Magic Johnson - Biography

Last Editor:				Magic Johnson Biography -   Name : Magic Johnson Profession : Basketball Player Birth Details : August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan Height : 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Weight : 255 lb (116 kg

Magic Johnson Trivia -

Professional basketball player On 7 November 1991 he shocked the nation by announcing he was HIV-positive and that after twelve years with the Lakers he would retire immediately from the game of basketball. Founded a chain of movie theatres, Magic Johnson Theatres, located in inner-city neighborhoods. Still plays basketball regularly. Has retired from basketball on three different occasions. The last time following the 1995-96 season, which was the season before the Laker got Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Played for Michigan State University (Lansing, MI), 1977-79. NCAA Division I Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1979). The Sporting News All-America First Team (1979). All-America twice (1978-79). All-Big Ten twice (1978-79). Inducted into Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame (1992). Played for the Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80 through 1990-91, 1995-96). Los Angeles Lakers franchise all-time assists leader with 10,141 and all-time steals leader with 1,724. Named NBA MVP three times (1987, 1989, 1990). IBM Award for all-around contributions to team's success (1994). All-NBA First Team nine times (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991) and Second Team once (1982). NBA All-Rookie Team (1982). J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1992). Selected first overall in 1979 NBA Draft. Led NBA with 3.43 steals per game (1981) and 2.67 steals per game (1982). Holds career record for highest assists per game average with 11.2. Shares career record for most consecutive seasons leading league in steals with 2. NBA Finals MVP three times (1980, 1982, 1987). Holds career playoff record for most assists (2,346). Holds NBA Finals single-series record for highest assist per game average with 14.0 in 1985; and highest assists per game average by a rookie with 8.7 in 1980. Holds NBA Finals single-game records for most points by a rookie with 42 on May 6, 1980 vs. Philadelphia; and most assists in one half with 14 on June 19, 1988 vs. Detroit. Shares NBA Finals single-game record for most assists in one quarter with 8 (he did in four times). Holds single-series playoff record for highest assists per game average with 17.0 in 1985. Shares single-game playoff records for most free throws made in one half with 19 on May 8, 1991 vs. Golden State; most assists with 24 on May 15, 1984 vs. Phoenix; and most assists in one half with 15 on May 3, 1985 vs. Portland. NBA All-Star twelve times (1980, 1982-1992). NBA All-Star MVP twice (1990, 1992). NBA All-Star-Holds career record for most assists with 127; holds career record for most three-point field goals made with 10; and hold single game record for most assists with 22 (1984, OT). Broadcaster, NBC Sports (1992 through 1994). Vice President, Los Angeles Lakers (1994-95 to present). Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history (1996). Head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers (1993-94) (5-13). Member of U.S. Olympic gold medal team (1992). Johnson carried his friendly rivalry with Larry Bird from college to the pros. Enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Nicknamed "Magic" by sportswriter Fred Stabley, Jr. during his career at Everett High School (Lansing, Michigan) Children: Earvin III (b. 4 June 1992), daughter Elisa, adopted in January 1995, by wife Cookie. He also has a son, Andre. Attended Everett High School in Lansing, MI. As of 2007, his net worth has been estimated at $900 million. Won the national championship with the Michigan State Spartans in 1979. Earvin "Magic" Johnson is the only NBA rookie to date to receive the Finals MVP Award. He was 20 years old and the year was 1980.

Magic Johnson Detailed Biography -

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan) is a former point guard of the National Basketball Association, widely regarded as one of the purest passers and best point guards in the game's history. He has won championships at every level of competition, high school, collegiate, professional, and international. His professional career consisted of 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won five NBA championships, was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, was league MVP three times, and NBA Finals MVP three times. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. In 1991 he became one of the first sports-celebrities to announce his HIV-seropositivity, and is one of the most well known public figures to be HIV-positive, he has continually worked since to educate and raise awareness of the disease. Biographies Johnson's autobiography is Magic Johnson: My Life, published in 1992; ISBN . Some other biographies about him: Magic: A Biography of Earvin Johnson by James Haskins; 1981; ISBN 0894900447 Magic by Ervin Johnson, Richard Levin; 1983one of the owner of fridays restaurants. The Magic: Earvin Johnson by Bill Morgan; 1991; ISBN 0606018956 Magic: More Than a Legend by Bill Gutman; 1991; ISBN 0061005428 Magic Johnson: Hero On and Off the Court (Millbrook Sports World) by Bill Gutman; 1992; ISBN 1562942875 Magic Johnson: Basketball's Smiling Superstar by Rick L. Johnson; 1992; ISBN 0875185533 Magic Johnson (Junior World Biographies) by Martin Schwabacher; 1993; ISBN 079102038X Magic Johnson: Basketball Immortal by Laurie Rozakis; 1993; ISBN 0865920257 Magic Johnson (Basketball Legends) by Steven Frank; 1994; ISBN 079102430X Magic! Against The Odds by Howard Blatt; 1996; ISBN 0671003011 Earvin Magic Johnson: Champion and Crusader by Ted Gottfried; 2001; ISBN 0531116751 Instructional Magic's Touch: From Fundamentals to Fast Break With One of Basketball's All-Time Greats by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. and Roy S. Johnson; 1992; ISBN 0201632225 What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS by Earvin "Magic" Johnson; 1996; ISBN 081292844X updated version of Safe Sex in the Age of AIDS by Earvin Magic Johnson; 1992; ISBN 0812920635 Preceded by: Jack Givens NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (men) Succeeded by: Darrell Griffith Preceded by: Randy Pfund Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach 1994 Succeeded by: Del Harris