He even lured the biggest star free agent of all – LeBron James . Johnson asserted that for him, the 82-game regular season was composed of 80 normal games, and two Lakers–Celtics games. [222] He has advertised GlaxoSmithKline's drugs,[223] and partnered with Abbott Laboratories to publicize the fight against AIDS in African American communities.[222]. The @Lakers will always own Los Angeles!! “After heavy deliberation and a weighing heart, I have decided to sell my share of the Lakers to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. Johnson's mother, originally from North Carolina,[23] had also played basketball as a child, and she grew up watching her brothers play the game.[20]. However, after Johnson went down with a hamstring injury in Game 2, the Lakers were no match for the Pistons, who swept them 4–0. ", "Magic raises questions about Laker confusion.". [22] Johnson came from an athletic family. [32] His college decision came down to Michigan and Michigan State in East Lansing. [11], Johnson initially said that he did not know how he contracted the disease,[11] but later acknowledged that it was through having numerous sexual partners during his playing career. His father played high school basketball in his home state of Mississippi,[23] and Johnson learned the finer points about the game from him. ", "Magic Johnson sells his 105 Starbucks franchises. [95] Under Dunleavy, the offense used more half-court sets, and the team had a renewed emphasis on defense. [215] In 2015, he once again endorsed Hillary Clinton in her second presidential campaign. Although Johnson's retirement prior to the 1992–93 NBA season voided this contract, Buss insisted that he still be paid. [2][49][50] He also became one of four players to win NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years. Similarly, Bird admitted that Johnson's daily box score was the first thing he checked in the morning. The transaction price of Johnson’s share of the team is undisclosed. ", "Magic Johnson would be interested in buying Clippers, source says", "Magic Johnson to Advise Team Ownership | Los Angeles Lakers", "Magic Johnson reportedly interested in buying Clippers, NBA plans Tuesday press conference on Donald Sterling investigation", "Magic Johnson buys life insurance company", "Wizards, Warriors, and Magic: A Strategic Partnership", "Magic Johnson leads dream team bidding for Dodgers", "Magic Johnson-led group is picked as Dodgers' next owner", "From bankruptcy to a World Series title: Dodgers' ascension is Magic", "New Dragons owners say they won't mess with success", "Capital Buzz: D.C. businessman buying Dayton baseball team", "Magic Johnson, 55, Los Angeles Sparks Co-OwnerMagic Johnson, 55, Los Angeles Sparks Co-Owner", "Sparks defeat Lynx for first WNBA championship since 2002", "Magic Johnson, Mia Hamm among owners of new L.A. pro soccer team", "MLS Wants Fans' Help To Pick Team Name, Logo For New 'LA Football Club'", "LA's MLS expansion team announces official club name: Los Angeles Football Club", "Magic Johnson backs Angelides for Governor", "Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton team up for Hillary", "Magic Johnson Backing Barbara Boxer for U.S. [208] The temporary name was Los Angeles Football Club,[209] which later became permanent in 2015. [20] He also idolized players such as Earl Monroe and Marques Haynes,[21] and practiced "all day". In addition to playing 13 seasons for the Lakers and coaching the team briefly in 1994, Johnson also had an ownership stake in the team for nearly twenty years. Cedric Ceballos, upset over a reduction in his playing time after Johnson's arrival, left the team for several days. Senate. After practicing and playing in several pre-season games, he retired again before the start of the regular season, citing controversy over his return sparked by opposition from several active players. [22] The Spartans reached the Elite Eight, but lost narrowly to eventual national champion Kentucky. Although Andre was raised by his mother, he visited Johnson each summer, and later worked for Magic Johnson Enterprises as a marketing director. Terms of Use | Magic Johnson's decision to step down as the Lakers' president of basketball operations was among the talking points during team exit interviews on Wednesday. The couple adop… [34], Before the 1992–93 NBA season, Johnson announced his intention to stage an NBA comeback. "[30] Johnson and Chastine were almost always together, playing basketball or riding around in Chastine's car. [132] By the time he returned to the Lakers in 1996, the Magic Johnson All-Stars had amassed a record of 55–0, and Johnson was earning as much as $365,000 per game. [214] He endorsed and appeared in campaign ads for unsuccessful Los Angeles mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel in 2013. There were incidents of racism, with rocks being thrown at buses carrying black students and white parents refusing to send their children to school. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. [167], In 2010, Magic Johnson and current and former NBA players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Bill Russell, as well as Maya Moore from the WNBA, played a basketball game with President Barack Obama as an exhibition for a group of military troops who had been injured in action. [184], Johnson began thinking of life after basketball while still playing with the Lakers. Johnson's career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations. After winning basketball championships in high school and college, he was selected the first overall player in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He insisted that his health was not an issue, while downplaying questions about returning as a player, saying, "I'm retired. Other biographies include: "Earvin Johnson" redirects here. Johnson stated that his aim was to "help educate all people about what [HIV] is about" and teach others not to "discriminate against people who have HIV and AIDS". [213] In 2012, he endorsed Barack Obama for president. [197], In 2015, Johnson completed his planned acquisition for a "majority, controlling interest" in EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, which manages $14.5 billion in annuities, life insurance and other financial products. [42] Johnson became the only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award,[42] and his clutch performance is still regarded as one of the finest in NBA history. Owner. [136][137] Johnson also became a co-owner of the club;[138] however, the project failed after one season and the club was forced into reconstruction. [193] Johnson sold his ownership stake in the Lakers in October 2010 to Patrick Soon-Shiong, a Los Angeles surgeon and professor at UCLA,[194] but continued as an unpaid vice president for the team. [79][80] The Lakers met the Celtics for the third time in the NBA Finals, and in Game 4 Johnson hit a last-second hook shot over Celtics big men Parish and Kevin McHale to win the game 107–106. [200] In March 2012, Johnson's ownership group was announced as the winner of the proceedings to buy the Dodgers. [206] He won the WNBA championship as the owner in 2016. He ultimately decided to attend Michigan State when coach Jud Heathcote told him he could play the point guard position. [181][182] In 2004, Johnson and his partner Ken Lombard, sold Magic Johnson Theaters to Loews Cineplex Entertainment in 2004. In 1995, after some criticism that he only invested with other people's money, Johnson took an equity stake along with what was then the Loews chain in the 12-screen multiplex movie theater in Baldwin Hills (now owned by Cinemark). [30] Johnson played with the team frequently over the next several years, with possibly the most memorable game occurring in November 2001. [203] Johnson and Guber were also partners in the Dayton Dragons,[202] a Class-A minor league baseball team in Dayton, Ohio, that sold out more than 1,000 consecutive games, a record for professional sports. He went to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz with the idea that he could successfully open the coffee shops in urban areas. Ovitz encouraged him to start reading business magazines and to use every connection available to him. Johnson's half court shot at the buzzer would have won the game, but it fell short. [94] Mike Dunleavy became the Lakers' head coach in 1990–91, when Johnson had grown to be the league's third-oldest point guard. I am and will always be a Laker for life.”. The biggest lesson she can take from the Magic Johnson debacle that ended with his abrupt and unexpected resignation Tuesday is this: the Lakers … [109][111] Johnson played infrequently because of knee problems,[112] but he received standing ovations from the crowd, and used the opportunity to inspire HIV-positive people. [74] However, Abdul-Jabbar, who was now 38 years old, scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in Game 2, and his 36 points in a Game 5 win were instrumental in establishing a 3–2 lead for Los Angeles. [169] Calling Buss his "second father" and "one of [his] best friends", Johnson spent five hours visiting Buss at the hospital just a few months before his death from cancer. [122] Despite these difficulties, the Lakers finished with a record of 53–29 and fourth seed in the NBA Playoffs. | Johnson did join the basketball team but became angry after several days when his new teammates ignored him during practice, not even passing the ball to him. [125][126] He missed two games and was stripped of his title as team captain. "[27][122], Determined to play competitive basketball despite being out of the NBA, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a barnstorming team composed of former NBA and college players. [45], The Lakers compiled a 60–22 record in the regular season and reached the 1980 NBA Finals,[46] in which they faced the Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by forward Julius Erving. The Major League Soccer franchise the Los Angeles Football Club is announced and Earvin "Magic" Johnson is a member of the ownership group. [71][86][87] After the teams split the first six games, Lakers forward and Finals MVP James Worthy had his first career triple-double of 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, and led his team to a 108–105 win. Dr. Soon-Shiong, a Lakers season seat holder for more than 25 years, is Chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation, Chairman and CEO of All About Advanced Health and founder of the National Coalition for Health Integration. 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. The series started poorly for the Lakers when they allowed an NBA Finals record 148 points to the Celtics in a 34-point loss in Game 1. It's true that I hated missing out on Sexton. [78] In the next season, Johnson averaged a career-high of 23.9 points, as well as 12.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game,[38] and earned his first regular season MVP award. "[128] Johnson was himself suspended five days later, when he bumped referee Scott Foster, missing three games. “I am truly humbled to have been a Lakers player for 13 years and an owner for over 10 years. [106] The game ended after he made a last-minute three-pointer, and players from both teams ran onto the court to congratulate Johnson. Magic Johnson net worth: Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. is a retired American basketball player and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $600 million. EL SEGUNDO – Los Angeles Lakers legend and part-owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson has sold his share of the team to Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, it was … ", "Johnson gets win in first game as coach. Dr. Soon-Shiong is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Soon-Shiong is a super Lakers fan, an outstanding businessman, a dedicated philanthropist and one of the most active community leaders in Los Angeles,” said Johnson. [90], In the 1988–89 NBA season, Johnson's 22.5 points, 12.8 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game[38] earned him his second MVP award,[91] and the Lakers reached the 1989 NBA Finals, in which they again faced the Pistons. [30] Johnson, who finished his high school career with two All-State selections, was considered at the time to be the best high school player ever to come out of Michigan[28] and was also named to the 1977 McDonald's All-American team. [173] Shortly after the cancellation of his talk show, Magic Johnson started a record label. [66] With Johnson's teammates Nixon, James Worthy, and Bob McAdoo all hobbled by injuries, the Lakers were swept by the Sixers, and Malone was crowned the Finals MVP. In the final game of the CBA series, Johnson had 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists, leading the All-Stars to a 126–121 victory over the Oklahoma City Cavalry. Magic Johnson joined Shaquille O'Neal and celebrity coach Spike Lee to lead the blue team to a 147–132 victory over the white team, which was coached by Arsenio Hall. October 2010 - Sells his shares of the Lakers. [145] The following year, HBO developed a documentary about their rivalry titled Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals, which was directed by Ezra Edelman. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 28, 2020 The same investment group that purchased the Dodgers, Guggenheim Partners, also owns the Los Angeles Sparks. November 1, 2001. Magic Johnson Enterprises is an American investment company owned by retired NBA Hall of Fame legend Magic Johnson. [216] He hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on August 22, 2016. Magic Johnson just resigned before the Lakers’ final game. [172] In 1998, Johnson hosted a late night talk show on the Fox network called The Magic Hour, but the show was canceled after two months because of low ratings. It will never change — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) September 16, 2020 [87] Johnson later accused Isiah Thomas of spreading the rumors, a claim Thomas denied. Earvin "Magic" Johnson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Offcer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate valued at an estimated $1 billion dollars. Magic Johnson owns Dodgers with a $3.5 billion business group In March 2012, Johnson was a part of the ownership group – Guggenheim Baseball Management – that bought a majority stake in the LA Dodgers when the MLB franchise went bankrupt. Our family looks forward to a future filled with the excitement this team brings to the city and the nation. [15] Johnson, who had six siblings (and three half-siblings by his father's previous marriage),[16][17][18] was influenced by his parents' strong work ethic. In 1994, Johnson joined with former pros Mark Aguirre, Reggie Theus, John Long, Earl Cureton, Jim Farmer, and Lester Conner, as his team played games in Australia, Israel, South America, Europe, New Zealand, and Japan. I thank Dr. Buss from the deepest part of my heart and soul for allowing me such an incredible opportunity. [37] After two years in college, during which he averaged 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, Johnson entered the 1979 NBA draft. "[2] Bleacher Report also listed Johnson first in its all-time NBA point guard rankings. Magic Johnson: Basketball Star and Entrepreneur. [38][124] The Lakers had a record of 22–10 in the games Johnson played, and he considered his final comeback "a success. MORE: Magic Johnson joining Lakers not good for Jim Buss. [117][118] Johnson, who took the job at the urging of owner Jerry Buss, admitted "I've always had the desire (to coach) in the back of my mind." [19], Johnson came to love basketball as a young man. Johnson, Earvin "Magic", and William Novak. [70][71] During the Finals, Johnson averaged 18.0 points on .560 shooting, 13.6 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game. Johnson said that what was "most amazing" about joining the Lakers was the chance to play alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,[40] the team's 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) center who became the leading scorer in NBA history. [207] Johnson announced his co-ownership of a Major League Soccer expansion franchise based in Los Angeles on October 30, 2014. [27], Despite their on-court rivalry, Johnson and Bird became close friends during the filming of a 1984 Converse shoe advertisement that depicted them as enemies.