Magic Johnson

POSITION: Point Guard, Power Forward FULL NAME: Earvin Johnson NICKNAME: Magic (Duh!) BORN: August 14, 1959 - Lansing, MI HEIGHT: 6-9 WEIGHT: 215 COLLEGE: Michigan State DRAFTED: 1st Round - 1st Pick - LA Lakers, 1979 JERSEY#: 32 Played for the Lakers from 1979 to 1991, 1995 to 1996 Not Elected to the Hall of Fame

G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	STL	BLKS	PTS	PPG
906	33,250	.848	.303	.848	7.2	11.2	1,724	374	17,667	19.5

Magic Johnson is famous for his brilliant passing skills, all-round sublime talent and engaging personality. At 6-9, he was - and still is - the tallest point guard in league history, and his illuminating smile made him the most admired as well. He started getting national attention as a 15-year-old high school player. After an Everett High School game in which he had 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists, a sportswriter nicknamed the young, enthusiastic ballplayer "Magic." Magic led Everett to a 27-1 record and the state title in his senior year, averaging 28.8 ppg and 16.8 rpg.

He attended Michigan State and led the Spartans to a 25-5 record and the Big Ten Conference title. As a Sporting News All-America sophomore, Johnson's team won the NCAA Championship and he was named Most Outstanding Player.

Johnson entered the 1979 NBA draft with two years of eligibility left, and was selected by the Lakers with the first pick overall. He was quickly billed as the team's saviour, and teamed up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to introduce LA to "Showtime".

Magic was the first-ever rookie NBA Finals MVP in 1980.

In the late eighties, Magic was diagnosed with the virus called HIV, and was forced to retire, after opponents was feared of the tought of being infected.

Magic coached the Lakers for the final 16 games of the 1993-94 season, compiling a 5-11 record.

Magic staged a not very succsessful comeback as a power forward in the 1995-96 season. He complained about not having enough control on court, and was fined after bumping a referee. He decided to retire again after the season.