Magic Johnson (Later outbreak of HIV/AIDS)

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is a retired American professional basketball point guard who played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After winning a championship at both the high school and college level, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award (his first of three) in his rookie season, and the Lakers won five championships during the 1980s. He won the MVP of the 1992 All-Star Game. he played for the Lakers before retiring in 1997.

Johnson's other career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, 12 All-Star games, and 10 All-NBA First and Second Teams nominations. He led the league in regular-season assists four times, and is the NBA's all-time leader in assists per game with an average of 11.2.[1] Johnson was also a member of the "Dream Team", the U.S. basketball team that won the Olympic gold medal in 1992.

Johnson was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, and enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.[2] He was also rated the greatest NBA point guard of all time by ESPN in 2007.[3] His friendship and rivalry with Boston Celtics star Larry Bird, based on regular games at championship level between the Lakers and Celtics, were well-documented. Since his retirement he has become a philanthropist.