Many fans consider Magic Johnson the greatest point guard of all time. Rightfully so, the Los Angeles Lakers legend won 5x championships and performed ‘Magic’ on the hardwood with his crafty plays. Moreover, the Hall of Famer, alongside Larry Bird, became the face of the league and played an instrumental role in reviving viewership. Needless to say, Johnson was at the top of the NBA world in the 80s, leading the Showtime Lakers. However, it all came crashing down after a life-altering incident in 1991.

In 1991, after winning multiple championships and MVPs, Johnson shocked the NBA world by abruptly announcing his retirement after contracting HIV. Consequently, due to the limited information at the time, Johnson faced horrific experiences impacting both his career and off-court ventures.

Magic Johnson faced major pushback after his infamous HIV announcement

Earvin Johnson Jr, a.k.a Magic Johnson, was drafted by the Lakers in the 1979 NBA draft. Johnson quickly proved his worth after a historic rookie campaign in which he won the Finals MVP and an NBA championship. Moreover, on the back of his contagious smile and popularity, he became the face of many iconic ads and endorsement deals.

However, it all changed at the dawn of the 90s when Johnson made his infamous announcement. After testing positive for HIV, the Hall of Famer announced an abrupt retirement from the game on November 8th, 1991. Initially, after the announcement, Johnson faced major pushback, which took a massive hit to his reputation, which he had built for over a decade. From players to endorsement companies to fans, Johnson faced the brunt of all these sides.

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In an interview on Beyond the Boardroom, the Lakers legend once harped on the reaction to his announcement. While talking to Jonathan Tisch, the host, Johnson issued a candid monologue of the impact of his life-threatening condition on his career, advertisements and endorsement deals in particular. He said, “Actually, everybody left. We were all, the whole public, was uneducated at that time, and so everybody decided to go.” After reflecting on his unfortunate fate, Johnson then talked about his return to basketball during the 1992 Olympics and his eventual return to the NBA. 

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Before contracting HIV, Johnson was the face of many iconic ads and endorsement deals in the 80s. Some of his notable endorsements included Converse, KFC, 7-Up, Slice, Quality Dairy, and Amoco Ultimate. Incidentally, Johnson shot the advertisements of Converse and Amoco Ultimate alongside rival Larry Bird. 

Magic Johnson’s comeback

Though Johnson faced horrific experiences after revealing his condition, eventually, due to improved awareness and education, the Hall of Famer’s reputation recovered. Fast forward to today, and Johnson has built a massive empire worth hundreds of millions. Moreover, he also has lucrative endorsements from Starbucks, 24-hour Fitness, T.G.I Fridays, AMC theatres, and more.

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend has an estimated net worth of over $600 million. He is also an ardent promoter of various charities alongside his wife, Cookie Johnson. But above all, Magic is a pioneer in raising awareness for HIV in America and the world beyond.