Comeback or Farewell, a Magical All-Star Game

By MARK HEISLER

Feb. 9, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Into occasional NBA All-Star games, real drama intrudes. But never as it will today when Magic Johnson, whose celebrity extends beyond basketball and national boundaries, returns to the game he loves.

Despite the controversy that preceded it, the participants to a man insist it’s Magic’s day and their honor to share it.

“This very well could be his last game,” Michael Jordan said Saturday, “and that’s a meaning in itself because he’s done so much for the game.”

Johnson will start alongside Clyde Drexler at guard for the West . . . opposite the East’s Isiah Thomas, once again.

Johnson and Thomas are close friends and will probably exchange kisses on the cheek before the game, then spend the rest of the day trying to put the other away.

Thomas has twice been the game’s MVP.

Johnson didn’t win an MVP until 1990, but many say he annually nominated the West candidate with his passes.

“Chicago (1988, a 138-133 East victory) was a good one,” Thomas said. “The one we had in Dallas (1986, East, 139-132, with Thomas as MVP) . . . The one we had at Seattle (1987, West 154-149), the overtime game where Tom Chambers won it, that probably was the best--back and forth, talking a little trash, messing with the guys on the free-throw line.”

The pals competed less lightheartedly other times, such as the 1988 NBA finals, where they almost fought.

“First time we played the Lakers in the finals,” Thomas said. “It was in Detroit. The series was tied, 1-1, and I think it was Game 3. They came in and kicked the crap out of us. That was the game they had to win to get back to the Forum for Game 7 (which the Lakers won to gain the championship).

“He came in and did what he had to do. I came down the lane and he crunched me, that’s basically what happened. Yeah, I knew who it was. I got up and I pushed him. That’s part of the sport. That’s part of basketball. When you compete at the level that he and I have, sometimes you got to do what you got to do.

“It’s like being in a boxing match. You’re fighting your cousin. You know you’ve got to hit him.”

West Coach Don Nelson, a defender of Johnson through pre-All-Star tumult, says he will play him as he would anyone.

The basketball question is, how sharp can he be?

Johnson hasn’t played an NBA game since last June, or competitively since Oct. 22, in an exhibition loss to Milwaukee at the Forum.

The larger question will be answered when he steps onto the court, a moment that promises to live in memory. Media coverage of this game is up and a record TV audience is expected.

Johnson, of course, is like a child at the circus.

Never a man to hide the thrill of being a superstar, and mingling with fellow superstars, and dominating his fellow superstars, the All-Star game was made for him.

“He seems as upbeat as possible,” Jordan said. “It’s very surprising, but I can’t tell if he’s sick or not. Not by his moods and his emotions around me. It’s amazing that he’s strong enough to never let his attitude change or never let you know that he’s actually sick.

“I’m pretty sure he does (have bad moments), but that’s something you want to keep private. You certainly don’t want to put that out for another reason for someone to give their free advice.

“It (contracting HIV) was something he didn’t ask for. It happened and he’s dealing with it. In some people’s eyes, that’s good. In some peoples’ eyes, that may be bad. That’s not for us to decide. He chose to deal with it in this manner and you’ve got to respect that.”

Laker Coach Mike Dunleavy was asked what he expects of Johnson.

“MVP,” Dunleavy said.

All-Star Rosters

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Magic Johnson: Lakers

Clyde Drexler: Portland

David Robinson: San Antonio

Karl Malone: Utah

Chris Mullin: Golden State

Reserves:

Tim Hardaway: Golden State