Thanks to the unwanted attention that they have been receiving from HBO's hit series, Winning Time, the former Lakers of the "Showtime" era have been all the rage these days. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has publicly chastised the show, Jerry West is threatening to sue the executive producers and Magic Johnson ridiculed the drama series as recently as this week. Although the sides don't appear to agree on the way in which the former Laker greats are being portrayed on the show, what is abundantly clear is that the series has dredged up nostalgic memories of Magic Johnson's heyday. But what many people may not remember is that the real-life story of Magic Johnson had a second act.
Upon returning to the NBA, after a five-year lay-off due to contracting HIV, Magic played in the final 32 games of the regular season for the new-look Los Angeles Lakers back in 1995. It turns out that he might have returned the following season, had it not been for an off-court discussion that he had with none other than Michael Jordan -- a notion that Magic was quick to point out during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“Michael, after [my second game back], he pulled me aside — I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody this,” Johnson said. “He met me in between the locker rooms, and he said, ‘Earvin, you have to remember now, you’re not with Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], you’re not with James Worthy. All the guys you used to play with, Showtime, are not on that Laker team anymore. So remember, maybe you should think about retiring.”
Indeed, it appears as if everyone views the Lakers' Showtime era through a different lens, from the execs at HBO to Magic Johnson...and Michael Jordan. But it looks like the latter may have played a role in the way in which the story ended.
Scroll up and skip ahead to the 9:08 mark to hear Magic Johnson reveal the details of the discussion with Michael Jordan that may have led to his second and final retirement.
Source: YouTube
