Chronology of a Career

March 26, 1979--As a sophomore, leads Michigan State to the NCAA championship, clinched with a 75-64 victory over previously unbeaten Indiana State and Larry Bird in the most-watched college basketball game of all time. May 11, 1979--Makes himself available for NBA draft. June 25, 1979--The Lakers select him with the first pick. Feb. 4, 1980--Becomes the first rookie to start an NBA All-Star game since Elvin Hayes in 1969. May 16, 1980--Starting at center in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the NBA finals, he gets 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists against Philadelphia to lead the Lakers to the title. He becomes the first rookie named MVP of the finals. June 26, 1981--Signs a 25-year, $25-million contract with the Lakers. April 1982--Joins Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to get 700 points, rebounds and assists in the same season. June 8, 1982--Earns his second playoff MVP award after leading the Lakers past Philadelphia in Game 6 of the finals. April 1983--Leads the NBA in assists with 10.5 per game and breaks Jerry West’s club record with 829. Is named to the All-NBA first team for the first time, beginning a string of nine consecutive first-team selections. March 13, 1986--Hands out his 5,000th assist. Dec. 23, 1986--Scores a career-high 46 points in an overtime victory over Seattle. Feb. 5, 1987--Scores his 10,000th point. May 18, 1987--Selected league MVP after averaging a career-high 23.9 points and leading the league with 12.2 assists. June 14, 1987--Named finals MVP for the third time after guiding the Lakers past Boston in six games. June 21, 1988--Guides Lakers to 108-105 victory over Detroit in Game 7 of the NBA finals as Lakers become the first team to repeat since Boston in 1969. April 1989--Breaks his club record for assists with 988 and leads the NBA in free-throw shooting with a .911 percentage. May 22, 1989--Leads the Lakers to their eighth consecutive division title and earns his second regular-season MVP award. May 22, 1990--Leads the Lakers to a 63-19 record and is named regular-season MVP for the second consecutive year. April 15, 1991--Sets an NBA record for assists in a 112-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Johnson, who needed nine assists to break Oscar Robertson’s record of 9,887, got 19. June 1991--Leads the Lakers to the NBA finals for the ninth time in his 12-year career. Nov. 7, 1991--Announces his retirement at age 32 after testing positive for HIV. He leaves pro basketball ranking first in assists with 9,921 and second in steals with 1,698. Nov. 8, 1991--Named by President Bush to the AIDS commission. Feb. 9, 1992--Wins MVP honors in the NBA All-Star Game. Aug. 8, 1992--Wins gold medal at Olympics in Barcelona. Sept. 25, 1992--Resigns from the National Commission on AIDS. Sept. 29, 1992--Announces he will return to the Lakers and play limited schedule. Nov. 2, 1992--Announces his retirement.