Each of us remembers precisely what we were doing on September 11, 2001, November 13, 2015 or more recently on January 26, 2020. And on November 7, 1991? Harder…
Except for the late Kobe Bryant. A big fan of the Lakers and Magic, the “Black Mamba” had the K7s sent to matches in Italy, where his dad Joe played. In 1991, the family moved to Mulhouse. It is therefore in France that Kobe Bryant learns of the HIV status of his idol. A few days earlier, the Lakers and Magic Johnson were in France to challenge CSP Limoges and Badalone.
This November 7, a few months after the defeat of the Lakers in the NBA Finals against the Bulls (1-4), and therefore a few days after his visit to France, Magic Johnson is giving a press conference to announce his immediate withdrawal from the courts because of disease.
“Kobe was inconsolable”says his sister Sharia. “He burst into tears when he heard the news and for a week he missed every meal. It was very, very hard for him…”
Given the knowledge of the time in finding a cure, Magic Johnson is, in the eyes of the general public, doomed. It is given at best four or five years. On the 23rd of the same month, the charismatic singer of the group Queen, Freddie Mercury, had a press release written to reveal that he himself suffered from AIDS. He succumbed the next day, carried away by pneumonia which got the better of his last strength.
“Because of the virus I contracted, I have to withdraw from the Lakers organization”
On November 7, in the morning, a phone call was made to the press. « Press conference at 2 p.m. at the Forum (note: the old room of the Lakers). Major announcement. Regarding Magic. »
The California leader has not reappeared for a week and a game in Utah. We guess that something is wrong, that Magic will not return immediately but everyone is in the dark… The management had made it known that Johnson was suffering from a virus, that he felt weak, that he had lost weight . And that he would resume his place as soon as possible.
This November 7, the rumor spread like wildfire in the newsrooms. At 32 and after 12 years in the NBA (9 Finals and 5 titles), Johnson is seriously ill. Magic called Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan and Pat Riley to notify them individually. He didn’t want them to find out the truth on the news. Lakers No. 32 is HIV-positive. He will retire from the courts.
The five-time NBA champion arrives at the Forum around noon. Mike Dunleavy, the coach, gathered all his teammates in the locker room. They are taken into confidence. And take a massive blow to the head. Meanwhile, journalists wait in silence. The Magic that presents itself to them is not the one they know. The bright smile disappeared. Grave and dark, Magic advances to the microphone: “Because of the virus I contracted, I have to withdraw from the Lakers organization. »
Stupor in the assembly. The room, full to bursting, is in shock. Dumbfounded. Some have tears in their eyes. Standing alongside David Stern, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson displays composure and determination. He promises to dedicate his life to “defeat this deadly virus”. To become a spokesperson for the fight against AIDS. “You have to protect yourself. I am proof that this can happen to anyone. Even to me, Magic Johnson. »
“I will live a long time”
How did he contract the disease? How long does he have left to live? Kicking questions. He was advised to quit sports so as not to affect his immune system. His wife Cookie is unaffected. Neither does the child she is expecting.
“It’s not like my life is ruined. Because she is not. I will continue to live. Nothing has changed. I just need to get treatment and quit the franchise. It’s a new challenge in my life. I will continue to live my little life and live a long time. You will see me again. I intend to stay close to the Lakers. Of course, I will miss battles and wars. I will miss you all. But life goes on. I will continue on my way. I will overcome this disease and I will continue to have fun”he concluded, unable to contain his emotion.
It was Dr. Michael Mellman who first learned of Magic’s condition. He called Johnson in Salt Lake City and asked him to come back to Los Angeles immediately. Johnson couldn’t take the terrible news, nor admit that he would have to give up basketball. All his life… He asked for a second test and then a third. Both identical to the first. On November 5, 1991, the Lakers are scheduled to face the Clippers for Game 3 of the regular season. Magic lets the press know that he still has the flu. It was on the same day that he received the result of the third test…
Later, Magic admitted to having had several partners throughout his life. In a ranking compiled by ESPN in 2004, the announcement of his HIV status was ranked “7th most memorable event” of the previous 25 years. Johnson was neither gay nor bisexual. He accused Isiah Thomas of spreading the rumor to the contrary. From there would date the end of their friendship, repaired since.
Magic signed a triumphant return to Orlando for the 1992 All-Star Game (MVP with 25 pts, 5 rebounds and 9 wt in 29 minutes). The following summer, he took part in the Barcelona Olympics with the “Dream Team”. Since then, he has been doing well, very well. He never developed the disease, and he turned 63 this summer. But Kobe Bryant was no longer there to wish him…
| Magic Johnson | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 1979-80 | ALL | 77 | 36 | 53.0 | 22.6 | 81.0 | 2.2 | 5.6 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 18.0 |
| 1980-81 | ALL | 37 | 37 | 53.2 | 17.6 | 76.0 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 21.6 |
| 1981-82 | ALL | 78 | 38 | 53.7 | 20.7 | 76.0 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 18.6 |
| 1982-83 | ALL | 79 | 37 | 54.8 | 0.0 | 80.0 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 8.7 | 10.5 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 16.8 |
| 1983-84 | ALL | 67 | 38 | 56.5 | 20.7 | 81.0 | 1.5 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 13.1 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 17.6 |
| 1984-85 | ALL | 77 | 36 | 56.1 | 18.9 | 84.3 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 12.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 18.3 |
| 1985-86 | ALL | 72 | 36 | 52.6 | 23.8 | 87.1 | 1.2 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 12.5 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 18.8 |
| 1986-87 ★ | ALL | 80 | 36 | 52.3 | 20.5 | 84.8 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 12.2 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 23.9 |
| 1987-88 | ALL | 72 | 37 | 49.2 | 19.6 | 85.3 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 11.9 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 19.6 |
| 1988-89 ★ | ALL | 77 | 38 | 50.9 | 31.4 | 91.1 | 1.4 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 12.8 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 22.5 |
| 1989-90 ★ | ALL | 79 | 37 | 48.0 | 38.4 | 89.0 | 1.6 | 5.0 | 6.6 | 11.5 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 22.3 |
| 1990-91 | ALL | 79 | 37 | 47.7 | 32.0 | 90.6 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 12.5 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 19.4 |
| 1995-96 | ALL | 32 | 30 | 46.6 | 37.9 | 85.6 | 1.3 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 14.6 |
| Total | 906 | 37 | 52.0 | 30.3 | 84.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.2 | 11.2 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 3.9 | 0.4 | 19.5 | |
