Magic Johnson
1959

Johnson, Magic or Johnson, Earvin (b. August 14, 1959, Lansing, Mich.), American professional basketball player, who helped the Los Angeles Lakers become one of the dominant professional basketball teams of the 1980s and who is considered one of the greatest point guards and playmakers in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In the autumn of 1991 Johnson announced that he had tested positive for the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)) and was retiring from the Lakers. He became a national spokesperson for AIDS awareness and prevention, and he established a foundation to promote AIDS research. His book What You Can Do to Avoid AIDS was published in 1992. After Johnson's poignant return to the 1992 NBA All-Star game, the Lakers retired his jersey number (32). Johnson was a member of the United States basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and served briefly on the President's Council on AIDS. He then announced his return to professional basketball, and in September 1992 he signed another contract with the Lakers. In November of that year, however, he once again announced that he would retire because of the controversy concerning his return to basketball. He subsequently became a television sports commentator and continued his efforts to become part of an NBA franchise ownership group.