Born Earvin Johnson, Magic Johnson earned his nickname with his dynamic basketball skills and charismatic leadership. Considered by many to be the greatest point guard in NBA history, Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships. His spectacular play inspired additions to the basketball lexicon that soon became household words: winning time,
triple-double, and three-peat. After being diagnosed with HIV in 1991, Johnson has kept the disease in check while becoming a successful businessman. His efforts to develop impoverished communities and improve the lives of young people have only enhanced his universal appeal. Read about his remarkable life as an athlete, his contributions, his legacy, and his influence on later generations in Magic Johnson: Athlete.