Magic Johnson, the NBA champion, shared his vulnerability in his recent interview. He was asked to revisit a phase in his life, that most would consider a turning point. The player spoke about what life was like in Los Angeles after being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. And it seemed like Magic was alien to this part of the world, and the pressures of being an NBA player in the city.

In his recent appearance on ‘Showtime Basketball’, Magic Johnson revealed his initial struggles living in LA after moving from Michigan.

Why was Magic Johnson scared to death?

Magic Johnson was the number one overall pick in 1979 and was drafted by the Lakers. When asked about the transition from Michigan to Los Angeles, Magic burst out laughing. It seemed like he was going down memory lane. He said, “First of all I was scared to death“. He also told the panel, “It was definitely a [culture] shock“.

Magic continued to say that he stayed in his apartment for the first two years that he was there in the city. Coming from a small town, Magic wanted people to know that his “game was real“.

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Magic said that he did feel the pressure he was under. He added, “We had won the championship. I am the number one pick. So I gotta make sure I prove to everybody that I belong in the NBA“. Magic was convinced that the focus on the game must take priority and precedence over anything else.

He said it was only after he made his name in the league that he decided “Okay, it’s club time now!”

He overcame many struggles

The Lakers legend was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was young. According to Basketball Network, Magic Johnson recalled being “laughed at and ridiculed because of his condition“. Upon the advice of his teacher, he enrolled in a summer school, which helped him greatly.

In 1991, Magic Johnson dropped huge news, when he shared that he had been diagnosed with HIV. It caused him to suddenly retire from the NBA. The media noted, “More than 30 years after his diagnosis, Magic remains healthy and alive“.

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As the NBA stated, “[Magic] Johnson accomplished virtually everything a player could dream of during his 13-year NBA career…” His contributions to the game of basketball are superlative. He is an astute businessman and remains an inspiration for a generation of players.