With the start of college basketball’s biggest event, March Madness, we thought we’d spend some time taking a look at one of the greatest basketball players of all time; Magic Johnson. Most know his legendary status as a Los Angeles Laker, but since he retired from basketball he has also done some great work towards building HIV awareness.

Last year, famed basketball superstar and activist Earvin “Magic” Johnson turned 57 years old. Magic Johnson famously retired from the NBA in 1991 after being diagnosed with HIV. He has been living with the virus now for over 25 years, an accomplishment which at the time seemed impossible. Since his retirement as a professional athlete, Johnson has gone on to be a strong activist in building awareness of HIV and raising funds for HIV research.

Up until his retirement, Magic Johnson was an internationally renowned basketball player. He was part of the famed Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s that won five world championships. In those years, Johnson’s career achievements included three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations. He was a role model to aspiring athletes and a hero to fans across the world.

Magic Johnson was first diagnosed with HIV after taking his required physical before the 91-92 NBA season. Upon learning of his diagnosis, Johnson immediately retired. At the time of his diagnosis there were still a great deal of stigma around HIV and who could contract the virus. When Magic Johnson made his diagnosis public, he hoped it would show the world that HIV was not simply a virus in the gay community but that it could affect anyone. He then dedicated a great majority of his life to building awareness and fighting the virus.

Many thought that when he announced, “Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers today,” that Johnson did not have much longer to live. In 1991, HIV was considered a death sentence because effective treatments had not yet been developed or tested. In the same month that Magic Johnson announced his diagnosis, another worldwide celebrity, Freddie Mercury, passed away of AIDS related complications. Johnson, however, has lived a long and healthy life after diagnosis. He has provided the world with a vivid example of what is possible when someone has access to the best HIV/AIDS treatment. Johnson has stated many times that other are not so lucky.

He formed the Magic Johnson Foundation, which works to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse communities. The foundation has three missions: to build HIV/AIDS awareness, to raise money for scholarships and to create community empowerment centers. According to their website, the Magic Johnson Foundation currently serves more than 250,000 people each year through direct and collaborative programs that enhance the lives of economically challenged people and empower underserved communities. A large focus of Magic Johnson’s activism is to help low-income minorities get the same medically treatments and opportunities he has been able to receive. He credits these treatments for keeping him alive for so long after his initial diagnosis.

Magic Johnson has spent each day post-diagnosis fighting for better care and resources for all people afflicted with HIV. He has helped to stifle stigma about who can contract the virus. He has played a large part in helping a generation to understand the importance of HIV prevention and sexual responsibility.

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to HIV or any other STD, the best way to learn the current status of your sexual health is to have STD testing performed.

Sources:

1 Magic Johnson Just Hit a Milestone

2 HIV History – Timeline

3 Brief Biography of Magic Johnson