Magic Johnson
"You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it."
Biography
Earvin Effay Johnson, Jr., nicknamed Magic, hailed from Michigan where he began his basketball career with Michigan State University. His court talent was recognized by the Los Angeles Lakers, where he started a 13-season career in the NBA. Leading the team to win five championships, Johnson is noted as one the most popular NBA players of all time. He was also member of the 1992 U.S. basketball team that won the Olympic gold medal.
Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1991, Johnson retired from the Lakers. A month after the public announcement that he had contracted the virus, in December, 1991, Johnson founded the Magic Johnson Foundation dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention and health care in inner-city communities. Since then, His efforts have coincided with various medical advancements, which have allowed people with the HIV/AIDS virus to keep the symptoms at bay. In 1992, there was only one drug that treated the disease’s symptoms. Today there are 26.
Career Highlights
| 1979 | Led Michigan State University to the NCAA Finals |
| 1979 | Los Angeles Lakers drafted Johnson |
| 1980 | Won championship with the Lakers |
| 1982 | Won championship with the Lakers |
| 1985 | Won championship with the Lakers |
| 1987 | Won championship with the Lakers |
| 1988 | Won championship with the Lakers |
| 1991 | Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, which led to pioneering numerous charitable foundations and initiatives to help find a cure |
| 1992 | Wins Olympic gold metal with the U.S. basketball team |
| 1991 | Founded the Magic Johnson Foundation |
| 1993 | Founded the Johnson Development Corporation |
| 1993 | Coached the Lakers, ending his tenure short of the season |
| 1994 | Purchased a share of the Lakers, becoming a part-time owner |
| 1996 | Played with the Lakers for five months and then retired for the second time |
| 1996 | Honored as an NBA 50 Greatest Player |
| 1998 | Hosted a short-lived talk show called "The Magic Hour" on FOX |
| 2002 | Inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame |
Links
The Magic Johnson Foundation supports community-based organizations that address the educational, health, and social needs of children, young adults and inner-city communities throughout the nation. The Foundation also donates needed funds to organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention and health care education to the minority community.
Magic Johnson Enterprises
Johnson Development Corporation
