"We had. With so many ways to love the NBA, Google says the Pixel 6 is built for all fans. Luka Doncic Smashes Magic Johnson Record in Mavericks Win. Magic Johnson TV Commercials We don't make the ads - We measure them Sign up to track 37 nationally aired TV ad campaigns for Magic Johnson. Magic was the fourth of seven children Earvin Sr. and Christine had together. In Episode 7 of "Binge Sesh," hosts Matt Brennan and Kareem Maddox draw inspiration from Nike cofounder Phil Knight's pursuit of Magic Johnson in "Winning Time.". [225], After announcing his infection in November 1991, Johnson created the Magic Johnson Foundation to help combat HIV,[226] although he later diversified the foundation to include other charitable goals. Earvin Johnson III . [208] The Johnson-led group, which also includes movie executive Peter Guber, paid $2billion for the Dodgers, the largest amount paid for a professional sports team. Johnson says he agreed to it, but he was nervous because he had . [20], Earvin Johnson Jr. was born in Lansing, Michigan, to General Motors assembly worker Earvin Sr. and school janitor Christine. Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has seen a different D'Angelo Russell from the one who started his career in purple and gold. [165] In an impromptu news conference on April 9, 2019, Johnson resigned from the Lakers, citing his desire to return to his role as an NBA ambassador. 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. Learn more at www.magicjohnsonenterprises.com. [48] Coach Paul Westhead, who had replaced McKinney early in the season after he had a near-fatal bicycle accident,[49][54] decided to start Johnson at center in Game 6; Johnson recorded 42points, 15rebounds, 7assists, and 3 steals in a 123107 win, while playing guard, forward, and center at different times during the game. [215] The temporary name was Los Angeles Football Club,[216] which later became permanent in 2015. [206], In January 2012, Johnson joined with Guggenheim Partners and Stan Kasten in a bid for ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. [44] He also joined Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only NBA players to tally at least 700points, 700rebounds, and 700assists in the same season. The game was played at a gym inside Fort McNair, and reporters covering the president were not allowed to enter. The 1986 commercial shows Magic rolling up in a limo and Larry was waiting in knee-high socks, short shorts, and new . Magic Johnson Investments He has had partnerships previously with Starbucks, 24-Hour Fitness, T.G.I Fridays, and AMC Theatres. After making a bunny appear out of Samuel L. Jackson's cap, he begins sawing Jim Nantz in half for his final signoff, as Barkley, Jackson and Spike Lee look on in laughter. Michael B. Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Fanatics.com TV Spot, 'All-In Challenge' Featuring Kevin Hart, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen DeGeneres, Samsung Galaxy Note II TV Spot, 'Big Day' Featuring LeBron James, NBA TV Spot, 'This Is Why We Play: Anthem', AT&T Wireless TV Spot, 'The Codes We Live By' Feat. 8. However, after Johnson went down with a hamstring injury in Game 2, the Lakers were no match for the Pistons, who swept them 40. [9] Johnson was a member of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team ("The Dream Team"), which won the Olympic gold medal in Barcelona. What Is Magic Johnson's Net Worth? The rivalry with Larry Bird, another NBA superstar, began in college. Magic's son EJ Johnson, 29, wore a fabulous silver sequined gown paired thigh-high black boots for the big moment, accessorizing with diamond necklaces and a black clutch. The pair launched an initiative to support minority and female-owned businesses, by providing customized health care plans for issues that disproportionately affect people of color. [115][117] Johnson played infrequently because of knee problems,[118] but he received standing ovations from the crowd, and used the opportunity to inspire HIV-positive people. He had become a dominant junior high player, once scoring 48 points in a game. According to sports journalist Larry Schwartz of ESPN, Johnson and Bird saved the NBA from bankruptcy. He is often regarded as the greatest point guard of all-time. Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has become a living testament to advances in medicine that have turned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a . [44] The Lakers reached the Finals for the third year in a row, where Johnson's Lakers and Bird's Celtics met for the first time in the postseason. His favorite basketball player was Bill Russell, whom he admired more for his many championships than his athletic ability. Magic Johnson: My Life. [214] Johnson announced his co-ownership of a Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise based in Los Angeles on October 30, 2014. 5, Magic Johnson combined dazzling playmaking with charisma to lead the Showtime Lakers to five titles", "Magic Johnson vs. Stephen Curry: Does Warriors star have stats case to surpass Lakers legend as GOAT point guard? Cedric Ceballos, upset over a reduction in his playing time after Johnson's arrival, left the team for several days. Then in 1985, Converse asked Johnson and Bird to tape a shoe commercial in French Lick, Ind., Bird's hometown. $620 MILLION From his salary as a basketball player to endorsements and on-camera opportunities to his many, many businesses and investments, Johnson has. [188][189] In 2004, Johnson and his partner Ken Lombard sold Magic Johnson Theaters to Loews Cineplex Entertainment. [128] A few days later, Johnson changed his mind and retired permanently, saying, "I am going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992. [107] At the time, only a small percentage of HIV-positive American men had contracted it from heterosexual sex,[92][108] and it was initially rumored that Johnson was gay or bisexual, although he denied both. We give our clients and partners the edge needed to effectively capitalize on the growing purchasing power and value of multicultural communities. They're Midwesterners, they were bigger players who handled the ball skillfully and they thought about their teammates' success. Playing with the Canberra Cannons of Australia's National Basketball League instead of his usual group of players, Johnson's team defeated the Spartans 10485, as he scored 12 points, with 10 assists and 10 rebounds. The rising reality star is the son of NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his wife, Earlitha "Cookie" Johnson. He shares his latest ventureMagic Johnson Development Corporationwhich develops commercial property in neglected urban and suburban neighborhoods. [87][88], Before the 198788 NBA season, Lakers coach Pat Riley publicly promised that they would defend the NBA title, even though no team had won consecutive titles since the Celtics did so in the 1969 NBA Finals. "[119] Johnson said that despite the physical, highly competitive practices and scrimmages leading up to the 1992 Olympics, some of those same teammates still expressed concerns about his return to the NBA. April 12, 2012 4:54am. [77][92][93] After the teams split the first six games, Lakers forward and Finals MVP James Worthy had his first career triple-double of 36points, 16rebounds, and 10assists, and led his team to a 108105win. Converse was the sneaker company with which both players had a shoe deal. He was 20 years old and the year was 1980. [10] [28] His career 138triple-double games places him third all-time behind Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. [213] He won the WNBA championship as the owner in 2016. For the NBA center, see, Two moments of Johnson during his tour with the All-Stars to Argentina in January 1994: (left) greeting a local player; (right) hugging soccer superstar, HIV announcement and Olympics (19911992), Return to the Lakers as coach and player (1994, 1996). [125] The Lakers played well initially, winning five of their first six games under Johnson, but after losing the next five games, Johnson announced that he was resigning as coach after the season. [17] Johnson's first foray into business, a high-end sporting goods store named Magic 32,[17] failed after only one year, costing him $200,000. [191], Johnson began thinking of life after basketball while still playing with the Lakers. [224] He hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on August 22, 2016. When did Magic Johnson have his son? Speaking to media just hours after Buss had died, Johnson was emotional, saying, "Without Dr. Jerry Buss, there is no Magic. [121][122], Johnson returned to the NBA as coach of the Lakers near the end of the 199394 NBA season, replacing Randy Pfund, and Bill Bertka, who served as an interim coach for two games. Similarly, Bird admitted that Johnson's daily box score was the first thing he checked in the morning. [16] Many articles praised Johnson as a hero, and the then-U.S. President George H. W. Bush said, "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for anyone who loves sports. [154] In the 1982 NBA Finals, he was named the Finals MVP averaging just 16.2 points, the lowest average of any Finals MVP award recipient in the three-point shot era. [44] The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals, but were unable to defeat the Houston Rockets, who advanced to the Finals in five games. [58] Johnson returned before the start of the 1981 playoffs, but the Lakers' then-assistant and future head coach Pat Riley later said Johnson's much-anticipated return made the Lakers a "divided team". [115] After qualifying for the Olympics with a gold medal at the 1992 Tournament of the Americas,[116] the Dream Team dominated in Olympic competition, winning the gold medal with an 80 record, beating their opponents by an average of 43.8 points per game. Personal Birth date: August 14, 1959 Birth place: Lansing, Michigan Birth name: Earvin. [41], During the 197879 season, Michigan State again qualified for the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the championship game and faced Indiana State, which was led by senior Larry Bird. He ultimately decided to attend Michigan State when coach Jud Heathcote told him he could play the point guard position. After winning a national championship with Michigan State in 1979, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team to five NBA championships during their Showtime era. [195] Another major project is with insurance services company Aon Corp.[196] In 20052007, Johnson was part of a syndicate that bought the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, then the tallest building in Brooklyn, for $71 million and converted the 512-foot high landmark structure from an office building into luxury condominiums. "[128] While Johnson played well in 1996, there were struggles both on and off the court. [28] After the game, Fred Stabley Jr., a sports writer for the Lansing State Journal, gave him the moniker[32] despite the belief of Johnson's mother, a devout Christian, that the name was sacrilegious. [131][132] He missed two games and was stripped of his title as team captain. Although he played in a celebrity game to honor coach Jud Heathcoate in 1995,[45] this was Johnson's first meaningful game played in his hometown of Lansing in 22 years. He went to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz with the idea that he could successfully open the coffee shops in urban areas. [38] His college decision came down to Michigan and Michigan State in East Lansing. Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player. It's safe to say that without their common sponsor bringing them together, they likely wouldn't have hung out that day. By the time he had reached the eighth grade, Johnson had begun to think about a future in basketball. [148][149] Johnson appeared at Bird's retirement ceremony in 1992, and described Bird as a "friend forever";[113] during Johnson's Hall of Fame ceremony, Bird formally inducted his old rival. In 1992, Buss had given Johnson a contract that paid him $14 million a year, as payback for all the years he was not the league's highest-paid player. Nov 4, 2021 at 12:46 pm ET 1 min read. The franchise reached an agreement with free agent LeBron James on a four-year contract in 2018, but efforts to trade for Anthony Davis during the 201819 season proved unsuccessful. During his retirement, Johnson began intense workouts to help his fight against HIV, raising his bench press from 135 to 300 pounds, and increasing his weight to 255 pounds. He led all scorers with 39 points. [209] The Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, giving Johnson a Major League Baseball title to his credit. The majority of NBA fans consider Jordan to be the best ever, with Magic being the best point guard ever. [57], Early in the 198081 season, Johnson was sidelined after he suffered torn cartilage in his left knee. He also missed several games due to a calf injury. 4/2/2013 8:45 AM PT. [33] He was selected to the 197879 All-American team for his performance that season. [18] As such, in 2014, Johnson was named one of ESPNW's Impact 25. Double your traffic. In an appearance Wednesday on The View, former Los Angeles Laker Earvin "Magic" Johnson said Dr. Anthony Fauci was one of the doctors who helped him understand and treat HIV after his 1991. [25], Johnson came to love basketball as a young man. "[125] Amid speculation from general manager Jerry West that he may only coach until the end of the season,[125] Johnson took over a team that had a 2838 record, and won his first game as head coach, a 110101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. . Then one of our guys catches the ball and scores, and I run back up the floor convinced that he must've thrown it through somebody. Other biographies include: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Johnson is 6'9" tall. Johnson would often help his father on the garbage route, and he was teased by neighborhood children who called him "Garbage Man". The talent already on Michigan State's roster also drew him to the program. Magic Johnson Development Corporation, which develops commercial property in long neglected . [48] Johnson became the only rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award,[48] and his clutch performance is still regarded as one of the finest in NBA history. [85][86] 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 107106. Earvin "Magic" Johnson, William Novak. Fantasy owner Saul Zaentz would further embark upon a career as a film . "[119], During his retirement, Johnson has written a book on safe sex, run several businesses, worked for NBC as a commentator, and toured Asia, Australia and New Zealand with a basketball team of former college and NBA players. 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". [80] After the Lakers defeated the Celtics in six games, Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson, who averaged 18.3points on .494shooting, 14.0assists, and 6.8rebounds per game in the championship series,[81][82] said the Finals win was the highlight of their careers. "Obviously, my family's always been in the spotlight," EJ told Out in 2014. [40] Playing with future NBA draftees Greg Kelser, Jay Vincent, and Mike Brkovich, Johnson averaged 17.0points, 7.9rebounds, and 7.4assists per game as a freshman, and led the Spartans to a 255record, the Big Ten Conference title, and a berth in the 1978 NCAA tournament. "I've . [176] 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. He is known to have owned 105 Starbucks outlets and a 4.5% stake in . [96], In the 198889 NBA season, Johnson's 22.5points, 12.8assists, and 7.9rebounds per game[44] earned him his second MVP award,[97] and the Lakers reached the 1989 NBA Finals, in which they again faced the Pistons. [171][172], Johnson is a Christian[173] and has said his faith is "the most important thing" in his life. Agency SVP, group creative director Ryan Carroll believes one campaign concept could have some legs IRL. [89] Johnson had another productive season with averages of 19.6points, 11.9assists, and 6.2rebounds per game despite missing 10 games with a groin injury. [177] It was this arrangement that allowed Johnson to coach the team without receiving any additional salary. The Pixel 6 offers the capability to eliminate photobomb fans quickly with the touch of a finger -- even Magic Johnson thinks it's absolute magic. He is also part of a group of investors that purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 and the Los Angeles Sparks in 2014,[18] and was part of the ownership group that established Los Angeles F.C. It's true that I hated missing out on Sexton. When Magic Johnson heard of the proposal he told Converse ' You're crazy, I'm not shooting no commercial with Larry .' Eventually, Magic was persuaded and expected to shoot the commercial in LA. According to the Basketball Network, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird came together in 1986 to film a commercial for Converse. Despite two triple-doubles from Johnson during the series, Finals MVP Jordan led his team to a 41win. [143] He later joined the Danish team The Great Danes. Magic Johnson is a top business keynote speaker, former NBA great, and Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. [33] In an August 2011 interview, Johnson said that in retrospect he wished that he had never retired after being diagnosed with HIV, saying, "If I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have retired. [28] Buss was also unhappy with the Lakers' offense and had intended on firing Westhead days before the WestheadJohnson altercation, but assistant GM Jerry West and GM Bill Sharman had convinced Buss to delay his decision. [44] The Lakers again reached the Finals, and for a third time faced the Sixers, who featured center Moses Malone as well as Erving. In what was the most-watched college basketball game ever,[42] Michigan State defeated Indiana State 7564, and Johnson was voted Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. [39], Johnson did not initially aspire to play professionally, focusing instead on his communication studies major and his desire to become a television commentator.
