- Magic Johnson, had a brief comeback in the 1995-1996 season.
- Magic Johnson is a Los Angeles Lakers legend and is largely recognized as one of the best point guards in NBA history.
- He was a shell of his former self on a completely different team, but the entire fanbase was ecstatic to see Magic back on the field.
- They were aggressive and pushed me about. Michael approached me after the game.
When you think of NBA players retiring and then returning to play, Michael Jordan comes to mind. He returned in 1994 to win three more rings. However, not everyone is able to return in this manner.
Not even the greats like Magic Johnson, who had a brief comeback in the 1995-1996 season.
Different team, different time
Magic Johnson is a Los Angeles Lakers legend and is largely recognized as one of the best point guards in NBA history.
The 6’9″ point guard was a one-of-a-kind player, never seen before or since, demonstrating that players of any stature can be effective playmakers.
Five championships, 12 All-Star selections, three MVP awards, and several more honors are a testament to this.
After reaching the Finals in 1991 and losing to Jordan’s Bulls, Magic was diagnosed with HIV and forced to retire at the age of 31.
It was a sad day for basketball to lose one of its greats in this manner.
But Magic didn’t stop there, returning to the Lakers four years later at the age of 36 in the 1995-1996 season.
Obviously, he was a shell of his former self on a completely different team, but the entire fanbase was ecstatic to see Magic back on the field.
Magic would demonstrate he still has it in his first game back against the Warriors, notching a near triple-double.
But age and time away took their toll on Magic, who just wasn’t the same player—being on a completely different team than when he left didn’t help either.
Magic just shared an unknown story about facing MJ’s Bulls that year and getting some ruthless advice from the GOAT on Jimmy Kimmel Live:
“They truly demonstrated the distinction between a championship squad and a playoff team.
We were an ordinary squad; they were a championship team. And they really played me.
They were aggressive and pushed me about. Michael approached me after the game.
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I don’t believe I’ve ever told anyone this. ‘Earvin, you have to remember now, you’re not with Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar); you’re not with James Worthy,’ he remarked to me in between the locker rooms.
Showtime, all of the people you used to play with are no longer on the Laker squad. So keep in mind that you should consider retiring.'”
Jimmy Kimmel Live with Magic Johnson
Michael and Magic may have been excellent friends, but MJ didn’t waste any time sugarcoating the situation.
Along with Magic, the Lakers had players like Vlade Divac, Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and Cedric Ceballos.
They finished the season with a good 53-29 record and the #4 seed, only to be eliminated in the first round by the Rockets.
Magic appeared in 32 games, averaging 14.6 points per game, 6.9 assists per game, and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Some impressive numbers for a rusty 36-year-old, but Magic saw that this wasn’t the Showtime of the 1980s and retired from the game after the season. Magic may have realized this as a result of MJ’s advice.
