Earvin Johnson

Earvin Johnson (www.blackwebportal.com)

"Earvin Johnson Jr. was born on August 14, 1959 and grew up in Lansing, Michigan with nine brothers and sisters. His father worked in a General Motors plant and his mother was a school custodian." Young Earvin was always playing basketball. He practiced all day, dribbled a basketball with his right hand to the store or supermarket and then with his left hand when he went home, something his mother asked him to do. He played alone, shot the ball into the basket. He grew up with basketball. He realized that if he practiced hard, he could become a great basketball player and play in NBA.

Johnson played basketball at Everett High School. In his first game, Johnson was nervous. Johnson was first called "Magic" when he was a star at Everett High School. "He was given the nickname by Fred Stabley, a sports writer who had just seen the 15-year-old prepster notch 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. His mother, a devout Christian, thought the nickname was blasphemous. As a senior, Johnson led Everett to a 27-1 record and the state title while averaging 28.8 points and 16.8 rebounds."

(www.telfon.net)

April 1977, Johnson continued to attend Michigan State University in East Lansing, near his house. Jud Heathcote was his coach there. Jud Heathcote chose "Magic" to become his point guard. The coach knew that Johnson had big potential. Johnson knew when to pass the ball and when to take the open shot. In the final game of his first season, Michigan Sate University lost to the University of Kentucky. Johnson didn't want to turn professional because of that. He came back for a second season to get the NCAA champion title. His biggest rival was Larry Bird from Indiana State. In the final game, Michigan State University beat Indiana State. Michigan State was the NCAA champion in 1979.

Johnson turned into professional after that game and so did Larry Bird. The Lakers took Johnson with the first overall pick. Larry Bird, his big rival, was picked by the Boston Celtics. Jack McKinney was the Lakers head coach from 1970-1980. Paul Westhead succeeded Jack McKinney as the Lakers coach. Although Johnson was still a Rookie, he could play spectacular basketball. Johnson played with no ego. When he saw that his teammate had an opportunity, Johnson would pass to him. Because of that ability and all his amazing moves, Johnson became the first rookie ever to win the Finals MVP Award. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was his teammate. They were the big twin towers liked Kobe and O’Neil. Johnson and the Lakers rebounded in 1981-82, winning their division and defeating the 76ers in another six-game NBA Finals. Johnson repeated as MVP. The Lakers won three NBA titles in the next four years. The first of this string came in the 1985 Finals win over their nemesis, the Celtics. Johnson won his third Finals MVP Award in 1987, following a six-game victory over Boston. Johnson brought five NBA titles to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and the last was in 1988.

(www.sun-sentinel.com)

Johnson stunned the world with the announcement that he had tested positive for the HIV virus on November 7, 1991. He retired after that. Johnson went on to play for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. He wrote a book about safe sex, worked at some businesses he had started as a player, worked for NBC as a television commentator and explored the possibility of purchasing an NBA franchise. In 1995, he opened a chain of movie theaters in Los Angeles. In the 1995-96 campaign, Johnson came back to Lakers team. Johnson retired once again in 1996. Magic always brings “Show Time” with his game. He patented the "no look pass."