American basketball point guard who won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and led the Showtime era of the 1980s.
Background
Born Earvin Johnson Jr. in Lansing, Michigan, he led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship before being drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Career
He spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers, winning five titles in nine Finals appearances. He started at center as a rookie in the 1980 Finals after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s injury and was named Finals MVP. He retired in 1991 after announcing he had contracted HIV and briefly returned in 1996.
Style of play
At 6’9”, Johnson redefined the point guard position with size, passing vision, and ball-handling, often pushing pace and running the fast break for the Showtime offense.
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