On November 7th, 1991, inside The Forum in Inglewood, California, one of basketball’s brightest stars stood behind a microphone — and stunned the world.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the face of the Los Angeles Lakers and a five-time NBA champion, announced that he had tested positive for HIV — and would be retiring from basketball, effective immediately.
The news sent shockwaves through sports, culture, and society.
It wasn’t just the end of a legendary career — it was the beginning of a national conversation about courage, stigma, and hope.
Learn more about the day Magic Johnson retired from basketball — on this episode of Sports History Daily.
