Magic Johnson’s Magic Never Ends

Magic Johnson is a basketball hall of famer having played professional basketball with the LA Lakers in the National Basketball Association. He retired from the NBA in 1991 shortly after he discovered he contracted HIV. Upon retirement, he indulged himself in business and established the Johnson Development Corporation. His company helped small chain retail stores and entertainment businesses to flourish in minority neighborhoods.

Johnson was born as Ervin Effay Johnson Jr. in Lansing Michigan on August 14, 1959. Even as a boy, Johnson loved basketball more than any other sport. His high basketball IQ and talent became evident when he first joined a local basketball team at 15 years old. There, he earned the moniker “Magic.”

Johnson took up communication studies at Michigan State University. He became a star in the basketball team of the Spartans, leading the club to win the Big Ten Conference and took Michigan SU to the 1979 NCAA Finals.

The LA Lakers drafted him to the NBA when he applied for the draft in 1979. He won several awards in the NBA including the Most Valuable Player award three times and the NBA Finals MVP in his rookie year. He played with the LA Lakers for 12 years.

After his retirement in 1991, Johnson and business partner Earl Graves bought Pepsi-Cola’s distribution plant located in Maryland. In his desire to bring movie theaters to minority neighborhoods, he created the Johnson Development Corporation. Loews Cineplex Entertainment became Johnson’s partner in his humble endeavor. Soon, the partnership was able to build theaters in Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston and LA.

His success with theaters resulted in the opening of other forms of entertainment and food business. But his main idea did not change in spite of the expansion: bring the stores and restaurants to minority communities. This was his philosophy even when he partnered with Fatburger, Starbucks and TGI Friday’s.

Johnson also worked with the film and TV production. His films and TV shows were distributed through the Black Entertainment Television. He has also engaged in exercise and sports clubs. He hoped to bring greater opportunities to less advantaged communities.