At six feet, nine inches and 255 pounds, Magic Johnson is no small man. As a former star basketball player, these physical traits likely came in mighty handy. Magic Johnson—or Earvin Johnson Jr.—played in the NBA (National Basketball Association) for twelve years and became renowned as one of the best passers and point guards in NBA history. Magic Johnson is also the most well-known and prominent HIV-positive public figure.

Born August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, Johnson has almost always been athletic, playing sports and especially basketball as a kid. He went on to win championships in competitions at different levels throughout his high school and collegiate years, and then professionally and internationally. Earvin acquired the nickname "Magic" when he played at Everett High School, from local sportswriter Fred Stabley Jr., who witnessed him score thirty-six points, record sixteen rebounds, and an rack up an incredible sixteen assists in one game.

At the age of twenty Magic was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft. The Los Angeles Lakers gratefully picked up the future superstar and he remained loyal to them for thirteen seasons. During his professional basketball career, the Lakers won five NBA championships. Magic was named to the NBA All-Star Team twelve times, NBA’s MVP three times, and the NBA Finals MVP three times. Further, Magic is a two-time All-Star MVP. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, considered one of basketball’s greatest centers, was Magic’s teammate on the Lakers. The two worked wonderfully together, a fact reflected in the number of championships the team won over the years.

Johnson is also renowned for the "friendly rivalry" he shared with fellow pro Larry Bird, who played for the Boston Celtics, a rivalry that was carried over from their collegiate-playing days into the NBA.

Since 1991, when Magic shocked the world with his public announcement of his HIV-positivity, he has worked hard to raise public awareness and education about AIDS and the HIV virus. He retired his NBA career because of his disease, although even today, into his late forties, Magic still plays the game regularly. During his last official season, the Lakers made it to the NBA final championships, but ultimately lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

In 1992 Magic was a member of the U.S. Olympic gold-medal basketball team—the Olympic Dream Team. The following year he stepped up to act as head coach of the Lakers for last sixteen games of the 1993 to 1994 season, replacing coach Randy Pfund. Magic was voted in to play in the NBA’s fiftieth anniversary all-time team in 1996, being named one of the 50 greatest players in the NBA history. In 2002 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Magic technically retired three times from basketball, the last of which followed his time in the ’96 Anniversary All-Time Team, right before the Lakers acquired Kobe Bryant and upcoming star player Shaquille O’Neal.

Magic Johnson married wife Cookie Johnson on September 14, 1991. The couple is still married and has two children together, Earvin III, born on June 4, 1992, and Elisa, adopted in January 1995. Magic also has another son, Andre.

Currently, Johnson manages his business, Magic Johnson Enterprises. He very active in charity ventures, including the Magic Johnson Foundation, which educates and deals with issues about HIV and AIDS. He also developed the Magic Johnson Theatres, a chain of movie theaters located in various inner-city neighborhoods in the U.S.

YUDDY