In 1991, “Magic” Johnson shocked the world by announcing his retirement. But the next year, he returned to basketball and was voted into the All-Star Game by fans. But his basketball journey didn’t end there, as then-commissioner David Stern allowed Magic to continue participating in the 1992 Olympics.dream team‘. After months away from the sport, Magic Johnson wasn’t quite ready for the challenge ahead of him. But Michael Jordan and others took it upon themselves to get Magic Johnson back to his old self.
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Book Reveals “Magic” Johnson’s Wife Cookie Johnson Believe in Magic: My Story of Love, Overcoming Adversity, and Keeping the Faith The Chicago Bulls legend was instrumental in Magic Johnson forgetting about his illness and enjoying a normal life.
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 20: Former NBA player Magic Johnson attends the 29th Annual Achilles Gala at Cipriani Street South on November 20, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rocklin/Getty Images)
“Michael, in particular, treats him like a brother and when I witness the two of them together, it brings me to tears watching them laugh, joke, and act normal. Around them, Erwin’s illness didn’t matter. It doesn’t exist. It was just him, Basketball, and the others again.It was the best thing anyone could have done for him, and for that, I’m so gratefulMagic Johnson’s wife said.
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Magic Johnson had no confidence in himself while battling HIV. So he did need some interaction and support from Michael Jordan, which made everything a little easier for the Los Angeles Lakers legend.
In addition to Jordan, other NBA stars also chipped in to make Magic feel normal and human. In addition to players expressing their love for Magic at the All-Star Game, it also helps Magic forget about illness and enjoy life like everyone else.
Former NBA superstar comes to support “Magic” Johnson
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In addition to Michael Jordan, players like Larry Bird and Charles Barkley also made the Magic feel right at home. Barkley showed fans he wasn’t afraid to play alongside Magic Johnson by physically defending him in the 1992 All-Star Game.
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During the 1992 Olympics, they often took their magic with them. They even forced Johnson to hang out with them at night without caring about his condition. It all worked out for the team, and Team USA ended up winning a gold medal at the Olympics.
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