Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 17, 1992 TAG: 9202170037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INGLEWOOD, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
LAKERS RETIRE NO. 32
Magic Johnson's brilliant NBA career - which he says might not be over - was recognized Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers retired his jersey at halftime of their game against the Boston Celtics."I'm looking forward to playing in the Olympics. I hope if I do decide to come back you won't be upset if we do this all over again," Johnson said at the conclusion of the emotional 45-minute ceremony.
Johnson was honored a week after his Most Valuable Player performance in the NBA All-Star game, a 29-minute effort in which he had 25 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
It was the only game Johnson has played in since he announced his retirement on Nov. 7 because he had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. His current plans call for him to return as a player for the United States in the Summer Olympics at Barcelona, Spain.
"People ask me all the time, what do I miss most about playing?" Johnson said. "It's not the playing part I miss the most, it's just being one of the boys.
"You never know how great it is to be one of 12 guys," Johnson said, his voice cracking with emotion. "You work for eight months and try to be champions. I have special memories of every team I played on. I think it's not the team, but the players themselves.
"We sweated, fought together, we lost together and we won together."
Johnson, 32, wore No. 32 for the Lakers for 12 seasons. He led them to five NBA championships and to the league finals on four other occasions.
He has been selected as the NBA's Most Valuable Player three times and MVP of the NBA Finals three times. In addition, he's the league's career assists leader.
Johnson joined Jerry West (No. 44), Elgin Baylor (No. 22), Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 33) as Lakers who have had their jerseys retired and displayed high above the court at the Forum. All were present Sunday.
While Abdul-Jabbar addressed the sellout crowd of 17,505, tears streamed down Johnson's cheeks.
"There's a whole lot of emotion in this moment," Abdul-Jabbar said. "It was a long time ago we welcomed this young man on the court. He's taught us a lot. All of our lives are touched by him.
"The most important thing for me is Earvin made me realize I was having a good time. That's kind of difficult some times, you know. You get caught up in the difficult part of your job.
"Thank you Earvin, I love you, good luck."
The two embraced with Johnson in tears.
"Kareem was like my big brother who taught me all about life and taught me how to be a professional basketball player instead of just being a basketball player, to be a pro," Johnson said. "I never dreamed in my life that I would be up there near any of them."
He referred to the wall where his jersey joined those of Baylor, West, Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar.
Larry Bird, sidelined because of a bad back, attended the ceremony and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
"I'm not the one retiring here, very soon," said Bird, a longtime rival and good friend of Johnson's. "Your outstanding play was never more evident than during the rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics. You'll always a part of our family.
"He's not done yet; we're going to Barcelona and bringing back the gold."
Johnson's parents flew from Michigan to attend the ceremony and both had mixed emotions. The game was also televised on NBC.
"I felt good about the ceremony but I hated to see him leave the way he did," said Johnson's father.
"It hurts deeply to see someone you love go through this," Johnson's mother said. "And I know it hurts him even more because he loves the game so much."
Johnson's teammates and some former teammates presented a sculpted bust of him by artist Artis Lane and commissioned Lane to do a life-size statue of him which will be put on display at the Forum. The Lakers coaching staff gave Johnson a solid gold Tiffany watch.
Also, the NBA teams and players are making a $600,000 contribution to the Magic Johnson AIDS Foundation and the Laker Wives organization is donating $100,000 to the Foundation.