SUMMER PRO BASKETBALL : Magic’s Road Show Draws Sellout Crowd

Magic Johnson, who hasn’t played in an NBA game that matters since 1991, continued to show that he is still a dominant performer in an exhibition arena.

Johnson led a team of former NBA players to a 140-134 victory over the Lakers in the ASICS Southern California Summer Pro League Monday at UC Irvine’s Bren Center.

The game was played before a sellout crowd of 5,328, the largest to witness a game in the 24-year history of the summer pro league. The largest previous crowd, 4,100, watched a game at Loyola Marymount during Bill Walton’s comeback in 1982.

Monday’s fans came to see Johnson, the symbol of the Lakers’ past, face the players who hold the team’s hope for the future.

Among those current Lakers are Doug Christie, Duane Cooper, second-round draft choice Nick Van Exel and free agent Antonio Harvey, who recently signed a one-year contract.

Johnson, who retired before the 1991-92 season after testing positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, showed he can still be an impact player. He had 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Afterward, he said his performance level hasn’t dropped since he retired.

“I think I’ve gotten better,” Johnson said. “I’ve picked up 15 pounds of muscle. I’ve taken two years off. I’m young again because my body has recovered from all the 12 years I’ve been in the league.

“I was telling somebody that I feel quicker and better than ever--no knee pads no more. I just feel better from the two years off.”

Former teammate Kurt Rambis, who had 21 points and five rebounds, didn’t see a difference, either.

“Magic looked great,” Rambis said. “I can’t think of any NBA team that wouldn’t sign him right here and right now.”

Said Johnson: “My whole thing is to prove I can still play.”

He will continue, playing in his annual charity game for the United Negro College Fund Aug. 1 at the Forum and four games in Mexico before beginning a 14-game European tour in October. He said he may play “one or two” more games in the summer pro league, as well.

Johnson had plenty of help Monday. Olden Polynice scored 26 points and Mark Jackson 22. Johnson had a team-high 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Polynice and Jackson dominated the final two minutes.

With 1 minute 54 seconds remaining, the score was tied, 130-130, but Polynice and Jackson each scored four points in a row. Jackson’s basket with 9.2 seconds left made it 138-134.

Christie led the Lakers with 20 points and Dexter Boney had 19. Harvey had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Johnson showed many of the same skills that helped him win the NBA’s most valuable player award three times and helped the Lakers reach the NBA finals nine times--winning five times--during his 12-year career. He is the all-time assist leader with 9,921.

Johnson’s last performance was on July 9 when he had 56 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists to lead the NBA All-Stars to a 165-164 victory over the Collegiate All-Stars at the Magic Johnson All-Star Classic in East Lansing, Mich.