Magic Johnson has been a revolutionary sports figure both on and off the court. He is widely regarded as the greatest quintessential point guard of all time. Earvin played all 13 of his NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers , delivering the Purple and Gold franchise five titles.
Apart from his brilliance on the hardwood, Magic also ranks among the early pioneers in the battle against HIV and AIDS. A victim himself, Johnson stunned the sports world with his announcement of testing positive for HIV, holding a press conference on November 7, 1991.
It was incredibly courageous of Johnson to share his story with the world, knowing the stigmas and repercussions attached to it. While he did occasionally return for marquee events such as the 1992 All-Star Game and Barcelona Olympics, Magic had bid adieu to a full-time NBA career.
However, troubles continued to mount for Magic, who found himself entangled in a $2 million lawsuit after a woman named Waymer Moore sued him for allegedly transmitting HIV to her.
According to a Newsweek report dated Nov. 15, 1992, the women in question claimed to have written a letter to Magic on August 29, 1991, accusing him of transferring the disease to her. The New York publication had obtained a copy of the so-called letter and shared excerpts from it.
A message that began with "Dear Earvin" and ended with "Read Deuteronomy 5:17. God bless" stated the following.
"I have no idea when the bottom will fall out, so I must prepare now. So you see, I can't be a silent voice any longer, not even for you, Baby Boy," said the woman, who reportedly worked in the healthcare department and was divorced with a four-year-old daughter.
"I'm compulsive-I keep track of everything. I once told you I didn't put my love on the street, and it's a fact that cannot be denied," she added, who discovered about contracting the disease months before Johnson did.
A close friend claimed that Moore tried to reach Johnson privately before she took matters to court, asking the Lakers guard to see her. But, despite repeated assurances, Magic never called her back. Learning about his marriage in Michigan, she finally managed to trace him.
However, Magic refused to believe that he was HIV positive, let alone passing it to her.
When presenting Johnson's perspective, his lawyer, Howard Weitzman, suggested that the complainant had been promiscuous and could have contracted the virus "from any number of men." However, his lawyers did acknowledge the episode about them getting intimate on one occasion. That said, the Lakers guard had known Moore since his college days in Michigan.
In his first retirement announcement, Magic was asked about knowing whether he had potentially infected someone else, something the Lakers guard vehemently denied. A stance he maintained throughout, holding the line in his autobiography, My Life, as well.
"Of the women I have talked to, nobody has tested positive… Thank God for that," he said.
The two parties eventually settled , with U.S. District Judge Richard Enslen agreeing to dismiss the case in December 1993. Fortunately, things did not get uglier for the involved parties.
As years passed, Magic decided to educate and eradicate the stigma around HIV/AIDS, turning into an active advocate for it, which included setting up the Magic Johnson Foundation.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
