A LOOK AT THE 1992-93 NBA SEASON : Player Reaction to Cut Has Effect on Magic

Magic Johnson told ABC’s Chris Wallace that suffering a cut on his right forearm in an exhibition game last Friday night contributed to his decision to re-retire.

The interview, taped Tuesday in Los Angeles, will be part of ABC’s “PrimeTime Live” program tonight at 10.

The segment will also include an interview Wallace taped with Johnson on Oct. 24, done to promote Johnson’s new book, “My Life.” Johnson’s announcement last Monday required an update.

Johnson suffered the cut during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chapel Hill, N.C., and a timeout, as stipulated by NBA rules when any player is cut, was called immediately.

Johnson was particularly shaken by the reaction to the incident.

“That added to my decision of just saying, it’s enough, enough,” Johnson said. “Because, you know, you could see the fear upon people’s faces.”

Added Johnson: “Just saying, OK, is it all right? Is it all bandaged up? Is it all right? It’s not leaking. You know, that whole thing.

“My teammates were just concerned to see if it was all right, because most players didn’t see it.”

Asked Wallace: “They’re just sitting there on the bench looking out the corner of their eyes?”

Johnson: “Exactly. And then there’s the writers all looking over. So, everybody. And then you put a Band-Aid on, and then . . . we put a wristband over it. It just kept on drawing attention to it.

“You know, I was there at my hotel that night, I was thinking, I said between this and all the criticism, it’s just too much. It’s going to happen all year long. Whether I get cut or somebody else. Boom. There’s that panic. There’s that fear.”

Johnson said that is when he made the decision to re-retire. “Yeah, I made the decision pretty much then, flying back home and then talking to my wife once I got home Saturday.”

Of his conversation with his wife Cookie, Johnson said: “I just told her, I said, you know, it’s not going to be fun. I’m not going to have fun this year. I didn’t have fun last night, because I was thinking about this cut and this bandage, and then the wristband.

“I said that I just don’t need it, you don’t need it, and meanwhile we’ll just go on, have fun and enjoy our lives. And I can do my work, continue to do my work outside of basketball. And she agreed.”

Regarding the comments by Karl Malone, who said he was concerned about playing against Johnson even though there is infinitesimal risk of HIV being transmitted through sports contact, Johnson said: “Well, it’s like I’m hurt. You’re hurt inside, not at him, at the fact that I won’t get a chance to play because of what he said, you understand. But I’m not going to take it out on him because I understand he has to look out for himself. But it’s too bad it’s at my expense.”

Asked if he were forced out, Johnson said: “I wouldn’t say I was forced out, but I was helped out. It’s a difference.”

Said Wallace: “I know, and you know, here you are, you’re not going to say it, but I will. You probably have done more than any other single person to build the NBA, and suddenly your fellow players are saying, ‘Hey, we don’t want you. We’re scared of you.’ As you say, helping you out.”

Said Johnson: “That’s the size of it. I guess you sized it up better than I could say it.”

Is Johnson bitter?

“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Johnson said. “You know, I’m upset, but I’m not bitter. I’m not a bitter type of guy. You know, Chris, I don’t hold grudges. I don’t sit here and think ‘that doggone Karl Malone.’ I don’t do that.

“That’s wasted energy to me. What I do now is I just carry on. I just, OK it happened, I deal with it and keep going.”