My Life

Earvin "Magic" Johnson was born on August 14, 1959. He played basketball for Michigan State University before becoming a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. During his career, he earned three NBA MVP Awards, won an Olympic gold medal in 1992, was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. He retired in 1996.

In 1991, he learned he was HIV positive and contracted the disease through having multiple sexual partners during his playing career. The Magic Johnson Foundation was originally created to help combat HIV, but grew to include other charitable goals including revitalizing ethnically diverse urban communities. He is the author of numerous books including Magic's Touch: From Fast Break to Fundamentals with Basketball's Most Exciting Player and 32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business. In 2010 he co-authored When the Game Was Ours with Larry Bird.

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