{"id":20352,"date":"2021-05-11T07:32:09","date_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20352"},"modified":"2021-05-11T07:32:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T12:32:09","slug":"earvin-magic-johnson-appointed-to-fanatics-board-of-directors-basketball-hall-of-famer-and-renowned-entrepreneur-will-help-guide-direction-of-fanatics-with-his-unique-perspectives-o","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=20352","title":{"rendered":"Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson Appointed to Fanatics Board of Directors  Basketball Hall of Famer and renowned entrepreneur will help guide direction of Fanatics with his unique perspectives on business and community"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"column-content\">\n<div class=\"content-wrap\">\n<footer>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<h1 class=\"epi-fontLg bwalignc\"><b>Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson Appointed to Fanatics Board of Directors<\/b><\/h1>\n<div class=\"bw-release-subhead\">\n<p class=\"bwalignc\"><strong><i>Basketball Hall of Famer and renowned entrepreneur will help guide direction of Fanatics with his unique perspectives on business and community<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"bw-release-body bw-with-mm \">\n<div class=\"bw-release-mm\">\n<div class=\"bw-release-mm-display\">\n<div id=\"media-box\" class=\"mediaContainer\">\n<div class=\"bw-release-mm-item\" data-cgid=\"4931142\">\n<div id=\"bw-release-mm-asset\" class=\"bw-release-mm-asset\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20210303005135\/en\/862715\/5\/Magic_Johnson_Headshot.jpg?download=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20210303005135\/en\/862715\/4\/Magic_Johnson_Headshot.jpg?download=1\" alt=\"Magic Johnson is joining the Fanatics Board of Directors (Photo: Business Wire)\" \/> <\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<div class=\"bw-release-mm-caption\" tabindex=\"5001\">\n<p><strong>Magic Johnson is joining the Fanatics Board of Directors (Photo: Business Wire)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bw-release-mm-nav bw-scroller\">\n<div id=\"carouselList\" tabindex=\"5000\">\n<ul class=\"bw-release-gallery\">\n<li class=\"bw-release-gallery-item\" data-filetype=\"Logo\" data-cgid=\"4931143\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210303005135\/en\/4931143\/Earvin-%E2%80%9CMagic%E2%80%9D-Johnson-Appointed-to-Fanatics-Board-of-Directors\" data-src-hires=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20210303005135\/en\/862714\/5\/Fanatics-logo.jpg?download=1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20210303005135\/en\/862714\/4\/Fanatics-logo.jpg?download=1\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20210303005135\/en\/4931143\/Earvin-%E2%80%9CMagic%E2%80%9D-Johnson-Appointed-to-Fanatics-Board-of-Directors\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20210303005135\/en\/862714\/4\/Fanatics-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bw-release-story\">\n<p><strong>LOS ANGELES &amp; JACKSONVILLE, Fla.&#8211;(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)&#8211;Fanatics, a global leader for licensed sports merchandise, today announced the appointment of Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson to its Board of Directors. One of the most decorated professional basketball players in history, off the court Johnson has built a successful entrepreneurial portfolio in sports, business and technology. Johnson joins Mindy Grossman, CEO of WW International, and Jerry Storch, Founder and CEO of Storch Advisors and veteran retail executive, as Fanatics\u2019 independent board members.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p id=\"pull-quote\"><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be invited to join the Fanatics Board of Directors. I\u2019ve been impressed with the evolution of the company and its ability to transform the industry over the past several years\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-1dbjc4n r-18u37iz r-1wbh5a2\">\n<div class=\"css-901oao css-bfa6kz r-m0bqgq r-18u37iz r-1qd0xha r-a023e6 r-16dba41 r-rjixqe r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0\">@MagicJohnson<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Fanatics is changing the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel, jerseys, headwear and hardgoods through an innovative, tech-infused approach to making and selling fan gear in today\u2019s on-demand, mobile-first culture. Combining cutting-edge technology with an agile production and supply chain, Fanatics pioneered a vertical commerce business model that allows the company to better serve its 300-plus partners and the growing real-time expectations of leagues, teams, fans and retailers worldwide to ensure the broadest assortment is available online, in stadiums or on-site at major sporting events.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be invited to join the Fanatics Board of Directors. I\u2019ve been impressed with the evolution of the company and its ability to transform the industry over the past several years,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cI am eager to be a part of its future growth and innovation that will continue across multiple sectors.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Johnson, a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, was a three-time NBA MVP and led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships throughout his career. Johnson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate that provides high-quality products and services focusing primarily on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities. In 2012, he became co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and holds ownership stakes in the WNBA\u2019s Los Angeles Sparks, Major League Soccer\u2019s Los Angeles Football Club, and eSports franchise Team Liquid. From 1998 to 2010, Johnson\u2019s company owned more than 100 Starbucks stores as he helped expand the coffee chain throughout urban America.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cMagic\u2019s success in business rivals that of his success on the basketball court, and we are incredibly excited to have him join our team and help propel Fanatics forward,\u201d said Fanatics Executive Chairman, Michael Rubin. \u201cHe\u2019s an NBA legend and a titan in the business world, but more importantly he recognizes and leverages his platform to advance diversity and inclusion across all business sectors. He will provide invaluable direction as Fanatics continues to play a leadership role in reimagining the entire licensed sports industry.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Lansing native is constantly evolving and remaining relevant in a dynamic digital age by broadening his scope into infrastructure and technology. Through a newly formed fund, Johnson is investing millions of dollars on infrastructure improvement in the United States. He is also one of the leading investors in a number of minority-owned technology companies that include Uncharted Power, an award-winning power and data infrastructure technology company; Jopwell, a diversity and hiring recruiting platform; and ShotTracker, a company that makes wearable technology for basketball players that helps track player and ball movement.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>About Fanatics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>As a global leader in licensed sports merchandise, Fanatics is changing the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel, jerseys, headwear and hardgoods through an innovative, tech-infused approach to making and selling fan gear in today\u2019s on-demand, mobile-first culture. Combining cutting-edge technology with an agile production and supply chain, Fanatics pioneered a vertical commerce business model that allows the company to better serve its 300-plus partners and the growing real-time expectations of leagues, teams, fans and retailers worldwide to ensure the broadest assortment is available online, in stadiums or on-site at major sporting events. Fanatics comprises the broadest assortment by offering hundreds of thousands of officially licensed items across its Fanatics, FansEdge, Kitbag, Majestic, Top of the World and WinCraft brands, as well as the largest selection of sports collectibles and memorabilia through Fanatics Authentic. For more information, please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fanaticsinc.com&amp;esheet=52389488&amp;newsitemid=20210303005135&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.fanaticsinc.com&amp;index=1&amp;md5=95db9ad7700583b69e7fd1e37c082dcd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" shape=\"rect\">www.fanaticsinc.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>About Magic Johnson Enterprises<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Magic Johnson Enterprises, formed in 1987, serves as a catalyst for community and economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse urban communities. Through investment, partnership and consultation, Magic Johnson Enterprises has a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization\u2019s focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cts.businesswire.com\/ct\/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2739024-1%26h%3D2939040535%26u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.magicjohnsonenterprises.com%252F%26a%3Dwww.magicjohnsonenterprises.com&amp;esheet=52389488&amp;newsitemid=20210303005135&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.magicjohnsonenterprises.com&amp;index=2&amp;md5=ac9322d65b19668ea75fa119312a6c50\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" shape=\"rect\">www.magicjohnsonenterprises.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>MORE ON MAGIC JOINING FANATICS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-15975\" src=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MA-JO-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MA-JO-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MA-JO-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MA-JO-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/MA-JO-1080x720.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The former Los Angeles Laker \u2014 who led his team five times to the NBA championship \u2014 has agreed to join the board as one of three independent directors, including Mindy Grossman, chief executive of WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and Gerald Storch, a former CEO of Toys R Us and Hudson\u2019s Bay Company, which owns Saks Fifth Avenue.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The high-profile appointment comes as the privately held Fanatics, which makes jerseys and other gear for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/02\/02\/tom-bradys-fan-merch-sales-hit-records-ahead-of-super-bowl-lv\/\">professional sports leagues<\/a>\u00a0and teams as well as universities, has been reportedly working toward plans to file for an initial public offering.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u201c<\/em>While an IPO is clearly an available path to us, there is no update on any timeline,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cOur focus remains on building a great global company and strengthening our vertical commerce business model.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Led by founder Michael Rubin, Fanatics has been on a fundraising tear, securing $350 million in August, which values the company at $6.2 billion. The National Football League and Major League Baseball are also investors in the company, which sells licensed apparel mostly online.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In a statement, Rubin said of Johnson, \u201cHe\u2019s an NBA legend and a titan in the business world, but more importantly he recognizes and leverages his platform to advance diversity and inclusion across all business sectors.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The hoopster heads up Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment company that focuses on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities. In 2012, he became co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and holds ownership stakes in the WNBA\u2019s Los Angeles Sparks, Major League Soccer\u2019s Los Angeles Football Club, and eSports franchise Team Liquid. His company also owned more than 100 Starbucks stores until 2010.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"unruly_in_article_placement\" data-unruly-ad-type=\"horizontal\">\n<div class=\"unruly_in_article_video_container\">\n<div class=\"unruly_in_article_video_content_container\"><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be invited to join the Fanatics board of directors,\u201d Johnson said in a statement. \u201cI\u2019ve been impressed with the evolution of the company and its ability to transform the industry over the past several years.\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<section class=\"column-content\">\n<div class=\"content-wrap\">\n<h1 id=\"firstHeading\" class=\"firstHeading\"><strong>Magic Johnson<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id=\"bodyContent\" class=\"mw-body-content\">\n<div id=\"mw-content-text\" class=\"mw-content-ltr\" dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\n<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\n<table class=\"infobox vcard\">\n<caption class=\"infobox-title fn summary\"><strong>Magic Johnson<\/strong><\/caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-image\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Magic_Johnson_2014_(cropped).jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Magic_Johnson_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg\/220px-Magic_Johnson_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Magic_Johnson_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg\/330px-Magic_Johnson_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Magic_Johnson_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg\/440px-Magic_Johnson_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x\" alt=\"Magic Johnson 2014 (cropped).jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"268\" data-file-width=\"573\" data-file-height=\"699\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"infobox-caption\"><strong>Johnson in 2014<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Personal information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Born<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>August 14, 1959<span class=\"noprint ForceAgeToShow\"> (age\u00a061)<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><a title=\"Lansing, Michigan\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lansing,_Michigan\">Lansing, Michigan<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Nationality<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>American<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Listed height<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>6\u00a0ft 9\u00a0in (2.06\u00a0m)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Listed weight<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>220\u00a0lb (100\u00a0kg)<sup id=\"cite_ref-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Magic_Johnson#cite_note-1\">[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career information<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>High school<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data plainlist\"><strong><a title=\"Everett High School (Michigan)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Everett_High_School_(Michigan)\">Everett<\/a> (Lansing, Michigan)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>College<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data plainlist\"><strong><a title=\"Michigan State Spartans men's basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michigan_State_Spartans_men%27s_basketball\">Michigan State<\/a> (1977\u20131979)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"NBA draft\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_draft\">NBA draft<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"1979 NBA draft\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979_NBA_draft\">1979<\/a> \/ Round: 1 \/ Pick: <a title=\"List of first overall NBA draft picks\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_first_overall_NBA_draft_picks\">1st<\/a> overall<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Selected by the <a title=\"Los Angeles Lakers\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Lakers\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Playing career<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>1979\u20131991, 1996, 1999\u20132000<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Position<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"Point guard\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Point_guard\">Point guard<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong>Number<\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>32<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career history<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>As player:<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"1979\u201380 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979%E2%80%9380_NBA_season\">1979<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"1990\u201391 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1990%E2%80%9391_NBA_season\">1991<\/a>, <a title=\"1995\u201396 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1995%E2%80%9396_NBA_season\">1996<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"Los Angeles Lakers\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Lakers\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Basketligan\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketligan\">1999\u20132000<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong><a title=\"Bor\u00e5s Basket\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bor%C3%A5s_Basket\">Magic M7 Bor\u00e5s<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"Basketligaen\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketligaen\">2000<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>Magic Great Danes<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>As coach:<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"1993\u201394 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1993%E2%80%9394_NBA_season\">1994<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>Los Angeles Lakers<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career highlights and awards<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>As a player:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>5\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA champion\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_champion\">NBA champion<\/a> (<a title=\"1980 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1980_NBA_Finals\">1980<\/a>, <a title=\"1982 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1982_NBA_Finals\">1982<\/a>, <a title=\"1985 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1985_NBA_Finals\">1985<\/a>, <a title=\"1987 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1987_NBA_Finals\">1987<\/a>, <a title=\"1988 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1988_NBA_Finals\">1988<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>3\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bill_Russell_NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Finals MVP<\/a> (<a title=\"1980 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1980_NBA_Finals\">1980<\/a>, <a title=\"1982 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1982_NBA_Finals\">1982<\/a>, <a title=\"1987 NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1987_NBA_Finals\">1987<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>3\u00d7 <a title=\"NBA Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Most Valuable Player<\/a> (<a title=\"1986\u201387 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1986%E2%80%9387_NBA_season\">1987<\/a>, <a title=\"1988\u201389 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1988%E2%80%9389_NBA_season\">1989<\/a>, <a title=\"1989\u201390 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1989%E2%80%9390_NBA_season\">1990<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>12\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Star\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star\">NBA All-Star<\/a> (<a title=\"1980 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1980_NBA_All-Star_Game\">1980<\/a>, <a title=\"1982 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1982_NBA_All-Star_Game\">1982<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"1992 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_NBA_All-Star_Game\">1992<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA All-Star Game MVP<\/a> (<a title=\"1990 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1990_NBA_All-Star_Game\">1990<\/a>, <a title=\"1992 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_NBA_All-Star_Game\">1992<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>9\u00d7 <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"All-NBA First Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_First_Team\">All-NBA First Team<\/a> (<a title=\"1982\u201383 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1982%E2%80%9383_NBA_season\">1983<\/a>\u2013<a title=\"1990\u201391 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1990%E2%80%9391_NBA_season\">1991<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"All-NBA Second Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_Second_Team\">All-NBA Second Team<\/a> (<a title=\"1981\u201382 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1981%E2%80%9382_NBA_season\">1982<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"NBA All-Rookie Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Rookie_Team\">NBA All-Rookie Team<\/a> (<a title=\"1979\u201380 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979%E2%80%9380_NBA_season\">1980<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>4\u00d7 <a title=\"List of National Basketball Association annual assists leaders\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_annual_assists_leaders\">NBA assists leader<\/a> (<a title=\"1982\u201383 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1982%E2%80%9383_NBA_season\">1983<\/a>, <a title=\"1983\u201384 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1983%E2%80%9384_NBA_season\">1984<\/a>, <a title=\"1985\u201386 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1985%E2%80%9386_NBA_season\">1986<\/a>, <a title=\"1986\u201387 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1986%E2%80%9387_NBA_season\">1987<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>2\u00d7 <a title=\"List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_annual_steals_leaders\">NBA steals leader<\/a> (<a title=\"1980\u201381 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1980%E2%80%9381_NBA_season\">1981<\/a>, <a title=\"1981\u201382 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1981%E2%80%9382_NBA_season\">1982<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/J._Walter_Kennedy_Citizenship_Award\">J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award<\/a> (<a title=\"1991\u201392 NBA season\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1991%E2%80%9392_NBA_season\">1992<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA%27s_50th_Anniversary_All-Time_Team\">NBA&#8217;s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>No. 32 <a title=\"Los Angeles Lakers\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Lakers#Hall_of_Famers,_retired_and_honored_numbers\">retired by Los Angeles Lakers<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"List of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball champions\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NCAA_Men%27s_Division_I_Basketball_champions\">NCAA champion<\/a> (<a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979_NCAA_Men%27s_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament\">1979<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NCAA_Final_Four_Most_Outstanding_Player\">NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player<\/a> (1979)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Consensus first-team <a title=\"NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans\">All-American<\/a> (<a title=\"1979 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979_NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans\">1979<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Second-team All-American \u2013 <a title=\"National Association of Basketball Coaches\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Association_of_Basketball_Coaches\">NABC<\/a> (<a title=\"1978 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1978_NCAA_Men%27s_Basketball_All-Americans\">1978<\/a>)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Third-team All-American \u2013 <a title=\"Associated Press\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Associated_Press\">AP<\/a>, <a title=\"United Press International\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Press_International\">UPI<\/a> (1978)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>No. 33 <a title=\"Michigan State Spartans men's basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michigan_State_Spartans_men%27s_basketball#Retired_numbers\">retired by Michigan State Spartans<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>First-team <a title=\"Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parade_All-America_Boys_Basketball_Team\"><i>Parade<\/i> All-American<\/a> (1977)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"McDonald's All-American Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/McDonald%27s_All-American_Game\">McDonald&#8217;s All-American<\/a> (1977)<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"Mr. Basketball of Michigan\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mr._Basketball_of_Michigan\">Mr. Basketball of Michigan<\/a> (1977)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-header\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Career NBA statistics<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"Point (basketball)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Point_(basketball)\">Points<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>17,707 (19.5 ppg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"Rebound (basketball)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rebound_(basketball)\">Rebounds<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>6,559 (7.2 rpg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"infobox-label\" scope=\"row\"><strong><a title=\"Assist (basketball)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Assist_(basketball)\">Assists<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<td class=\"infobox-data\"><strong>10,141 (11.2 apg)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/player\/77142\" rel=\"nofollow\">Stats<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Edit this at Wikidata\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q134183#P3647\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Edit this at Wikidata\" width=\"10\" height=\"10\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" \/><\/a> at NBA.com<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnsma02.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Stats<\/a> at Basketball-Reference.com<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hoophall.com\/hall-of-famers\/magic-johnson\" rel=\"nofollow\">Basketball Hall of Fame as player<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-full-data\" colspan=\"2\"><strong><a title=\"National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Collegiate_Basketball_Hall_of_Fame\">College Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Inducted in 2006<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-below\" colspan=\"2\">\n<div class=\"mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<table class=\"infobox vcard\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"infobox-below\" colspan=\"2\">\n<div class=\"mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible\">\n<div>\n<div><strong>Medals<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mw-collapsible-content\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\"><strong>Men&#8217;s <a title=\"Basketball at the Summer Olympics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_Summer_Olympics\">basketball<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"adr\" colspan=\"3\"><strong>Representing <span class=\"country-name\"><span class=\"flagicon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumbborder\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/35px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/a\/a4\/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg\/46px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"23\" height=\"12\" data-file-width=\"1235\" data-file-height=\"650\" \/>\u00a0<\/span>United States<\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\"><strong><a title=\"Olympic Games\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Olympic_Games\">Olympic Games<\/a><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/16px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/24px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/32px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" data-file-width=\"16\" data-file-height=\"16\" \/><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span class=\"nowrap\"><a title=\"1992 Summer Olympics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_Summer_Olympics\">1992 Barcelona<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><a title=\"1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team\">Men&#8217;s basketball<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"3\"><strong><span class=\"nowrap\"><a title=\"FIBA AmeriCup\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/FIBA_AmeriCup\">FIBA Americas Championship<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/16px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png\" srcset=\"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/24px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 1.5x, \/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d5\/Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg\/32px-Gold_medal_icon_%28G_initial%29.svg.png 2x\" alt=\"Gold medal \u2013 first place\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" data-file-width=\"16\" data-file-height=\"16\" \/><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span class=\"nowrap\"><a title=\"1992 Tournament of the Americas\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_Tournament_of_the_Americas\">1992 Portland<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><a title=\"1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team\">Men&#8217;s basketball<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Earvin &#8220;Magic&#8221; Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional <a title=\"Basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball\">basketball<\/a> player and former president of basketball operations of the <a title=\"Los Angeles Lakers\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Lakers\">Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> of the <a title=\"National Basketball Association\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Basketball_Association\">National Basketball Association<\/a> (NBA). Often regarded as the best <a title=\"Point guard\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Point_guard\">point guard<\/a> of all time,<sup id=\"cite_ref-greatestpg_2-0\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup> Johnson played 13 seasons for the Lakers and was honored as one of the <a title=\"50 Greatest Players in NBA History\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/50_Greatest_Players_in_NBA_History\">50 Greatest Players in NBA History<\/a> in 1996. After winning championships in <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"High school basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/High_school_basketball#U.S._high_school_basketball\">high school<\/a> and <a title=\"College basketball\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/College_basketball\">college<\/a>, Johnson was selected first overall in the <a title=\"1979 NBA draft\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979_NBA_draft\">1979 NBA draft<\/a> by the Lakers. He won a championship and an <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bill_Russell_NBA_Finals_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award<\/a> in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted <a title=\"HIV\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/HIV\">HIV<\/a>, but returned to play in the <a title=\"1992 NBA All-Star Game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_NBA_All-Star_Game\">1992 All-Star Game<\/a>, winning the <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuable_Player_Award\">All-Star MVP Award<\/a>. After protests from his fellow players, he retired again for four years, but returned in 1996, at age 36, to play 32\u00a0games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Johnson&#8217;s career achievements include three <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"NBA MVP Awards\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_MVP_Awards\">NBA MVP Awards<\/a>, nine <a title=\"NBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/NBA_Finals\">NBA Finals<\/a> appearances, twelve <a title=\"List of NBA All-Stars\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_NBA_All-Stars\">All-Star<\/a> games, and ten <a title=\"All-NBA Team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All-NBA_Team\">All-NBA<\/a> First and Second Team nominations. He led the league in regular season <a title=\"Assist (basketball)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Assist_(basketball)\">assists<\/a> four times, and is the NBA&#8217;s all-time leader in average assists per game, at 11.2. Johnson was a member of the <a title=\"1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1992_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team\">1992 United States men&#8217;s Olympic basketball team<\/a> (&#8220;The Dream Team&#8221;), which won the <a title=\"Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics\">Olympic<\/a> gold medal in 1992. After leaving the NBA in 1992, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a <a title=\"Barnstorm (sports)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barnstorm_(sports)\">barnstorming<\/a> team that traveled around the world playing <a title=\"Exhibition game\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Exhibition_game\">exhibition games<\/a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-barnstorm_5-0\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Johnson became a two-time inductee into the <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Basketball Hall of Fame\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basketball_Hall_of_Fame\">Basketball Hall of Fame<\/a>\u2014being enshrined in 2002 for his individual career, and again in 2010 as a member of the &#8220;Dream Team&#8221;.<sup id=\"cite_ref-6\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup> His friendship and rivalry with <a title=\"Boston Celtics\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boston_Celtics\">Boston Celtics<\/a> star <a title=\"Larry Bird\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Larry_Bird\">Larry Bird<\/a>, whom he faced in the <a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1979_NCAA_Men%27s_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament\">1979 NCAA finals<\/a> and three NBA championship series, are well documented.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Since his retirement, Johnson has been an advocate for HIV\/<a class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"AIDS\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AIDS\">AIDS<\/a> prevention and <a title=\"Safe sex\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Safe_sex\">safe sex<\/a>,<sup id=\"cite_ref-7\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup> as well as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, broadcaster and motivational speaker. His public announcement of his HIV-positive status in 1991 helped dispel the stereotype, still widely held at the time, that <a title=\"Misconceptions about HIV\/AIDS\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Misconceptions_about_HIV\/AIDS\">HIV was a &#8220;gay disease&#8221;<\/a> that heterosexuals need not worry about; his bravery in making this announcement was widely commended.<sup id=\"cite_ref-espn_11-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Magic_Johnson#cite_note-espn-11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup> Named by <i><a title=\"Ebony (magazine)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ebony_(magazine)\">Ebony<\/a><\/i> magazine as one of America&#8217;s most influential black businessmen in 2009, Johnson has numerous business interests, and was a part-owner of the Lakers for several years. Johnson also is part of a group of investors that purchased the <a title=\"Los Angeles Dodgers\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Dodgers\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in 2012 and the <a title=\"Los Angeles Sparks\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Sparks\">Los Angeles Sparks<\/a> in 2014. During Johnson&#8217;s ownership of both teams, the Sparks won the <a title=\"2016 WNBA Finals\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2016_WNBA_Finals\">2016 WNBA championship<\/a>, and the Dodgers won the <a title=\"2020 World Series\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2020_World_Series\">2020 World Series<\/a> championship. Combining his playing career and sports ownership career, Johnson has 10 NBA championships (five each as a player and later part-owner of the Lakers) to his credit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Earvin \u201cMagic\u201d Johnson Appointed to Fanatics Board of Directors Basketball Hall of Famer and renowned entrepreneur will help guide direction of Fanatics with his unique perspectives on business and community Magic Johnson is joining the Fanatics Board of Directors (Photo: Business Wire) LOS ANGELES &amp; JACKSONVILLE, Fla.&#8211;(BUSINESS WIRE)&#8211;Fanatics, a global leader for licensed sports merchandise, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2405,330,11,8,1314,1456,1156,2416,13,2404,2406,107,14,106,104,187,1,1282,12,7,9,1114,10],"tags":[4085,4087,1469,4095,2817,1470,2504,1366,4097,4093,4092,1474,4094,4096,4091,1681,4090,4086,4088,4089],"class_list":["post-20352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-basketball-sports","category-business","category-entertainment","category-global-business-entrepreneurs","category-global-news-updates-and-more","category-global-sports","category-hall-of-fame","category-health","category-high-school-sports","category-mbs-hss","category-mlb-sports-news","category-most-commented","category-nba-sports-news","category-ncaa","category-ncaa-basketball","category-news","category-olympics","category-scitech","category-sports","category-us","category-wnba","category-world","tag-magicjohnson","tag-1959-age-61-lansing","tag-1469","tag-1982-1992-2x-nba-all-star-game-mvp-1990","tag-2817","tag-1470","tag-2504","tag-1366","tag-1987-2x-nba-steals-leader-1981","tag-1987-3x-nba-most-valuable-player-1987","tag-1988-3x-nba-finals-mvp-1980","tag-1474","tag-1990-12x-nba-all-star-1980","tag-1992-9x-all-nba-first-team-1983-1991-all-nba-second-team-1982-nba-all-rookie-team-1980-4x-nba-assists-leader-1983","tag-1996-los-angeles-lakers-1999-2000-magic-m7-boras-2000-magic-great-danes-as-coach-1994-los-angeles-lakers-career-highlights-and-awards-as-a-player-5x-nba-champion-1980","tag-1681","tag-1999-2000-position-point-guard-number-32-career-history-as-player-1979-1991","tag-magic-johnsonmagic-johnson-2014-cropped-jpg-johnson-in-2014-personal-information-born-august-14","tag-michigan-nationality-american-listed-height-6-ft-9-in-2-06-m-listed-weight-220-lb-100-kg1-career-information-high-school-everett-lansing","tag-michigan-college-michigan-state-1977-1979-nba-draft-1979-round-1-pick-1st-overall-selected-by-the-los-angeles-lakers-playing-career-1979-1991","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}