Los Angeles Lakers icon Earvin 'Magic' Johnson has always been more than just a basketball player. That was never more evident than his early retirement in 1992 after he was diagnosed with HIV. “I just said, ‘you know what? I’m just going to be Earvin Johnson’,” the American idol recalls. “And then the greatest thing happened, which was the Dream Team.”
When Magic abruptly retired from the NBA following his shocking and stunning diagnosis, it seemed as though basketball had lost its sparkle. Many wondered if Johnson would ever be seen playing competitively again.
All it took was a call from NBA commissioner David Stern, who informed a thrilled Johnson that he was chosen to represent Team USA at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, the first American Olympic team to feature active players from the NBA. Magic was understandably excited about taking his talents to the biggest multi-sport event in the world - but there was one problem: Boston Celtics star Larry Bird and Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan were both not interested in playing in Spain.
