Who is Magic Johnson?
Some athletes are truly gifted, changing the way of sport being played with their unique skills. Earvin “Magic” Johnson was one such gem. Johnson was such a great basketball player that future generation of fans wish they had come into this world years earlier just to see Magic play in person instead of only on highlight reels.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, 61, is a retired American basketball player. He is the former president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers who play in the NBA (National Basketball Association). Known as the best point guard, Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play in the history of the NBA.
Magic played startling 13 seasons for the Lakers and had to abruptly end his career on being tested as HIV positive. So, now he is a firm advocate of the prevention of AIDS/HIV and safe sex. After his retirement, he established himself as a successful businessman, a broadcaster, an inspiring philanthropist, and a motivational speaker.
Personal Details
- Celebrity Name: Magic Johnson
- Full Name: Earvin Johnson Jr.
- Gender: Male
- Birth Date: August 14, 1959
- Birth Place: Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Age: 61
- Height:06 m
- Weight: 100 Kg
- Nationality: American
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Status: Married
- Wife: Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly
- Children: Andre Johnson, Earvin III, and Elisa
- Profession: Basketball Player, Businessman
- Net Worth: $600 million
Early Life
Earvin Johnson Jr. was born to Earvin Sr., and Christine in Lansing, Michigan, the USA on August 14, 1959. His father was a General Motors assembly worker and his mother was a school janitor. Young Earvin used to sing on the street corners with his friends and also plays basketball, of course. His neighbors called him “Junior” or “June Bug”.
Basketball was in Johnson’s blood. His father was a basketball player when he was in high school in his home state of Mississippi. Magic learned the finer points about the game from his father. Hailing from North Carolina, his mother also played basketball as a child.
Johnson was first called “Magic” by a sports writer at Everett High School who had just seen him, notch 36 points, 16 assists, and 16 rebounds when he was just 15 years old. Magic led Everett to a 27-1 record. He enrolled at Michigan State College in East Lansing.
As a freshman, he put up impressive numbers leading the Spartans to a record of 25-5 and the title of Big Ten Conference. Johnson led his team to a national title in 1979 as an All-America sophomore.
Personal Life
Johnson married Earlitha “Cookie’ Kelly at a small private wedding in his hometown Lansing, Michigan in September 1991. They had been in a relationship for 12 years before they finally got married. Magic has three children, two sons by blood and one daughter by adoption.
Johnson fathered a son in 1981, Andre with Melissa Mitchell. Andre was mainly raised by his mother and used to pay a visit to Johnson during summers. Later, he worked as Vice President of Business Development for Magic Johnson Enterprises.
In 1982, Cookie and Johnson had a son, Earvin ‘EJ’ Johnson III who came out be as a gay man to his family and the whole world in 2013. Johnson III was thereafter cast on the reality show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, which was a great hit. Finally, Cookie and Johnson adopted a daughter in 1995, Elisa who was seen alongside his brother on the mentioned reality show several times.
Undeniably, Johnson had several sexual partners at the time leading to his HIV diagnosis. When Johnson broke this news after less than two months of his wedding, his wife Cookie was pregnant. Fortunately, neither Cookie nor the unborn child was tested negative for HIV.
Also, Johnson had a very special person in his life, Jerry Buss, the owner of Lakers. Magic shared an extremely close relationship with Jerry and saw him as a father figure and a mentor.
Career
Magic Johnson was selected in the NBA draft in the year 1979 by the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 26 points in the very first game for the Lakers. Johnson became the first rookie in an NBA All-Star game. The Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers and won the NBA title. He was named MVP of the playoffs, the youngest player to bag the title.
Under Coach Riley, Magic matured into one of the finest all-around players in the league. He had more than 700 assists and 700 rebounds in his first season with Riley and became the first player to do so since Wilt Chamberlain. The Lakers won the third NBA title in 1985 during which Johnson scored 5 points above his career average.
During Johnson’s 12 year journey with the Lakers starting in 1979, his team won five championship titles and led to playoffs 8 times. He was chosen playoff MVP thrice. He broke Oscar Robertson’s records with 9,888 assists and finished the season with a total of 9921 assists.
Johnson found he was HIV positive during a routine examination in November 1991. At the suggestion of the physician of the Lakers team, he quit basketball to safeguard his immune system.
In 1992, Johnson was chosen to play in Barcelona Summer Olympics for the U.S. team known as the “Dream Team” which also included Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Michael Jordon. The Dream Team won the gold medal with an 8-0 record. Johnson received a standing ovation from the audience and he used this opportunity to inspire people and spread awareness for HIV positive people.
Post his retirement in 1992-93 season, Magic wrote a book on safe sex, worked for NBC as a commentator, toured Australia, New Zealand, and Asia with other NBA players, and run several businesses.
Awards and Achievements
Johnson, 6 feet 9 inches, became the first tall man to dominate point guard play as this position is reserved usually for shorter players. His ball-handling technique, dribbling, and passing skills won him the title “Magic.” He was honored as one of the 50 greatest players who have ever played in the National Basketball Association History.
Magic Johnson was named the most outstanding player of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball tournament. In 1987, 1989, and 1990, three times he won the Most Valuable Player Award. In 1992 he was bestowed upon J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship. He has also achieved a Grammy Award for the 1993 Best Spoken Word Album.
Magic Johnson Total Net Worth
Magic Johnson’s estimated net worth is $600 million.
Source: https://thegamehaus.com/
During his career in NBA, Magic made around $24 million in salary. He receives a good amount of pay as the Lakers’ President of Basketball Operations. Moreover, his shares at LA Dodgers, a successful franchise yield him a good amount of fortune. In addition, he previously had partnerships with T.G.I. Fridays, 24 Hour Fitness, and Starbucks.