NBA legend Magic Johnson still regrets his early retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers: NBA Update
Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players in the history of NBA.
However, he will forever be remembered as a player whose fairy career came to an abrupt end due to a disease, which the world has come to know so much about in the last two decades.
In November 1991, five-time NBA champion and the Hall of Famer decided to retire immediately after discovering that he was HIV positive. At that time, the NBA legend didn’t know how he contracted the disease and decided to battle
the deadly illness. He did so at the cost of his career.
An early diagnosis and the type of resources he possessed at that time ensured that his HIV virus didn’t take the form of AIDS, but after carrying the syndrome for 20 years, the Lakers legend still regrets retiring from Los Angeles
Lakers so early.
"If I knew what I know now, I wouldn't have retired. But I didn't know that then. And you've just got to go with what happened." Johnson said.
The Michigan State’s superstar became the attraction for the NBA scouts after winning championships in high school and at collegiate level. During the 1979 NBA Draft, Johnson was rated as the top prospect and the Los Angeles Lakers
used their first overall pick to acquire the gifted point guard.
Magic showcased the extent of his abilities right from his rookie season and furnished his resume with a championship ring along with the award of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NBA Finals. The NBA legend went on to spearhead
Lakers to four more championships during the 80’s.
Johnson, in his prime, was considered as a constant triple-double threat. In his career, he posted 138 triple-double games, which is the second best in the NBA history.
Despite of his retirement, Johnson came back on the court in the 1992 NBA All-Star game after the fans voted him as the starter. Magic blistered away with 25 points and 9 assists which not only provided a comprehensive 153-113
victory to the West but also won him the MVP award.
Johnson then again made a comeback midway through the 1995-1996 season. He played 32 games for Lakers at the age of 37, but was only a shadow of his formidable past. Johnson finished his NBA career with an average of 19.5 points,
11.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Johnson’s NBA career may have reduced substantially due to the disease however the hall of famer accomplished what he dreamed in his life.
“I wanted to do two things when I was growing up. I wanted to play in the NBA, and I wanted to be a businessman after my basketball career was over, and that is what I am doing now.” Magic said.
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