On Nov. 7, 1991, Magic Johnson made the stunning announcement that he would be retiring from the NBA due to testing positive for HIV. It sent shockwaves throughout the entire league and the city of Los Angeles.
Because Johnson made the announcement after the season had started, however, he was already on the All-Star ballot and the fans voted him a starter for the 1992 All-Star Game and, despite the concerns of some who were worried about potentially contracting the disease themselves, the NBA had no choice but to allow Johnson to return for the showcase.
The game took place on Feb. 9, 1992 and the Western Conference rolled to a 153-113 victory over their Eastern counterparts. The most memorable part of the game arrived towards the end of the fourth quarter.
Johnson struggled early on, but he put on a show in the final minutes. He made three consecutive three-pointers and assisted a no-look pass to Dan Majerle.
With the crowd standing on its feet, the rest of the players moved to the side and let Johnson go one-on-one with the likes Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas on the defensive end. Johnson would hit threes over both of his rivals as the crowd went crazy.
Magic would win All-Star Game MVP with a final stat line for the game of 25 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. The flurry at the end of the night followed by Magic holding up the MVP Award with his trademark smile capped off what is still viewed as the most memorable moment in the history of the NBA All-Star Game.
Instead of being dwelling on his diagnosis, Magic shattered the stereotypes associated with people with HIV and became an advocate for the disease. He showed that you can continue to persevere regardless of when life wants to bring you down.
