The name Earvin Johnson might not ring a bell to many NBA fans across the world. Add the name ‘Magic’ instead of Earvin and you have a household name and one of the greatest NBA players ever. That’s how famous Magic Johnson’s nickname was. The Los Angeles Lakers legend lived up to his nickname but his mother apparently hated it. Interestingly enough, she still does it to date.

During an interview, he revealed the back story behind how he got the nickname in the first place. A reporter who was in awe of Johnson’s performance gave him the nickname that stuck around. However, Johnson’s mother hated the nickname and his own siblings teased him for it.

Magic Johnson reveals the story behind his iconic nickname

The Showtime Lakers led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s constituted one of the best periods for the franchise and the league. Touted to be the next big thing, Johnson was already a star before making his NBA debut. Safe to say, he lived up to the hype.

He got the nickname Magic while he was still only 14 years old. Playing for Everett High School, he led his team to an unlikely victory. Moreover, he added a triple-double to his name during the game which left the crowd in awe.

A reporter came up to him and proposed a nickname. The names ‘Dr. J’ and ‘Biggie’ had already been taken, so he bestowed the young boy with the nickname, ‘Magic’.

During an interview, Johnson said, “My mother hated it and still today. She wants everybody to call me Earvin, you know like, that’s my baby, Earvin. My brothers and sisters teased me for a while and they started telling me, ‘you do play like magic’.”

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The name ‘Magic’ stuck with him and the former NBA champion is still recognized worldwide with this name. Regardless of whether his mother likes it or not, there is no denying that Johnson is famous for his nickname worldwide rather than his given name.

Johnson lived up to his nickname

There is a reason why he was called Magic and that showed in his game. Playing for the Lakers, he dominated opponents like no other and had an excellent rivalry with Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird.

Johnson retired having won five NBA titles. Moreover, he has three finals MVP awards and three regular season MVP awards. He averages 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds after retiring post the 1995-96 season.

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What is your favorite memory of Magic Johnson? Let us know in the comments down below.