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Here's an article about one of the best and widely loved
NBA stars of all time, Magic Johnson. He was a fierce competitor
and I remember him and Larry Bird going at it during some
of those classic NBA Finals games.
Earvin Johnson Jr., known simply as “Magic” to
millions of basketball fans all over the world, has been one
of the NBA’s best players and biggest winners. Standing
6-9, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with
his pure passing and all-around versatility.
Johnson was a winner at every level of his career, starting
in high school and including college, professional and international.
At Michigan State University, he injected a much-needed dose
of enthusiasm and passion into the college hoops scene, eventually
leading his school to the 1979 National Championship over
Indiana State which was led by another legendary basketball
player, Larry Bird. Bird would become Johnson’s closest
rival throughout their respective careers. Their college championship
showdown became the most watched college basketball game in
history.
Johnson later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and was their
heart and soul for 13 seasons, leading them to five NBA championships.
He was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, league MVP
three times and NBA Finals MVP three times. In 2002, he was
inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
in 1996.
Magic Johnson and HIV
In 1991, Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive and retired
from the NBA. He was among the first sports celebrities and
one of the most popular public figures to ever do so.
Johnson earned his nickname back in high school when he was
an All-American at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan.
He was 15 at the time and he had an amazing game where he
finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. That
inspired a local sports writer named Fred Stabley to christen
Johnson as Magic. In his senior year, Johnson led Everett
to the state championship (27-1 win-loss record).
When he entered the NBA in 1979, the league suffered from
a poor image and was ranked third in popularity behind the
NFL and MLB. But Johnson’s rivalry with Bird, who had
joined the Boston Celtics, revitalized the NBA. In their first
three years in the league, the duo produced two championships
– two for Magic and one for Bird. Before they were done,
the dynamic duo would have eight NBA championships between
them – five for Magic and three for Bird.
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including
Sports,
Games, and Arts
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathon_Hardcastle
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