Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Having achieved every imaginable goal from a player's perspective, Earvin Johnson embarked on another basketball-related ambition in 1994 when he began his first year as the Lakers' Vice President.

Johnson's illustrious playing career, which consisted of hundreds of highlights, is most accurately summarized with a single word- winner. He was the guiding force behind championship-winning teams at every conceivable level, including high school, college, and professional, in addition to capturing an Olympic Gold Medal.

During his 12-year NBA career, he led the Lakers to five NBA championships (1980, 82, 85, 87, 88) and nine appearances in the NBA Finals. He was named the NBA's " Most Valuable Player" on three occasions (1987, 89, 90), NBA Finals MVP three times (1980, 82, 87), earned All-NBA First Team honors nine times, and participated in 11 All-Star Games and concluded his career as the league's all-time assist leader.

After announcing his retirement from the NBA on November 7, 1991 due to the HIV virus, Johnson's immense popularity resulted in his being voted as a starter in the 1992 All-Star Game, during which he promptly earned MVP honors. Later that year, he became a member of the 1992 United States' gold-medal winning Olympic basketball team in Barcelona. He retired ranked among the Lakers' all-time leaders in virtually every statistical category, averaging 19.7 points, 11.4 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 874 career regular season contests.

While Johnson may be best known for his prowess on the basketball court, he is also an entrepreneur with multi-faceted business interests. His latest venture, Johnson Development Corporation, develops commercial property in long neglected minority urban and suburban neighborhoods. He is building new, state-of-the-art multiplex theaters under the margee name "Magic Johnson Theaters" with partner Sony Entertainment, and shopping centers featuring supermarkets and other retail space. His additional entities include Magic Johnson T's, an official T-shirt licensee of the NBA, NFL, NHL and NCAA, and Magic Johnson All-Star Camps, which operate youth and adult basketball camps in Southern California and Hawaii.

Speaking to audiences as an athlete, an entrepreneur, and an HIV survivor, Johnson's presentation is captivating and inspiring.