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Earvin Magic Johnson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and businessman. Johnson earned his nickname Magic in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. Johnson's career achievements include three NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVPs, nine All-NBA First Team designations, and twelve All-Star games selections. Johnson's sublime talent elicited wonder and admiration from even the most casual basketball fan. Johnson himself was just happy to be playing basketball, and his all-around play inspired the addition of the term triple-double to basketball's lexicon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 14 August 1959 |
| Born in | Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nickname | Magic |
| Nickname Origin | Creative and entertaining ballhandling |
| High School | Lansing Everett High School |
| College | Michigan State University |
| Position | Point Guard |
| Height | 6 feet 9 inches |
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What You'll Learn
Magic Johnson's high school basketball career
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. was born on August 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. Johnson got his nickname "Magic" in high school, thanks to his creative and entertaining ballhandling skills. Johnson attended Lansing Everett High School, where he played on the basketball team. Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" at 15, when he recorded a triple-double of 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists as a sophomore at Everett. Johnson's time at Everett High School was transformative for him. Initially, he was angry that his teammates ignored him during practice, but he eventually found his place on the team and among his peers. Johnson's leadership skills were recognised by the small group of black students at the school, who looked to him as their leader.
Johnson's talent and passion for basketball were evident from a young age. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, Johnson was the tallest point guard in NBA history when he entered the league. His height, combined with his incredible skills, transformed basketball into "Showtime." Johnson's high school career was a precursor to his successful college and professional basketball careers. After high school, Johnson attended Michigan State University, where he continued to excel at basketball and led the team to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in 1979. Johnson's performance in high school and college caught the attention of the Los Angeles Lakers, who selected him as the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft.
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Johnson's nickname Magic
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. Johnson earned his nickname "Magic" in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" at 15 when he recorded a triple-double of 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists as a sophomore at Everett. Johnson's all-around play inspired the addition of the term "triple-double" to basketball's lexicon. During his time in the NBA, Johnson was responsible for just over one-quarter of all the league's triple-doubles.
Johnson is often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time. At 6 feet 9 inches, he was the tallest point guard in NBA history when he entered the league. Johnson's sublime talent elicited wonder and admiration from even the most casual basketball fan. Johnson accomplished virtually everything a player could dream of during his 13-year NBA career, all of which was spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a member of five championship teams, winning the Most Valuable Player Award and the Finals MVP Award three times each. Johnson was a 12-time All-Star and a nine-time member of the All-NBA First Team.
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Johnson's college basketball career
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.'s passion for basketball was evident from his high school days. He led his high school basketball team to a state championship in 1977. Johnson's college basketball career began at Michigan State University, where he continued his winning streak, leading the team to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship in 1979. This victory marked the only defeat of the season for Larry Bird and Indiana State. Johnson's outstanding performance as a sophomore at Michigan State earned him the nickname "Magic".
Johnson's impact on the court was characterised by his sublime talent, court vision, swagger, and leadership skills. He was an intense competitor with a childlike enthusiasm born of a pure love of sport and competition. Johnson's height of 6 feet 9 inches, combined with his exceptional skills, made him a formidable player. He brought new versatility to the point guard position, excelling at every phase of the game. Johnson's innovative no-look and bounce passes, along with his ability to make big plays in crucial moments, set him apart.
During his time at Michigan State, Johnson recorded a triple-double of 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists, showcasing his all-around prowess. This performance led to him being dubbed "Magic" at just 15 years old. Johnson's talent and impact on the game extended beyond his college career and into his professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
In 1979, Johnson was selected by the Lakers with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. He had an immediate impact as a rookie, helping the Lakers secure the championship in the 1979-1980 season. Johnson played all five positions in the sixth and title-clinching game, scoring 42 points, and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the first time. This achievement made him the first rookie to win the NBA Finals MVP award. Johnson's college basketball career laid the foundation for his extraordinary success in the NBA, where he went on to win three MVP awards and five NBA championships with the Lakers.
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![Magic Johnson (Basketball Card) 1990-91 NBA Hoops - [Base] #157](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91LNUFOs0uL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Johnson's passion for basketball
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.'s passion for basketball was evident from an early age. Johnson's love for the sport began during his school days, where he excelled as a basketball player and led his high school team to a state championship in 1977. It was during this time that Johnson's talent and creativity on the court earned him the nickname "Magic".
Johnson's passion extended beyond the court as well. He recognised the impact that basketball players could have on their communities and sought to use his platform to create positive change. Johnson became a leading voice on investing in underserved areas, working on redevelopment projects, and supporting minority-owned businesses. His passion for basketball and its potential to empower others was evident when he stated: "Now these kids dream that they can become not only a basketball player or a football player, but they can become a businessman. So that’s what’s important, that we have power and that we have a seat at the table."
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Johnson's basketball skills
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Johnson earned his nickname "Magic" in high school for his creative and entertaining ballhandling. Johnson's skills as a basketball player were sublime, and he accomplished virtually everything a player could dream of during his 13-year NBA career. Johnson is the only player in NBA history to average at least 20 PPG and 12 APG in two seasons. Johnson's career achievements include three NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVPs, nine All-NBA First Team designations, and twelve All-Star games selections. Johnson was the first rookie to win the NBA finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He played point guard and brought new versatility to that position, becoming the tallest point guard in NBA history at 6 feet 9 inches. Johnson was best known for innovative no-look and bounce passes and a knack for making big plays in the clutch. Johnson's all-around play inspired the addition of the term "triple-double" to basketball's lexicon. Johnson achieved a triple-double as a sophomore at Everett, recording 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists. Johnson was responsible for just over one-quarter of all the league's triple-doubles. Johnson led the league in regular-season assists four times and is the NBA's all-time leader in average assists per game in both the regular season (11.19) and the playoffs (12.35). Johnson also holds the records for most career playoff assists and most career playoff triple-doubles.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic Johnson's interest in basketball began in high school, where he led his team to a state championship in 1977. He was an intense competitor with a creative and entertaining style of ballhandling, which earned him the nickname "Magic".
Johnson was first dubbed "Magic" at 15, when he recorded a triple-double of 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists as a sophomore at Everett.
Johnson stood out for his incredible passion and skills, dazzling generations of fans and turning basketball into "Showtime". He was an intense competitor with a childlike enthusiasm, coupled with a pure love of sport and competition.
Johnson had a star-studded scholastic career at Lansing Everett High School. He was initially angry when he joined the basketball team as his teammates ignored him during practice, but he eventually accepted his situation and became a leader among the small group of black students.
