Earvin Magic Johnson technically ended his career after revealing he had tested positive for HIV in November 1991. It was a disease that had dire repercussions, not only for the Michigan State product but for other players as well.
Regardless, fans voted for Johnson to play in the 1992 All-Star Game. There were stars such as Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton who voiced their opposition and felt it was a bad idea. Regardless, the three-time NBA MVP played anyway, alleging that it was his final chance to properly say goodbye.
"I'll be playing with the superstars one last time, and I'll be able to pop it in for my son or daughter, who will be born soon. This is the chance I didn't have to say goodbye ," Magic said via the New York Times .
Don't push your luck
Seeing he could still play, Johnson did not entirely close his door on making an NBA comeback. Similar to before his stint in the 1992 ASG, the health risks on him and other players were debated.
Someone who was against the possibility of seeing Magic returning to the league was Lakers trainer Gary Vitti. The 1991 NBA Trainer of the Year batted that Johnson would be threatening his life, leaving himself open to a double indemnity. Vitti was referring to the rigors of the game and being exposed to other players who could be ill.
" No. 1, you are predisposing him by making him tired all the time from the traveling and the playing and the intensity at which he plays to get to his level ," Vitti said via UPI . " You are actually putting him in direct contact with people who are sick. It's sort of a double indemnity thing ," the Lakers trainer added.
Vitti admitted that he would love to see Magic back on the court at the time. For his own good, the Lakers trainer felt Johnson could use basketball as a form of exercise, but not at the NBA level.
" Playing basketball is exercise, and exercise is good, but the rigors of the NBA are such that it's unhealthy ," Vitti explained. " Ninety percent of the time, someone has the sniffles, sore throat, diarrhea, pharyngitis. There's always something wrong with at least one person ," he added.
Related: “I bribed her. I gave her a million dollars” — Cookie Johnson's condition to allow Magic Johnson to return in 1995
Magic's battle
Aware that HIV was then known as the second-leading cause of death among men aged 25-44, Johnson admitted that the disease was like a death sentence . However, thanks to the help of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. David Ho, the five-time NBA champion became one of the people who survived the disease and regained his health.
" They calmed me down because I was thinking I was going to die. They told me that the three-drug combination was going to save my life, and they were right ," Johnson quipped .
After years of nursing himself back to health, Johnson would return to NBA action in the 1995-96 season. He played 32 regular season games and four playoff games showing he could still be a force in the NBA.
Although he contemplated returning the following season, the 12-time All-Star opted to retire. Magic saw it as the perfect time to call it quits and wrap up his career gracefully.
Related: “All these guys out here just making all this money, they owe Magic and Larry a lot of kudos.” — Byron Scott on how Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA
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