Magic Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Magic Johnson
	Johnson in 2007
Personal information
Born	August 14, 1959 (age 61); Lansing, Michigan
Nationality	American
High school	Everett (Lansing, Michigan)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 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
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
	As a player: 5× NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988); 3× NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987); 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1987, 1989, 1990); 12× NBA All-Star (1980, 1982–1992); 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1990, 1992); 9× All-NBA First Team (1983–1991); All-NBA Second Team (1982); NBA All-Rookie First Team (1980); 4× NBA assists leader (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987); 2× NBA steals leader (1981, 1982); J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1992); NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team; No. 32 retired by Los Angeles Lakers; NCAA champion (1979); NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (1979); Consensus first-team All-American (1979); Second-team All-American – NABC (1978); Third-team All-American – AP, UPI (1978); No. 33 retired by Michigan State Spartans;
Career statistics
Points	17,707 (19.5 ppg)
Rebounds	6,559 (7.2 rpg)
Assists	10,141 (11.2 apg)
Men's basketball
Competitor for United States
Olympic Games

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan) is an American retired NBA basketball player. He won the NBA Championship in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 all with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played college basketball at Michigan State University where he developed a rivalry and friendship with Boston Celtics star Larry Bird when he faced him in the 1979 NCAA finals and three NBA championship games. Although Johnson was a versatile player who played all five positions occasionally, he is considered by many to be the greatest point guard, passer and playmaker in the history of the game.

In 1991, Johnson made public that he had been diagnosed with HIV. He is a supporter of AIDS prevention.

In 1992, Johnson was a member of the United States men's national basketball team. That team won an Olympic gold medal.

He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and was also named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.

On February 21, 2017, Johnson replaced Jim Buss as the president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 9, 2019, Johnson resigned from his role as president of basketball operations of the Lakers wishing to return to his role of NBA ambassador.

Images for kids

Johnson (right) battles Boston's Cedric Maxwell in 1985 NBA Finals
Johnson and Mayor Richard Riordan in 1995
Johnson against the Celtics in the 1987 NBA Finals
Johnson with his wife, Cookie, in 2014
Johnson giving a speech at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas on April 25, 2013.
In 2003, Johnson met with Nancy Pelosi to discuss federal assistance for those with AIDS.
Johnson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star