How Many Years Did Magic Play in the NBA?

How Many Years Did Magic Play in the NBA? is a blog that covers the great basketball player Magic Johnson. It covers his years in the NBA and his post-NBA career.

Magic Johnson’s NBA Career

Magic Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons. After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and he won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s.

Drafted first overall by the Lakers in 1979

Johnson was drafted first overall by the Lakers in 1979. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and was selected to the All-Rookie Team. Johnson continued to play successfully for the Lakers, winning another MVP award in 1990. After announcing his HIV-positive diagnosis in 1991, Johnson retired from the NBA, but returned to play 32 games for the Lakers during the 1995–96 season. He played sparingly in his final years before officially retiring as a player in 1996. Since his retirement, Johnson has been an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and safe sex, as well as an entrepreneur.

Won Rookie of the Year

In his first season, Johnson led the Lakers to a then-record 55 victories against 27 losses. He averaged 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, beating out Bernard King and Sidney Moncrief. His line in the clinching game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers was 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals, as he was named MVP of the NBA Finals at age 20

Helped the Lakers win the NBA Finals in 1980

Along with fellow Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, Johnson helped lead the Lakers to nine NBA Finals appearances and four championships in the 1980s. He was named the Finals MVP three times, and he was also named the league MVP three times. In his 13 seasons with the Lakers, he averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Magic Johnson’s Retirement

On November 7th, 1991, Magic Johnson shocked the world when he announced his retirement from the NBA. At the time, Magic had only played in the league for 12 years, but he was already considered one of the greatest players of all time. So, how many years did Magic actually play in the NBA?

Retired from the NBA in 1991

Magic Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 13 seasons. After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and was named the league’s MVP in 1992. In 1991, Johnson announced his sudden retirement from the NBA at age 32 after learning that he had contracted HIV. Although he returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, he voted to have his name removed from the ballot, making him the only player ever to do so.

Johnson’s career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations. He is one of seven players to win an NCAA championship, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in a career. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, becoming one of only four players to be honored as both a player and a coach.

Came back to the Lakers in 1996

In January 1996, following his HIV announcement, Johnson came out of retirement to play 32 games for the Lakers during the 1995–96 season. This stint with the team included Johnson’s return to the All-Star Game that year. He led the Western Conference All-Stars to victory and was honored as the game’s MVP. In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers faced the Houston Rockets, who were led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. The teams split the first two games in Houston, but then Los Angeles won two close contests at home to take a 3–1 lead in the series. However, Houston won Game 5 in overtime, then took advantage of Shaquille O’Neal’s absence in Game 6 (due to an injured left ankle) to win again and force a seventh game back in Los Angeles. Although O’Neal played in Game 7, he was still visibly hampered by his injury; despite this, he managed 23 points and 17 rebounds as the Lakers pulled away late for a 106–103 victory and a 4–3 series win. The Lakers then went on to sweeping their conference semifinal opponents Portland Trail Blazers before losing in five games to eventual NBA Finals champion Seattle SuperSonics.

Retired again in 1996

After retiring for the second time in 1996, Johnson again became involved in business and philanthropy. He has been credited with helping to revive the Los Angeles area economy after the 1992 riots following the acquittal of police officers accused in the Rodney King beating. He helped found the Magic Johnson All-Stars, a traveling team that played exhibition games against NBA teams.

Magic Johnson’s Return to the NBA

After a four-year absence, Magic Johnson made a triumphant return to the NBA. He did so in style, scoring 30 points and adding 19 assists in his first game back. It was a much-needed win for the Lakers, who were struggling at the time. Magic’s return added a much-needed boost of energy to the team.

Returned to the Lakers in 2000

In 2000, after a four-year retirement, Johnson made a comeback to the NBA, rejoining the Los Angeles Lakers. However, his return was short-lived as he retired for good after just 32 games. During his last season, Johnson averaged 14.6 points per game and 7.4 assists per game.

Helped the Lakers win the NBA Finals in 2000 and 2001

In his first season back with the Lakers, Johnson helped the team to a 56–26 record, second in the Western Conference behind the San Antonio Spurs. In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, 3–1. They then swept the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round before defeating the Sacramento Kings in the conference finals, 4–2. In the Finals, they defeated the Indiana Pacers 4–2 to win their first championship since 1988 and eleventh overall. Johnson was named co-MVP of the Finals along with Shaquille O’Neal.

Retired for a third and final time in 2002

After his initial retirement in 1991, Magic Johnson made a comeback in 1996 and played until he retired for a third and final time in 2002. From 1996 to 2002, Magic played six seasons with the Lakers, averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. He was a key member of the Lakers team that won the NBA championship in 2000, and he was named an All-Star in 2000 and 2001.