At Delbarton School, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion form a foundational part of our identity as a Catholic and Benedictine community. We believe that here, we belong and work hard to make this piece of our mission a reality for all through consistent review of programs, procedures and curriculum, strategic planning for community structure, focus on community engagement and growth, and dialogue as a mechanism for meaningful inter and intracultural sharing and understanding.  Starting February 1, Delbarton Athletics celebrates Black History Month, spotlighting 28 pioneers of the sports world.  Today, we continue with Earvin "Magic" Johnson...



Earvin "Magic" Johnson was born on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan.  His father Earvin Sr. worked for General Motors and his mother was a school custodian.  Magic was the fourth of seven children, finding a love of basketball at at a very young age.  In 1977, Earvin helped lead Everett High School to a state basketball title.  While in high school, Earvin earned the nickname "Magic" by Fred Stabley Jr., a sports writer for the Lansing State Journal after he recorded a triple-double 36 pts, 18 rebounds and 16 assists in one game.  The nickname stayed with him throughout his career.  

Magic Johnson was recruited by many colleges but chose to stay close to home, attending Michigan State University.  In his sophomore year, Johnson lead the Spartans to a national title, defeating Larry Bird and Indiana State 75-64, in what has been called the most watched college basketball game ever.  Johnson was voted an All-American and MVP of the tournament that year.  After his sophomore year, Magic left college and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1979 NBA Draft.  

In his rookie year, Johnson teamed up with Laker great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win an NBA title in his rookie season, taking home playoff MVP honors as well.  Johnson repeated as a champion the next season, and won five NBA Championships over his career.  In 1986-87, Johnson filled in for Abdul-Jabbar on the score sheet, averaging 23.9 ppg, earning the NBA Most Valuable Player award.  

In November 1991, a physical exam revealed that Magic Johnson was a carrier of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.  Doctors ordered Magic quit basketball immediately to protect his health.  In 1992, Magic Johnson returned to the court to join the "Dream Team" that easily won the gold medal in the Summer Olympics. Johnson briefly coached the Lakers in 1994 before quitting, but returned as a player in 1995 and retired at the end of that season.

In 1995, Johnson began his business ventures, opening a chain of movie theaters in minority areas in Los Angeles, which has since expanded.  He also started The Magic Johnson Foundation in 1991, a non-profit that developed programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. The foundation has supported more than 800 minority high school students with college scholarships via the Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program, opened 18 Magic Johnson Community Empowerment Centers located in underserved communities across the country, and provided a range of community-based initiatives including an annual Children's Mardi Gras and holiday toy drive.  In December 2006, Johnson announced the Foundation would be partnering with the Abbott Laboratories in a new campaign, "I Stand With Magic," with the aim of reducing HIV/AIDS in the African American community by 50% over the next five years.

Most recently, Johnson runs Magic Johnson Enterprises, a company with a net worth of over $700 million.  Its subsidiaries include Magic Johnson Productions, Magic Johnson Theaters and Magic Johnson Entertainment, a film studio.  Johnson is also a partner in a group that currently owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA).  In 1994, Johnson bought a 4% ownership stake in the Lakers for $10 million and sold it in 2010 for a reported $50-60 million!

Over his career, Magic Johnson has won 10 NBA Championships (5 player, 5 owner), 3 NBA MVP's, an NCAA title, Olympic Gold Medal, 1992 NAACP Image Award, 1992 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, a 2-time NBA Hall of Fame inductee (player and part of "Dream Team"), College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and has also won a WNBA title (Sparks owner) and a 2020 World Series title as owner of the Dodgers.  Johnson also has won a Grammy Award and has s start of the Hollywood Walk of Fame!