Magic Johnson became an All-Star and led his team to a championship right in his first season in the NBA. The lights were bright on the 6’9 point guard, but Magic always outshined expectations. The Los Angeles Lakers could always rely on Magic Johnson, as he consistently performed to the best of his abilities. But in his personal life, he needed more than himself to handle the pressures.

The head coach of the Lakers at the time was Pat Riley. Magic and Riley had a good relationship off the court. This is why Pat Riley’s wife, Chris Rodstrom, was one of the first to notice that Magic did not have a lot of support by his side in his personal life from his then-girlfriend Cookie Johnson.

So when Chris finally got the chance to meet Cookie in person, she expressed her concerns to her. According to Cookie, Rodstrom said, “I really worry about him, you know. He needs a home life. He needs somebody to take care of him.”

This was just what Cookie Johnson was also thinking at the time. To her, Rodstrom just confirmed everything she had already known about Magic. Cookie wanted to be by Magic’s side and be his life-partner.

“Earvin needed a home. He needed somebody who really cared about him. He needed me—not just when he was riding high, but especially when he was feeling low… he needed that grounding, the person who could remind him that it was going to be alright,” said Cookie Johnson in the book Believing in Magic: My Story of Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith.

Magic Johnson and Cookie had known each other since the 1970s. Yet, with long breakups and several separations during the course of their relationship, things were tough. But the two eventually found the strength to be with each other. Cookie Johnson fully moved to LA in 1989, and the two got married a year later.

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Cookie Johnson was Magic’s biggest supporter and strength

The couple received the horrible news of Magic’s diagnosis a few months after getting married. Although Magic gave his wife the option to walk out of their marriage after that, Cookie Johnson chose to stay with her husband.

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Years later, Magic Johnson revealed that if Cookie had, in fact, left back then, he would not have made it through the tough times. Magic is forever grateful to have Cookie by his side.

What do you think of the relationship between Magic and Cookie Johnson? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!