Driven by Terrified Fans Over Bloodied Arm, Magic Johnson Once Sought ‘Alternate Career’ Months After Olympics Triumph

Published 10/07/2023, 11:30 AM EDT

It has been 30 years since Michael Jordan retired from basketball for the first time. At the time, it was news of immense magnitude, that sent shockwaves across the industry. He was the pinnacle of the sport and the one who brought in the most viewers. His retirement was more shocking, as a similar incident occurred a few months earlier when Magic Johnson abruptly chose to retire from the game of basketball.

After his retirement, Magic was still close to the NBA, but this time he did not have his jersey on: but a suit to cover the league and its activities.

Magic Johnson’s lesser-known career

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Magic Johnson was part of the NBC crew as an analyst in 1992 when he decided not to play because of his health condition. He announced his retirement for the first time in 1991 after he was diagnosed with HIV. A few months later, he was given the opportunity to play in the 1992 Olympics. Team USA won the gold in 1992.

Following the reaction of the fans and fellow players, Magic decided to make his way back to the NBA in 1992. During an exhibition match before the season, unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers legend suffered a small cut on his forearm.

According to the LA Times, even though the cut was small, Magic noticed the reaction from the players and the staff. People were worried. They were asking if the blood had fallen anywhere, looking over and over again to see if it was leaking. This made Magic realize that his return to the sport would not be ideal, as this would be how he was treated the whole time. He would be judged, and people will always be on the edge.

This made Magic re-retire in 1992, and since then he worked as an analyst for NBC that year. Magic was also covering Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 finals before Jordan made his own announcement.

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Michael Jordan’s first retirement

Michael Jordan retired from the NBA after his third championship with the Bulls. He did not leave because he was not good at the game anymore. He was at his peak. But he lost his sense of motivation.

Jordan felt like he achieved everything that he could possibly do in the NBA. There was nothing else to prove to anyone or himself. He was the best player, and the Bulls were the best team, and they won three championships in a row. Also, Jordan’s dad had passed away a few months prior. That was a part of Jordan’s decision.

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Written by:

Rijin is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He has been following the NBA for over a decade. He likes to learn about the nuances of sports, understand every player's contribution to a team, and also learn the logic behind player signings and team building.

Edited by:

Caroline Joseph

Driven by Terrified Fans Over Bloodied Arm, Magic Johnson Once Sought ‘Alternate Career’ Months After Olympics Triumph

Magic Johnson’s lesser-known career

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Michael Jordan’s first retirement