BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 16 : Magic’s Return Tied to Exam by His Doctor : NBA: Johnson has decided to play for Lakers if he gets medical clearance, source says. West has heard nothing.

Magic Johnson, who retired when he learned he was HIV positive, has decided to return to the Lakers, pending medical approval, The Times has learned.

However, Laker General Manager Jerry West said Sunday he has heard nothing from Johnson. “I absolutely know nothing about it. No one has talked to us about it. I sure wish Magic would talk to us,” West said. “It’s important for him to talk to the press, but we would like for him to talk to us, too.”

Asked if he would be talking with Johnson after he returns from Barcelona, West said: “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Johnson plans to meet this week with Dr. David Ho, who will examine him to see if there are any adverse effects from his Olympic participation.

Interviewed by NBC’s Mike Fratello after Saturday night’s gold-medal game, Johnson told Laker fans to “hold on.”

In the interview room he said only: “I’m going to wait till I get back, get with my wife, sit down and talk about it. We’ll make a right decision in my best interests.”

However, a source says Johnson has made up his mind to return and will turn back only if tests show his condition has deteriorated.

Ho, contacted Sunday night, said he had not been in touch with Johnson since he left for Europe. Ho said the plan was to examine Johnson, “but I haven’t heard directly from him.”

Asked if Johnson was physically able to return to the Lakers, Ho said it was premature to decide.

“But ultimately, it is his decision,” Ho said.

Johnson also will meet with NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Three weeks ago in Monte Carlo, Johnson said he was leaning toward a comeback and mentioned the possibility of asking the Lakers to trade him.

Last week Johnson said he had only been concerned about rumors the Lakers were about to break up their nucleus and embark on a rebuilding program.

If he was coming back, Johnson said last week, it was to the Lakers.

“My concern was which way the Lakers were headed,” Johnson said. “Will there be enough to compete and win?

“People have to understand how tough our division is. It’s probably the best in the whole NBA, especially now with Charles (Barkley) coming over to Phoenix and the Clippers coming on.

“I wasn’t saying I wanted to leave the Lakers, because I never said that. Of course, I want to be back with the Lakers. I’m still under contract with the Lakers. I’ve been there 12 years. No way I want to leave, not only the Lakers but Los Angeles.”

Johnson announced his retirement Nov. 7 after learning he was carrying the HIV virus in an insurance physical.

The news reverberated around the world, raising Johnson to new levels of celebrity. He was named to the President’s Commission on AIDS and met with President Bush in the White House.

Johnson began taking the drug AZT soon after his announcement. When he felt no adverse side effects, his thoughts began to turn back to basketball.

In Monte Carlo, Johnson talked about his helper T-cell count for the first time. He wouldn’t reveal actual numbers but said his count actually had gone up since Nov. 7.

Helper T-cells, critical parts of the body’s immune system, are the primary targets of HIV. Ho would not confirm whether Johnson’s white blood count had risen, which often happens when patients first take AZT.

Ho initially advised Johnson against more basketball. When playing in the Olympics came up at the Nov. 7 news conference, Michael Mellman, Johnson’s internist, dismissed it out of hand.

Johnson was allowed to continue working out. When he did well, he said, Ho let him do more.

Johnson has acknowledged that he twice considered returning last season--once around January, the second time for the playoffs.

The first time he was counseled to go slowly and turned his energy to preparing for the All-Star game.

By the playoff, the Lakers had lost several key players to injury. Johnson decided a return would be meaningless and concentrated on the Olympics.

Very much the man of the moment here, Johnson’s popularity exceeds even Michael Jordan’s. Juan Antonio Samaranch, head of the International Olympic Committee, invited Johnson to meet with him. On days his team wasn’t playing, Johnson went to see gymnastics, boxing, track and women’s basketball games.

His wife, Cookie, arrived last week with their two-month-old son, Earvin III. Johnson pushed Earvin in a stroller on the Rambla daily, ringed by fans and security people.

Johnson strained a right calf muscle in the second game here and sat out the next two games. He returned, looking gimpy, but improved in subsequent games. He had no other apparent problems.

However, averaging 20 minutes in eight games in two weeks in the same city is barely an approximation of the grueling NBA schedule.

Johnson is still taking AZT. If he returns, he plans to play about 60 of the 82 regular-season games, avoiding consecutive nights and perhaps some short trips. Johnson says he expects to announce his decision within two weeks.

Times staff writer Larry Stewart contributed to this story.