Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan are two names synonymous with greatness in the world of basketball. Their bond goes beyond rivalry and competition; it is a symbol of the strength of friendship, mutual respect, and a shared love for the sport they both play.
In the intense matches of the 1980s and 1990s, Magic Johnson, the captivating point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Michael Jordan, the legendary shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls, were frequently matched against one another. Their on-court confrontations were nothing short of legendary for basketball fans around the globe. Johnson once had a private conversation with Jordan about Johnson’s NBA comeback in 1995-96.
Magic Johnson acknowledged Michael Jordan’s wise counsel
Michael Jordan wasn’t afraid to get straight to the point with Magic Johnson when the Los Angeles Lakers legend rejoined the league in 1996. After being diagnosed with HIV prior to the 1991–92 season, Johnson left the league. He then returned for the second part of the 1995–96 campaign. That year, after a game against the Chicago Bulls, Jordan told Johnson it was time to retire. On Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Hall of Fame point guard shared the story.
“Michael, after that game, he pulled me aside—I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody this. He met me in between the locker rooms, and he said, ‘Earvin, you have to remember now, you’re not with Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], you’re not with James Worthy. All the guys you used to play with, Showtime, are not on that Laker team anymore. So remember, maybe you should think about retiring,'” Johnson said.
The Bulls defeated the Lakers 99-84 in Johnson’s second game back. Johnson finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in 32 minutes. The 62-year-old explained that the Bulls squad really showed him the difference between a championship team and a playoff team. Chicago won 72 games that year, while Los Angeles earned 53 victories en route to a first-round exit at the hands of the Houston Rockets.
Johnson joins the elite ranks with LeBron James and Michael Jordan
Forbes claims that Magic Johnson is now a billionaire. Following Tiger Woods, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan, Johnson, 64, is the fourth athlete on the Forbes list to achieve billionaire status.
Just four athletes have become billionaires:
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 30, 2023
• Michael Jordan
• LeBron James
• Tiger Woods
• Magic Johnson pic.twitter.com/44V8MvEWe9
Although Johnson made $40 million in the NBA, according to Forbes, basketball isn’t the source of the majority of his wealth. Johnson made astute investments in Starbucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, which propelled his business career. He currently serves as Magic Johnson Enterprises’ chairman and CEO.
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