Like most of those in his generation, Magic Johnson has a high regard for Muhammad Ali . It is not only for what the boxing legend did inside the ring, but also outside of it.
The five-time NBA champion spoke about it on his recent appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live", sharing how "The Greatest" greatly influenced him in his affairs with the community.
He recalled a conversation with Ali about making full use of the opportunity given to him as a top-level athlete to make a difference in other people's lives.
"Muhammad is my hero. He's literally the greatest. Oh, man. I love him. And he also taught me a lesson, too. He called me one day and said, 'Magic, you got to be more than just a basketball player. You got to do good in the community, give back to the community and I want you to do more.' So I owe a lot to him," Magic shared .
Magic made sure that what he and Ali talked about was not all hot air as he went to work and started setting the platform for his community work.
In 1987, he founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, which provided scholarships and opportunities for underprivileged youth in inner-city neighborhoods.
Then in 1991, after he announced that he had HIV and had to temporarily retire from the NBA, his community work expanded to include projects to spread HIV and AIDS awareness, health education and economic development.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend's advocacies spilled over to become part of who he is now as a successful businessman. Among his approaches is building businesses that would resonate with the people in the community where he sets up.
Through his various ventures, it is important for him and his team that they create job opportunities within the communities, foster better corporate understanding of urban areas, enhance social value and increase economic strength.
Apart from the lessons he got from Ali on how to be more than an athlete and become a bigger person, Magic is proud to have earned the respect of the legend as a friend.
"To be a kid and watch Ali fight with your dad. What was it called? Closed-circuit TV… It was the time of my life to finally get to see him fight live," he recalled.
"After it was over. It was cool just hanging back, in the green room waiting on him," he added while sharing that Ali liked showing his magic tricks despite not really being good at it.
The two shared time doing charity work and attending different sports events, where he got a better appreciation of the legend that Ali built as a boxer and the courage he showed throughout to create the kind of impact he had in society.
"Seeing his activism and advocacy for the good of humanity and the underserved with Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., US presidents, and more inspired me to create real change. It's those moments and impact that cement him as my G.O.A.T. and will keep his legacy alive forever," Magic tweeted .
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
