“I Aborted a Comeback in 1992..”: Despite Gaining Loads of Weight and Testing HIV Positive, Magic Johnson Quit the NBA With Joy for 1 Major Reason

In 1991, Magic Johnson won his third regular season MVP award. From his rookie year up until now, the Los Angeles Lakers legend had dominated the league; along with the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird. He had bagged 5 NBA titles and been a part of 12 All-Star weekends. So this third MVP award was simply the cherry on the cake. Around this time, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were marching their way to dominate the league. So fans anticipated incredible match-ups between Jordan’s Bulls and Magic’s Lakers. However, Magic’s story took a drastic turn.

In November (1991), Johnson stood in a compact press room with his wife, Cookie, by his side. Cookie Johnson flaunted a white suit while Magic looked calm and collected as the cameras clicked and reporters whispered. Johnson announced that he would be stepping away from the game because he was diagnosed with HIV. Following this, the world managed to deal with, and move on. On the other hand, Johnson focused on treatment and recovery which helped him fulfill one of his deepest desires.

Magic Johnson on leaving the game for good

Through the years of treatment, Johnson focused on building muscle and getting fitter. He had a rigorous and disciplined routine. Between his training and treatment, the Hall of Famer dabbled in a little coaching and helped the Lakers from the side lines in 1994.

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However, he eventually made a comeback into the league in 1996. His return helped him attain something that he was robbed of when he first bid goodbye to the game. At the age of 36, Johnson played one more season for the Lakers. In the 32 games he played, he had an average of 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

After this season, Johnson retired for good. As reported by ESPN, in his retirement speech he said, “I am going out on my terms, something I couldn’t say when I aborted a comeback in 1992.” For Johnson, this was a big moment.

The last year with the Los Angeles Lakers

In that season, the Lakers reached the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. They played against the Houston Rockets and lost the series 3-1. During that round, Johnson had an average of 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Despite his efforts, the Lakers failed to bag the series win, marking the end of Johnson’s era with the Lakers.

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Johnson ended his glittering career with 10,141 assists and 17,707 points. Following this, years later he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, cementing his name as one of the greatest in the sport.