| Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. is now a retired NBA | | | | and his record breaking performance which was |
| superstar who played for the Los | | | | thehighlight of his career. |
| Angeles Lakers and took the team to win a total of | | | | Johnson retired in 1991 after his announcement that |
| five championships during the | | | | he had contracted HIV, later toreturn to win the |
| 1980's. Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 | | | | MVP of the 1992 All-Star Game. Due to protests of |
| NBA Draft by the Lakers andsigned for $500,000 a | | | | his fellow players,he was forced to retire for the |
| year; the highest rookie contract ever up to that | | | | second time, but later returned in 1996 to play for |
| point. The | | | | the |
| Lakers reached the 1980 NBA Finals where they | | | | Lakers. Johnson was considered one of the 50 |
| faced the Philadelphia 76's. In Game 6, | | | | greatest players in NBA history andinducted into the |
| Magic scored 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and | | | | Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Johnson's career |
| three steals. He also played threedifferent positions | | | | achievementsinclude five NBA Championships, three |
| during the game; guard, forward and center giving | | | | MVP Awards, and three Finals MVP Awards. He |
| the Lakers a | | | | alsoplayed in 12 All-Star Games and nine NBA Finals. |
| 123-107 win. Johnson was awarded the NBA Finals | | | | He is the NBA's all time leader inassists per game, |
| MVP award, and his performance wasconsidered one | | | | was a member of the Dream Team- winning the |
| of the finest plays ever. Johnson led the Lakers to | | | | Olympic Gold medal in |
| the 1985 NBA Finalswhere they defeated the Celtics | | | | 1992. |