Today, we all know Magic Johnson as a highly successful businessman and a legend of the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom the Purple and Gold became five-time champions. Magic was orchestrating the offense of the Showtime Lakers with a God-given talent and unique charisma. Almost always with a signature smile on his face, Magic was truly a revolutionary on the hardwood.
However, that is just one side of his story, because as great as he was with the ball in his hands, he transformed into a businessman as well. Even though not many believed in him at first, especially after that infamous HIV announcement.
On November 7, 1991, Johnson stood in front of the press, when he delivered the news that, at the time, felt almost like a death sentence. He had contracted a disease that not many understood back then, and there was a heavy stigma surrounding it. However, being the fighter that he was on the court, he turned all of that into his fuel. It was a life-changing moment indeed. Up until then, his focus was on competing against rivals, but from that point on, a completely different goal occupied his mind — survival. And not only did Magic survive, he thrived, and continues to do so.
"People said, 'Oh, you were great on the basketball court, but I don't know if you can be great as a businessman.' Again, I had to go back to work. I thrive on challenges and proving people wrong. So they fueled my fire. Don't put a challenge in front of me, because I'm going to go for it. While a lot of people buckle under that, I thrive in those situations. When everybody thought I was going to die after I announced I was HIV-positive in 1991, I said, 'That's another challenge in my life.' And I stepped up to it," Magic said , reflecting on his journey in " Come to Win ."
After that, he didn't just sit back, he made sure to build on that legacy he left as a hooper. From movie theaters in urban neighborhoods, including a landmark multiplex deal in 1995, to a groundbreaking partnership with Starbucks, scaling to over 100 locations in minority communities before selling the stake for around $100 million in 2010, Magic was doing it all.
While players from his era, and even today, fall into the trap of getting too rich too soon and then losing it all, Magic used a much wiser approach. Even during his playing days with the Lakers, he made sure to build connections, and one of those proved to be life-changing. It was the moment when the late Jerry Buss, whom Magic saw as a father figure, introduced him to businessman Michael Ovitz .
"I reached out to Michael Ovitz and said, 'Hey, I would like to take a meeting with you because I wanted to become a businessman after my playing career is over,'" Magic said in an interview with "a16z".
Those challenges in the life of one of the, if not the greatest floor generals of all time, proved to be just another stage of a successful journey.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
