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Magic Johnson

Chronology



1959 Born August 14 in Lansing, Michigan
1973 Begins freshman year at Lansing Everett High School; named starter on basketball team and given nickname "Magic"
1975 Leads team to Class A tournament quarterfinals, named to All-State Squad
1976 Leads team to Class A semifinals, again named All-State
1977 Leads team to Class A championship, named All-State for third time, enters Michigan State University on basketball scholarship
1978 Leads MSU Spartans to Big Ten championship
1979 Leads Spartan to NCAA championship, named tournament MVP, sets new school record for season assists, begins rivalry with Larry Bird
1979 Foregoes remainder of college career to turn pro, drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round
1980 Proves instrumental in Lakers' NBA tournament win, named championship series MVP
1981 Son Andre is born on February 20
1987 Named league MVP
1988 Leads Lakers to yet another NBA championship, the first time a team wins two in a row since the Boston Celtics in 1969
1991 Marries Earleatha "Cookie" Kelly in September
1991 On November 7, publicly announces that he has been diagnosed with HIV and will retire from the NBA
1991 Named to President Bush's National AIDS Commission on November 15
1992 Johnson's Number 32 is retired by the Los Angeles Lakers
1992 Wins Olympic gold medal as member of U.S. "Dream Team"
1992 Son Earvin III is born on June 4
1992 Resigns from National AIDS Commission, citing the government's lack of genuine interest in fighting the disease
1992 Joins NBA All-Star team despite his retirement and named game MVP
1992 Aborts NBA comeback after several players express fear of catching HIV from contact with Johnson
1993 Founds Johnson Development Corporation
1993-94 Becomes Lakers head coach for 15 games at end of season
1994 Becomes minority owner of Los Angeles Lakers
1995 Adopts daughter Elisa
1996 Announces on January 29 that he will return to play for the Lakers
1996 Retires on his "own terms" on May 14
1997 Founds Magic Johnson Entertainment
1998 Hosts talk show, which is canceled after two months
2002 Named to Basketball Hall of Fame

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Famous Sports StarsBasketballMagic Johnson Biography - From "june Bug" To "magic", Chronology, Taking Off, Awards And Accomplishments - CONTACT INFORMATION