Johnson's mother, originally from North Carolina,[29] had also played basketball as a child, and she grew up watching her brothers play the game.[26]. $620 MILLION From his salary as a basketball player to endorsements and on-camera opportunities to his many, many businesses and investments, Johnson has. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In this dramatic, exciting, and inspirational autobiography, Magic Johnson allows readers into his life, into his tirumphs and tragedies on and off . [44] In the 1988 playoffs, the Lakers swept the San Antonio Spurs in 3 games, then survived two 43series against the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks to reach the Finals and face Thomas and the Detroit Pistons,[90] who with players such as Bill Laimbeer, John Salley, Vinnie Johnson and Dennis Rodman were known as the "Bad Boys" for their physical style of play. Coming off the bench, Johnson had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists to help the Lakers to a 128118 victory. Johnson's son Earvin III was born in 1992. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Business Speakers Bureau & Speaking Fee The Slovenian notched up a 30th career triple-double in his 146th game in the NBA, reaching the milestone in 44 fewer games than Magic . Payment | Shipping | Additional Information | Policies MAGIC JOHNSON COMMERCIAL POSTER The Magic Show LAKERS 22x24 Inch Starline 1988 Album Welcome to the auction of a absolute.from 381876351 [171][172], Johnson is a Christian[173] and has said his faith is "the most important thing" in his life. Real-Time Video Ad Creative Assessment While Charles Barkley, Samuel L. Jackson and Magic Johnson ready themselves for the Final Four of March Madness, Barkley shares that he got four percent cash back on his tickets via the Capital One Savor card. Taking a look at his Instagram we can see how clothes are one of his biggest passions. [84] In the next season, Johnson averaged a career-high of 23.9points, as well as 12.2assists and 6.3rebounds per game,[44] and earned his first regular season MVP award. [157] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him in 2002. [128] A few days later, Johnson changed his mind and retired permanently, saying, "I am going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992. Johnson was apprehensive at first because he and Bird never had a serious conversation at that point, and while he agreed to do the commercial, the two superstars didn't talk to each other during the actual shoot (via NPR ). Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has become a living testament to advances in medicine that have turned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a . Magic Johnson was also having success in college at Michigan State.In his senior year, Magic led his school to a 26-6 record that was good enough . He ultimately decided to attend Michigan State when coach Jud Heathcote told him he could play the point guard position. [33], Despite their on-court rivalry, Johnson and Bird became close friends during the filming of a 1984 Converse shoe advertisement that depicted them as enemies. According to the Basketball Network, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird came together in 1986 to film a commercial for Converse. [226][227], To prevent his HIV infection from progressing to AIDS, Johnson takes a daily combination of drugs, also called a drug cocktail. "Very European," says EJ Johnson, the son of Magic Johnson, as he recalls when he came out as gay to his father. 17 in their "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century"[159] In 2006, ESPN.com rated Johnson the greatest point guard of all time, stating, "It could be argued that he's the one player in NBA history who was better than Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson reveals his son EJ's coming out - New York Post Johnson has become a leading voice on how to invest in urban communities, creating redevelopment opportunities in underserved areas, most notably through his movie theaters and his partnership with Starbucks. Johnson did join the basketball team but became angry after several days when his new teammates ignored him during practice, not even passing the ball to him. Magic Johnson's Friendship With Larry Bird Explained - Grunge.com [87] The game-winning shot, which Johnson dubbed his "junior, junior, junior sky-hook",[87] helped Los Angeles defeat Boston in six games. [45], Johnson was drafted first overall in 1979 by the Los Angeles Lakers. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. and his family wife Cookie, daughter Elisa and sons Andre and EJ were joined by a star-studded roster of celebrities and professional athletes [85][86] The Lakers met the Celtics for the third time in the NBA Finals, and in Game 4 Johnson hit a last-second hook shot over Celtics big men Parish and Kevin McHale to win the game 107106. [89] Johnson had another productive season with averages of 19.6points, 11.9assists, and 6.2rebounds per game despite missing 10 games with a groin injury. [204], In 2015, Johnson completed his planned acquisition for a "majority, controlling interest" in EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, which manages $14.5 billion in annuities, life insurance and other financial products. Magic Johnson 's 20-year-old son hit the Sunset Strip, hand in hand with his boyfriend . [125][176] After Johnson ended his coaching stint, Buss sold him a 4% stake in the Lakers for $10 million, and Johnson served as a team executive. [107] He admitted to having "harems of women" and talked openly about his sexual activities because "he was convinced that heterosexuals needed to know that they, too, were at risk". They became friends . [92] Johnson later accused Isiah Thomas of spreading the rumors, a claim Thomas denied. [137] By the time he returned to the Lakers in 1996, the Magic Johnson All-Stars had amassed a record of 550, and Johnson was earning as much as $365,000 per game. [195] Another major project is with insurance services company Aon Corp.[196] In 20052007, Johnson was part of a syndicate that bought the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, then the tallest building in Brooklyn, for $71 million and converted the 512-foot high landmark structure from an office building into luxury condominiums. EXCLUSIVE: Magic Johnson Partners With CBD and Hemp Brand - Yahoo! [227] Johnson was later criticized by the AIDS community for his decreased involvement in publicizing the spread of the disease. He missed 45games,[44] and said that his rehabilitation was the "most down" he had ever felt. Johnson was awarded his third Finals MVP title after averaging 26.2points on .541shooting, 13.0assists, 8.0rebounds, and 2.33steals per game. Through investment, partnership and consultation, Magic Johnson Enterprises has a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization's focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities. Capital One TV Spot, 'Final Four' Feat. Charles Barkley, Samuel L [28] In 1985, Johnson created "A Midsummer Night's Magic", a yearly charity event which included a celebrity basketball game and a black tie dinner. They bonded during that day but also made a great commercial. He led the league in regular season assists four times, and is the NBA's all-time leader in average assists per game in both the regular season (11.19 assists per game) and the playoffs (12.35 assists per game). He also held the title of team vice president. And the first few months, I was miserable at Everett. "A Midsummer Night's Magic" eventually came under the umbrella of the Magic Johnson Foundation, which he founded in 1991. It's safe to say that without their common sponsor bringing them together, they likely wouldn't have hung out that day. [209] The Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, giving Johnson a Major League Baseball title to his credit. Playing with the Canberra Cannons of Australia's National Basketball League instead of his usual group of players, Johnson's team defeated the Spartans 10485, as he scored 12 points, with 10 assists and 10 rebounds. The game was played at a gym inside Fort McNair, and reporters covering the president were not allowed to enter. [23] Johnson looked forward to playing at Sexton High School, a school with a very successful basketball team and history that also happened to be only five blocks from his home. Here's a look at the life of entrepreneur, philanthropist and NBA Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson. It'll focus on his legendary years with the Los Angeles Lakers in the Eighties as a five-time NBA champion in a . [175], Johnson had an extremely close relationship with Lakers owner Jerry Buss, whom he saw as a mentor and a father figure. Magic Johnson news & latest pictures from Newsweek.com [37], Although Johnson was recruited by several top-ranked colleges such as Indiana and UCLA, he decided to play close to home. They also toured the United States, playing five games against teams from the CBA. [23][31] Johnson's sister Pearl and his brother Larry had bused to Everett the previous year and did not have a pleasant experience. Magic Johnson's Son Goes Public With Boyfriend -- Dad Proud - TMZ [47] Despite Abdul-Jabbar's dominance, he had failed to win a championship with the Lakers, and Johnson was expected to help them achieve that goal. Magic Johnson Joined by Son EJ for Premiere of New Apple - Peoplemag The 1986 commercial shows Magic rolling up in a limo and Larry was waiting in knee-high socks, short shorts, and new . [192] The partnership, called Urban Coffee Opportunities, placed Starbucks in locations such as Detroit, Washington, D.C., Harlem, and the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. [74] Johnson averaged another double-double season, with 17.6points, 13.1assists, and 7.3rebounds per game. After a triple-double from Johnson in Game 6, the Lakers defeated the Sixers 42, as Johnson won his second NBA Finals MVP award. There they faced the Chicago Bulls, led by shooting guard Michael Jordan, a five-time scoring champion regarded as the finest player of his era. In the decisive Game 7 in Boston, as the Lakers trailed by three points in the final minute, opposing point guard Dennis Johnson stole the ball from Johnson, a play that effectively ended the series. [19][218], Johnson is a supporter of the Democratic Party. They're Midwesterners, they were bigger players who handled the ball skillfully and they thought about their teammates' success. In the final minute of the game, Johnson had the ball stolen by Celtics center Robert Parish, and then missed two free throws that could have won the game. [57], Early in the 198081 season, Johnson was sidelined after he suffered torn cartilage in his left knee. Johnson said that what was "most amazing" about joining the Lakers was the chance to play alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,[46] the team's 7ft 2in (2.18m) center who became the leading scorer in NBA history. [177][178], Buss supported Johnson as he revealed his diagnosis of HIV in 1991, and he never hesitated to keep Johnson close to the organization, bringing him in as part-owner, and even as a coach. Let's leave it at that. He was 20 years old and the year was 1980. [23], Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" as a 15-year-old sophomore playing for Everett High School, when he recorded a triple-double of 36points, 18rebounds, and 16assists. From Magic Johnson Theaters and Starbucks to Simply Healthcare and The Dodgers, MJE is a measurable success factor in achieving significant return on investment. According to the Los Angeles Times, Magic Johnson's earliest and arguably most vocal champion was a childhood friend named Reggie Chastine.A fellow playground baller in Lansing, Michigan, Chastine was teammates with Johnson at Everett High School and got the future star thinking about being a future star, that achievements like all-state and All-American selections were possible, if not probable. Larry Bird and the Rise and Fall of Converse - Basketball Noise "[128] While Johnson played well in 1996, there were struggles both on and off the court. Double your traffic. The clip starts off with Lakers owner, Jerry Buss, played by John C. Reilly, waking up one morning and . [77][109], Johnson's HIV announcement became a major news story in the United States,[108] and in 2004 was named as ESPN's seventh-most memorable moment of the previous 25 years. [72] With Johnson's teammates Nixon, James Worthy, and Bob McAdoo all hobbled by injuries, the Lakers were swept by the Sixers, and Malone was crowned the Finals MVP. The proceeds went to the United Negro College Fund, and Johnson held this event for twenty years, ending in 2005. Johnson would often help his father on the garbage route, and he was teased by neighborhood children who called him "Garbage Man". Magic Johnson Becomes Household Name in Winning Time Trailer - Yahoo! He went to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz with the idea that he could successfully open the coffee shops in urban areas. Old Navy Partners with Magic Johnson to Inspire Future Generations Johnson stated that his aim was to "help educate all people about what [HIV] is about" and teach others not to "discriminate against people who have HIV and AIDS". The book detailed their on-court rivalry and friendship with one another. Larry was kicked off the basketball team after a confrontation during practice, prompting him to beg his brother not to play. Magic Johnson wanted to hit Howard Stern after radio host in 1998 said Personal Birth date: August 14, 1959 Birth place: Lansing, Michigan Birth name: Earvin. [224] He hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on August 22, 2016. [227] In 1992, he joined the National Commission on AIDS, a committee appointed by members of Congress and the Bush Administration. [13][169] The couple adopted a daughter, Elisa, in 1995. Magic Johnson Discusses his Apple TV+ Docuseries 'They Call - Variety [154], For his feats, Johnson was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players of All Time by the NBA in 1996,[156] and selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. [211] Johnson and Guber sold their stake in the Dragons in 2014. After winning a national championship with Michigan State in 1979, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team to five NBA championships during their Showtime era. [226][228] He was also the main speaker for the United Nations (UN) World AIDS Day Conference in 1999,[227] and has served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Johnson was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, and became a two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famebeing enshrined in 2002 for his individual career, and again in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team". [113], Johnson was chosen to compete in the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics for the U.S. national team, dubbed the "Dream Team" because of the NBA stars on the roster. 1979 NCAA Championship Game. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson shot the first part of the Converse commercial, and when it was time for lunch; Larry made a nice gesture towards his nemesis.