[158] ESPN's SportsCentury ranked Johnson No. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, William Novak. Larry Bird and the Rise and Fall of Converse - Basketball Noise [57], Early in the 198081 season, Johnson was sidelined after he suffered torn cartilage in his left knee. Michael B. Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Fanatics.com TV Spot, 'All-In Challenge' Featuring Kevin Hart, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen DeGeneres, Samsung Galaxy Note II TV Spot, 'Big Day' Featuring LeBron James, NBA TV Spot, 'This Is Why We Play: Anthem', AT&T Wireless TV Spot, 'The Codes We Live By' Feat. 1979 NCAA Championship Game. [162] In 2022, the NBA began awarding MVPs for the conference finals; the Western Conference Finals MVP trophy is named in Johnson's honor, while the Eastern Conference trophy is named after Bird. 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. [131][132] He missed two games and was stripped of his title as team captain. [190] In 2012, Johnson launched a cable TV network called Aspire, featuring programming targeted at black audiences, similar to networks such as Black Entertainment Television (BET) and TV One. . [112] The game ended after he made a last-minute three-pointer, and players from both teams ran onto the court to congratulate Johnson. With help from the HBO . [205], He is an investor for aXiomatic eSports, the ownership company of Team Liquid. [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". [25] Upon learning of Chastine's death, Magic ran from his home, crying uncontrollably. The first Magic Johnson Theater located in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, closed in 2010 and re-opened in 2011 as Rave Cinema 15. It'll focus on his legendary years with the Los Angeles Lakers in the Eighties as a five-time NBA champion in a . [113], Several journalists hypothesized that the JohnsonBird rivalry was so appealing because it represented many other contrasts, such as the clash between the Lakers and Celtics, between Hollywood flashiness ("Showtime") and Boston/Indiana blue collar grit ("Celtic Pride"), and between blacks and whites. [44] The Lakers reached the Finals for the third year in a row, where Johnson's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met for the first time in the postseason. [177], In 1997, his production company Magic Johnson Entertainment signed a deal with Fox. [154] In the 1982 NBA Finals, he was named the Finals MVP averaging just 16.2 points, the lowest average of any Finals MVP award recipient in the three-point shot era. In the past 30 days, commercials featuring Magic Johnson have had 27,434 airings. Magic, 62, posed alongside wife Cookie, sons EJ and Andre Johnson, daughter Elisa Johnson, and daughter-in-law Lisa Meyers Johnson, in a photo from the outing shared on Instagram. [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. Magic Johnson 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 . Magic Johnson news & latest pictures from Newsweek.com Combining his playing career and sports ownership career, Johnson has 10 NBA championships, five each as a player and later as a minority owner of the Lakers. He ultimately decided to attend Michigan State when coach Jud Heathcote told him he could play the point guard position. [65] After Johnson demanded to be traded, Lakers owner Jerry Buss fired Westhead and replaced him with Riley. [44][130] The Lakers had a record of 2210 in the games Johnson played, and he considered his final comeback "a success. [212], Together with Guggenheim, Johnson was also involved in the February 2014 purchase of the Los Angeles Sparks team in the WNBA. [74] Johnson averaged another double-double season, with 17.6points, 13.1assists, and 7.3rebounds per game. [68] During the championship series against the Sixers, Johnson averaged 16.2points on .533shooting, 10.8rebounds, 8.0assists, and 2.5steals per game. Larry Bird's college career was taking off at Indiana State after Bird almost quit college after originally attempting to go to Indiana University.. As a senior at Indiana State, Bird led his school to a 33-0 record. Watch The Rise of Magic Johnson in HBO's New - E! Online [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. The 29-year-old reality TV personality came out to the basketball great, 62, in 2010, and at first, the latter wasn't too. Magic Johnson Commercial 1980 1 - YouTube Magic Johnson Commercial 1980 1 101,222 views May 22, 2016 This is an old commercial I shot with Magic Johnson for Quality Dairy back in 1980. so. The pair launched an initiative to support minority and female-owned businesses, by providing customized health care plans for issues that disproportionately affect people of color. They bonded during that day but also made a great commercial. [227] Johnson was later criticized by the AIDS community for his decreased involvement in publicizing the spread of the disease. The Lakers finished the season on a ten-game losing streak, and Johnson's final record as a head coach was 511. His plans underwent a dramatic change when he learned that he would be bused to the predominantly white Everett High School instead of going to Sexton,[26][30] which was predominantly black. 4.05. [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. [19] During Johnson's ownership of these teams, the Sparks won the 2016 WNBA championship, the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, and LAFC won the 2022 MLS Cup. [83], Johnson again averaged a double-double in the 198586 NBA season, with 18.8points, 12.6assists, and 5.9rebounds per game. [91] Johnson and Thomas greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek before the opening tip of Game 1, which they called a display of brotherly love. "[125] Amid speculation from general manager Jerry West that he may only coach until the end of the season,[125] Johnson took over a team that had a 2838 record, and won his first game as head coach, a 110101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. and his parents couldn't be happier for their kid. [120] The 1992 event, which was the first one held after Johnson's appearance in the 1992 Olympics, raised over $1.3 million for UNCF. But being bused to Everett turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. [16], Johnson initially said that he did not know how he contracted the disease,[16] but later acknowledged that it was through having numerous sexual partners during his playing career. Despite two triple-doubles from Johnson during the series, Finals MVP Jordan led his team to a 41win. Larry Bird, Magic Johnson became friends in 1987 during a commercial You can connect with Magic Johnson on Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia. Johnson is 6'9" tall. [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. During his retirement, Johnson began intense workouts to help his fight against HIV, raising his bench press from 135 to 300 pounds, and increasing his weight to 255 pounds. In the final game of the CBA series, Johnson had 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists, leading the All-Stars to a 126121 victory over the Oklahoma City Cavalry. [181][182] Johnson also co-promoted Janet Jackson's Velvet Rope Tour through his company Magicworks. [16] He stated that his wife Cookie and their unborn child did not have HIV, and that he would dedicate his life to "battle this deadly disease". Johnson had never seriously considered coaching, but he agreed to take the head coaching position with the Lakers in 1994 at Buss' request. 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. "Earvin Johnson" redirects here. [215] The temporary name was Los Angeles Football Club,[216] which later became permanent in 2015. "[134] Johnson was himself suspended five days later, when he bumped referee Scott Foster, missing three games. Similarly, Bird admitted that Johnson's daily box score was the first thing he checked in the morning. [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. [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. Still a commanding presence in popular culture, Johnson made history in 2012 when he became co-owner of MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers. Magic Johnson And Cigna Team Up To Improve Minority Healthcare Magic's son EJ Johnson, 29, wore a fabulous silver sequined gown paired thigh-high black boots for the big moment, accessorizing with diamond necklaces and a black clutch. [41], During the 197879 season, Michigan State again qualified for the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the championship game and faced Indiana State, which was led by senior Larry Bird. [40] Playing with future NBA draftees Greg Kelser, Jay Vincent, and Mike Brkovich, Johnson averaged 17.0points, 7.9rebounds, and 7.4assists per game as a freshman, and led the Spartans to a 255record, the Big Ten Conference title, and a berth in the 1978 NCAA tournament. [28] Johnson came from an athletic family. The Lakers played poorly in a Game 1 loss, prompting Johnson to express frustration with his role in coach Del Harris' offense. [3][55][56] He also became one of four players to win NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years. Magic Johnson's Net Worth: The 'They Call Me Magic' Star Is A - Bustle Bird was adamant that he would not appear in the Converse advert if it was filmed in LA. From Magic Johnson Theaters and Starbucks to Simply Healthcare and The Dodgers, MJE is a measurable success factor in achieving significant return on investment. Magic Johnson: D'Angelo Russell Has 'Really Grown and Matured' Since [193][194] He has also made investments in urban real estate through the Canyon-Johnson and Yucaipa-Johnson funds. [188][189] In 2004, Johnson and his partner Ken Lombard sold Magic Johnson Theaters to Loews Cineplex Entertainment. Johnson delivers a passionate message about his life story and everyone can make a difference their own community. He shares his latest ventureMagic Johnson Development Corporationwhich develops commercial property in neglected urban and suburban neighborhoods. They Call Me Magic will give fans "a rare glimpse into . [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. [26] He also idolized players such as Earl Monroe and Marques Haynes,[27] and practiced "all day". . Johnson's half-court shot at the buzzer would have won the game, but it fell short. [28] After the game, Fred Stabley Jr., a sports writer for the Lansing State Journal, gave him the moniker[32] despite the belief of Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, that the name was sacrilegious. The Lakers took a 32lead in the series, but Abdul-Jabbar, who averaged 33points a game in the series,[53] sprained his ankle in Game 5 and could not play in Game 6. While Johnson is considered the leader of the ownership group, the controlling owner is Mark Walter, chief executive officer for Guggenheim Partners. The rivalry with Larry Bird, another NBA superstar, began in college. [25], Johnson came to love basketball as a young man. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Business Speakers Bureau & Speaking Fee [222] He endorsed and appeared in campaign ads for unsuccessful Los Angeles mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel in 2013. After leaving the NBA in 1991, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a barnstorming team that traveled around the world playing exhibition games.[10]. [36] He officially returned to the team on January 29, 1996,[128] and played his first game the following day against the Golden State Warriors. In December 2018, Magic Johnson's daughter, Elisa Johnson, and nine of her friends had a terrifying encounter when two armed men broke into a Californian Airbnb house they were staying in. Peter Guber, who is the co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, owns a small stake in the Dodgers along with Johnson. In a press conference held on November 7, 1991, Johnson made a public announcement that he would retire immediately. His father played high school basketball in his home state of Mississippi,[29]and Johnson learned the finer points about the game from him. [185], Johnson runs Magic Johnson Enterprises, a conglomerate company that has a net worth of $700million;[13] its subsidiaries include Magic Johnson Productions, a promotional company; Magic Johnson Theaters, a nationwide chain of movie theaters; and Magic Johnson Entertainment, a film studio. Magic Johnson Comes Out 'Swinging' in They Call Me Magic Docuseries Johnson's son Earvin III was born in 1992. Johnson was publicly critical of Van Exel, saying his actions were "inexcusable. [78] Johnson later described the series as "the one championship we should have had but didn't get". Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has become a living testament to advances in medicine that have turned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a . He insisted that his health was not an issue, while downplaying questions about returning as a player, saying, "I'm retired. [124] Stating that it was never his dream to coach, he chose instead to purchase a 5% share of the team in June 1994. Ovitz encouraged him to start reading business magazines and to use every connection available to him.

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