Magic Johnson: Through the Years

1977-1978: Leads Michigan State to a 25-5 record as a freshman and Spartans win their first Big Ten title in 19 years.

1979: Leads Michigan State to NCAA title, beating Larry Bird and Indiana State in championship game. Makes himself eligible for NBA draft after sophomore year and Lakers make him No. 1 overall selection.

1980: Leads Lakers to NBA championship and is named playoff MVP. With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar injured, Johnson plays center in sixth game of NBA finals against Philadelphia and has 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.

1981: Sits out 45 games of season because of torn cartilage in left knee.

1982: Wins his second playoff MVP award as Lakers defeat 76ers in six games in finals.

1983: Breaks Jerry West’ Laker season record with 829 assists.

1984: In his first matchup in NBA finals against Boston’s Larry Bird, Celtics win the title in seven games.

1985: After eight failures against Celtics in finals, Lakers win Game 6 in Boston Garden for Johnson’s third NBA title.

1986: Hands out 5,000th assist March 13.

1987: NBA title No. 4 in six games against Celtics. Johnson joins Willis Reed, Moses Malone and Bird as the only players to be named MVP of regular season and playoffs. Only other guards to win regular-season MVP were Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. Johnson averages career-high 23.9 points.

1988: Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons to become the first team to repeat as NBA champion in 20 years. Unforgettable moment, Dec. 11, 1987: Magic banks in 20-foot shot at buzzer to beat Celtics in Boston Garden.

1989: Named MVP for second time, but suffers hamstring injury in finals against Pistons and Lakers are swept. Leads league in free-throw percentage (.911)

1990: Wins his third MVP award, All-NBA for eight year in a row, All-Star game MVP. Sets Laker record with 24 assists. Scores career playoff-high 43 points in Games 4 and 5 of Western Conference finals against Phoenix, but Lakers lose series.

1991: Lakers reach NBA finals for ninth time in Johnson’s 12 seasons. On April 15 at Forum, he breaks Oscar Robertson’s career assist record with No. 9,889, finishes season with 9.921.

Stuns the nation with announcement Nov. 7 that he has tested HIV-positive and he is retiring from the NBA after 12 seasons. He is 32.

1992: Despite retirement, is voted a starter for the All-Star game and scores 25 points to win MVP. In August, helps Dream Team to a gold medal in Barcelona Olympics. On Sept. 29, announces his return to NBA on limited basis, and plays some exhibition games. Nov. 2, he retires again, citing controversy over his return. He says retirement is final.

1993: Continues touring with a team of former NBA players and playing charity games, again failing to defuse growing speculation he’ll return.

1994: On March 22, is named coach of the Lakers. On April 16, says he won’t return as coach. Team goes 5-11 during his tenure. On June 27, buys 5% of the team.

1995: In July, he says he is retired: I’m never coming back. That’s it..”

1996: Begins practicing with the team, and Jan. 29 signs contract to play for the remainder of the season.

On May 14, Magic says he’s going out on his own terms and announces his retirement.