Garry Payton on Magic Johnson Testing HIV Positive Changing NBA Players

In a recent interview, former NBA star Gary Payton discussed the topics that were important in their time. Payton talked about Shawn Kemp, a former teammate, having seven different kids from six different women. In the discussion, they talked about how it is now normal, but it was not back then. It was mentioned that there were some things players did that were mistakes, but they ignored them. Further, he mentioned how the news of Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s HIV testing, changed NBA players’ perspectives on this.

During the conversation, he shared his experience of being a popular player in the NBA attracts so many women. And in that case, they forget about the importance of protection. As part of the conversation, they also talk about former Houston Rockets legend Calvin Murphy. To date, he is known as the father of most children of former NBA players. Having 14 children with 9 different women.

In discussing his conversation with Murphy, he said:

“That’s my OG. I asked him about that, he said, ‘Hey, I was having fun.’ That is what it is. You’re having fun.” They then discussed the disadvantages of not taking care of the responsibility of that popularity.

Gary Payton talked about Magic Johnson’s HIV positive test

In addition to earning a lot of money as NBA players, they are also very popular among celebrities. In this case, the precaution is essential, as Payton stated Johnson’s situation and how they came to understand things afterward. During that time, Johnson’s health condition was revealed, which forced him into retirement.

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The experience turned out to be an eye-opener for Murphy in that regard. According to him: “You start thinking about, ‘Woo, this is real.’ And then you start reading up on everything, and then you start understanding how it’d be unsafe.”

“It was just a thing that; you grew up, you ain’t had that many women that was gonna say you was fine,” Payton said. “It was just that type of situation, and when you get a bad one and keep getting bad ones, you was like, ‘Man, I can’t turn that down.”

As we will see in 2022, many people will be comfortable having children with different partners. Back then, this was a difficult topic to take up. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to check back daily to see what your favorite players are up to.

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