Despite Magic Johnson’s $6.1 Billion Failure, 5x NBA Champ Sang Praises On Lakers Legend Only For One Reason

Despite clashes on court and clashing personalities, Magic Johnson formed a unique friendship with a fierce competitor who didn’t care about his diagnosis. Despite being tough opponents in court, they’d go on to help each other and rely on the other after their playing careers ended. When ‘The Worm’ stepped away from the court for a while, he kept up his connection with Johnson. At a time when he was eager to return to the NBA, he turned to his friend for help. But it came with strings.

Magic Johnson staged an epic comeback to the NBA and partial credit for making it spectacular goes to Dennis Rodman. When ‘The Worm’ wanted to return to the league, Johnson stepped up to the plate.

Dennis Rodman recalls Magic Johnson’s help

After five championship rings on his fingers, Dennis Rodman stepped away from the NBA for wrestling and acting. But as he said in his book, I Should Be Dead by Now, he was not satisfied about leaving the league on a low note. So he desperately tried to return to the NBA and he would exhaust every option.

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In the same book, he revealed Magic Johnson tried to “save my a*s in 2002.” Rodman went from admiring the Lakers superstar to having the misfortune of guarding him on the court when he was part of the Pistons. Off the court, they formed a relationship of mutual respect.

Johnson got Rodman to co-host a celebrity basketball event in 2002 when he expressed his interest to return to the NBA. Johnson offered his help, much to Rodman’s optimism. “That was huge. Magic’s got a lot of credibility with GMs all over the league.” Rightfully so as Johnson made a swift transition to executive operations after retiring from playing.

But with the Magic seal of approval comes great responsibility. As his agent told Rodman, “He’s not gonna go to bat for a guy he doesn’t truly believe in.” 

Johnson surprised Rodman in Newport Beach while he was “binge-drinking.” Intoxicated, Rodman was overjoyed at Johnson’s surprise arrival. During that meeting, Magic Johnson said he could get Rodman a shot with the $6.1b worth New York Knicks but with a catch. “But you have to cool it on the partying”. Johnson told Rodman, “The body’s not gonna respond at 40 like it did at 30.” Rodman immediately agreed.

Rodman at Magic Johnson’s comeback

Magic Johnson announced his retirement from the NBA after his HIV diagnosis in 1991. But he wasn’t totally away. He won the gold medal with the 1992 Olympics Dream Team and decided to come out of retirement.

He played several pre-season games, including against the reigning NBA forces Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman. “I busted them,” he told his wife, Cookie. It led to his brief return to the Lakers in 1995.

The stigma around HIV also caused ignorance. The NBA rallied around Johnson at his announcement, but it took a little more to take the negativity out of his NBA return. The literal push came from ‘The Worm’ at the 1992 All-Star game.

Some NBA players protested the presence of a retired player in the All-Star game. With both teammates and rivals against him, Magic Johnson leaped for the jump ball at the start of the game. That’s when Rodman elbowed him hard. That defining elbow-jab led to trash talk and Johnson draining shot after shot on Rodman.

That was Dennis the Menace on brand as he said, “I couldn’t care less if the guy I’m guarding has HIV. I’m going to slam him anyway.” However, despite Johnson’s best intentions, he couldn’t get Rodman into an NBA team. Rodman would instead play in international leagues and the ABA and called it a day on basketball in 2006.

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