In November 1991, Magic Johnson shocked the world by announcing his immediate retirement from basketball after being diagnosed with HIV. He was 32 years old.
Due to the stigmatisation of the disease, and the limited medical knowledge at the time, Johnson was forced to step away from the game. Doctors were unsure if the physical demands of the NBA would cause his immune system to collapse.
Some players, like Karl Malone, voiced fears about contracting the virus through cuts or collisions, even though the risk was unbelievably small. This further contributed to Johnson’s decision to retire.
The Hardest Challenge
Despite the challenges of battling the illness and being forced to retire, Johnson said something else was even harder.
“The toughest thing I thought I had to do was play Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. But actually, the toughest thing I had to do was to drive home and tell Cookie about HIV,” Johnson said.
Cookie’s initial reaction was not aggressive. Instead, she recognised what was at stake and insisted they would face the disease together, suggesting they should start praying.
Cookie’s Support
Johnson believes he acquired the illness due to having numerous sexual partners during his career. Because of this, he gave Cookie the option of leaving the marriage. She never considered it.
Cookie was pregnant with their first child, E.J., at the time. She immediately got tested for the disease out of concern for herself and the baby. After a tense 10-day wait, the results came back negative for both of them.
The couple have been married for 34 years, celebrating their anniversary in September of last year. Magic stated he would most likely be dead if it wasn’t for Cookie’s loyalty and faith.
Return to the Court
After retiring in 1991, Johnson returned for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game. Despite being retired, fans voted him in as a starter for the Western Conference. He won the game’s MVP award with 25 points and nine assists.
In 1992, Johnson co-captained the USA’s Dream Team at the Olympics, helping them win the gold medal.
Before the 1992-93 season, Johnson intended to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, playing in five pre-season games.