The NBA world is shocked! Just 32 years old..
NBA – After testing positive for H!V, Magic’s reaction is revealing,
He looked me straight in the eyes and said:
“Look, the God who gave me this disease is the right person…
Author of an unforgettable career in many respects, Magic Johnson notably withdrew from the courts for four years after announcing his HIV status. Announcement that he initially made privately and in a memorable way.
A simple, non-exhaustive summary of his record allows us to understand that his time in the league was marked by countless highlights.
Five-time NBA champion, Magic Johnson was also elected MVP three times and All-Star twelve times.
It was therefore with a head full of memories that he took his first sporting retirement, which remains one of the most memorable episodes of his career.
At only 32 years old, the legendary leader still seemed to have it under his belt.
The discovery of his HIV status, which particularly upset his great rival Larry Bird, however, disrupted his plans and led him to make this radical decision.
But before announcing it publicly and shocking the world of the orange ball, he would have communicated it behind the scenes to some of his close friends.
Magic Johnson’s epic statement on HIV
At a time when HIV research was barely advanced and information about it was scarce, Johnson’s case caused a wave of fear throughout the league.
Including at the Lakers, where the franchise’s former physical trainer Gary Vitti had developed a very good understanding with the star.
In an interview with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, he recounts how Magic reassured him:
I was afraid ; he wasn’t. He stayed strong. I told him, “Earv’, I’m really, really having a hard time taking this.”
He looked me in the eyes and said, “Look, when God gave me this disease, he gave it to the right person. I’m going to do something with it.”
Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Magic would have immediately focused on the fight he was about to lead.
This was followed by his famous press conference as well as the creation of the Magic Johnson Foundation, dedicated to the fight against the virus.
This, before the Hall of Famer made a memorable return to the league and found Vitti in the Purple & Gold ranks.
The latter could then treat him again without fear, even if it meant being accused of violating the health protocol of the time by doing so without wearing gloves:
30-10-92 Gary Vitti (trainer de los Lakers) atiende a Magic Johnson sin guantes por un rasguño. Fue acusado de no seguir el protocolo por eso. Fue en un partido de pretemporada cuando Magic amagó con volver luego de su retiro por ser HIV positivo. https://t.co/PIjtu8oRL3 pic.twitter.com/2e3MZQ9KJp
— Diego Brunetti (@diebrunetti) October 30, 2020
When some would have collapsed after such news, Magic Johnson immediately showed perspective regarding his HIV status.
He was therefore not lying when he said that he was the right person to lead this fight.
