson's campaigns aimed to show that the risk of infection was not limited. Johnson stated his goal was to "help educate all people about what [HIV] is about." He also wanted to teach others not to "discriminate against people who have HIV and AIDS."
Many studies have looked at the "Magic Johnson effect." This is how Johnson's HIV announcement affected different groups of people. A paper from West Virginia University called his announcement a "public-health catalyst." It said his announcement "quickly corrected the public's understanding of who was at risk of infection." The paper suggested there was a "large but temporary increase in the number of AIDS diagnoses for heterosexual men following the announcement." It also suggested that for some, Johnson's announcement "prolonged patients' lifespans as a result of earlier access to medical care." A paper in AIDS Education and Prevention found that Johnson's announcement "was associated with increased concern about HIV and with attitude and behavior changes that would lead to reduced risk."
To keep his HIV infection from becoming AIDS, Johnson takes a daily combination of antiretroviral drugs. These drugs block and control the virus. He has promoted drugs from GlaxoSmithKline. He also partnered with Abbott Laboratories to raise awareness about AIDS in African American communities.
See also
In Spanish: Magic Johnson para niños
