Richard Shotwell, Invision via AP
Magic Johnson arrives at the premiere of “They Call Me Magic” on Thursday, April 14, 2022, at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles.
Basketball fans around the world know Earvin Johnson, better known by his nickname — Magic. The NBA icon is also a survivor of HIV and successful entrepreneur. The new four-part series on Apple TV+, “They Call Me Magic” looks at the life of a man who many know as a legend.
As Johnson pointed out to the media, this is not about basketball. “This is about me being a businessman. I have so many incredible people involved in terms of business partners and political leaders and celebrities. So it’s a life journey,” he said. “So you’ll see all phases of my life and also me giving back, talking about when I announced [I had] HIV 30 years ago.”
It was in Salt Lake City that the Lakers point guard learned of his medical diagnosis.
Johnson explained that timing played a part in why he decided to make this film now. “I think that this is an amazing journey that I’ve been on and we’re going to tell that story. And so I’m so excited that it’s going to happen now. So many things have happened in my life and I get to finally put it on film and really tell that story and do it on Apple TV, so I’m cool. I’m very happy. It’s a good time.”
Johnson wants athletes to know there is life after their athletic careers are over. And there is life after an HIV diagnosis. Dealt an incredibly difficult hand, he has continued moving forward. The show also comes as another series, “Winning Time” on HBO Max explores Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers teams of the 1980s.
“I’m all about winning,” he acknowledged to the media. “I’ve always been that way. I think that I never said, hey, at the end that I’m going to die. What I tried to do is ask my doctors, ‘What do I have to do to be able to live for a long time?’ And so everything that they told me — take my meds, have a positive attitude, work out — the things that they told me to do, I did those things. And then also be comfortable with my new status. I think that was the main thing.” He has made it 30 years living with HIV and points out, “last but not least — this is the most probably important thing and this is why I’m probably still here is because of my support system: my wife, Cookie, my kids, my parents, my brothers and sisters.”
“They Call Me Magic” premieres Friday on Apple TV+. As viewers will see, and as Johnson exclaimed, “It’s been an amazing journey.”
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