Magic Johnson Biography

(The Greatest Point Guard of All Time)

Birthday: August 14, 1959 (Leo)

Born In: Lansing, Michigan, United States

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Magic Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player, counted among the greatest basketball players of all time. He played professional basketball for 13 seasons, all of them with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A tall, well-built man, he is famous for his powerful arms, agility and speed that helped him become one of the most formidable players in the world during the 1980s. Magic Johnson grew up in a big family with several siblings and developed an early love for basketball. His father, though not a professional basketball player, was an athletic man who had played the sport during his high school days. His mother too encouraged his passion for the game. He proved to be a wonderful player, playing for the school team in Everett High School, and finished his high school career with two All-State selections, and was considered at the time to be the best high school player ever to emerge from Michigan. He then went to study at the Michigan State University where he continued playing the sport. After college he was recruited by the Los Angeles Lakers with whom he spent his entire career. Diagnosed to be HIV-positive, he is also known for his HIV activism and philanthropic activities

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Earvin Johnson Jr.

Age: 64 Years, 64 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Earlitha Kelly

father: Earvin Johnson Sr.

mother: Christine Johnson

siblings: Evelyn Johnson, Kim Johnson, Larry Johnson, Michael Johnson, Pearl Johnson, Quincy Johnson, Yvonne Johnson

children: Andre Johnson, Earvin III Johnson, Elisa Johnson

Born Country: United States

Quotes By Magic Johnson Basketball Players

Height: 6'9" (206 cm), 6'9" Males

City: Lansing, Michigan

U.S. State: Michigan

Founder/Co-Founder: Magic Johnson Enterprises, Magic Johnson Foundation, Magic Johnson Theatres, Walton Isaacson

More Facts

education: Michigan State University

awards: 1990; 1989; 1987 - NBA Most Valuable Player Award
1987; 1982; 1980 - Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
1991; 1990; 1989 - All-NBA Team

1992; 1990 - NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
1980 - NBA All-Rookie Team
1992 - National Basketball Association Awards - J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
1993 - Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album - What You Can Do To Avoid AIDS
2003 - BET Humanitarian Award
2009 - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional - 32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business
1992 - NAACP Image Award - Jackie Robinson Sports Award
2009 - The BET Honors Award for Corporate Citizen

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American PeopleAmerican MenMichigan State UniversityTall CelebritiesTall Male Celebrities Childhood & Early LifeHe was born as Earvin Johnson Jr. in Lansing, Michigan on August 14, 1959. His father, Earvin Sr., was a General Motors assembly worker, and mother Christine, was a school custodian. He has several siblings.Both of his parents were interested in basketball and his father had played high school basketball in his home state of Mississippi. Young Earvin also developed an early interest in the sport.He went to the Everett High School and was one of the school’s star basketball players. Once as a 15 year old he recorded a triple-double of 36 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists in a game, and this incredible feat earned him the nickname “Magic”.After high school, he joined the Michigan State University where he continued playing basketball. Once again he proved to be an exceptional player and dazzled throughout his collegiate career.Continue Reading BelowRecommended Lists:Male SportspersonsLeo Basketball PlayersAmerican SportspersonsAmerican Basketball PlayersCareerHe was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. After a good show in the initial seasons, he signed a 25-year, $25-million contract with the Lakers.He performed exceedingly well in the 1981–82 season and averaged 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and a league-high 2.7 steals per game, and was voted a member of the All-NBA Second Team.Johnson averaged 18.3 points, 12.6 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game in the 1984–85 regular season and led the Lakers into the 1985 NBA Finals. The Lakers faced the Boston Celtics in the finals and Johnson, along with Abdul-Jabbar led the team to victory.He registered a career-high of 23.9 points, as well as 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game in the 1986–87 season. The Lakers faced the Celtics once again in the 1987 NBA Finals, and Johnson played the game-winning shot and was awarded a Finals MVP title.His great form continued over the next few years and he scored 22.5 points, 12.8 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game in the 1988–89 NBA season. Once again the Lakers reached the NBA Finals in 1989, but an injury kept Johnson away from the action, and his team lost to the Pistons.An incident in 1991 changed his life forever—he was diagnosed with HIV infection. He publicly announced his diagnosis and decided to retire. In spite of his retirement he was chosen to compete in the 1992 Summer Olympics for the US basketball team. The team dominated the competition and won the gold medal with an 8–0 record.After his retirement he wrote a book on safe sex and ran several businesses. However, his love for basketball made him return to the NBA as the coach of the Lakers near the end of the 1993–94 NBA season. Initially he found some success as the coach and the team played well under him, but later on the team went through a ten-game losing streak following which he resigned as the coach.He made a comeback as a player by re-joining the Lakers during the 1995–96 NBA season. In February, he scored 15 points, along with 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a victory against the Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game in 32 games in the season. He then retired for good following the season.Continue Reading BelowRecommended Lists:Leo MenAwards & AchievementsIn 1979, he was named the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player.He won the Most Valuable Player Award three times (1987, 1989, 1990).The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award was bestowed upon him in 1992.Johnson was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.Personal Life & LegacyHe was in a brief relationship with Melissa Mitchell which resulted in the birth of a son in 1981.He married Earlitha "Cookie" Kelly in 1991. The couple has one biological son and an adopted daughter.In late 1991 he announced that he was HIV positive. He takes a daily combination of drugs to prevent his HIV infection from progressing to AIDS.TriviaHe is the founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation, an organization dedicated to combat HIV/AIDS. He is an outspoken HIV activist and was the main speaker for the United Nations (UN) World AIDS Day Conference in 1999