DISCOVER THE BEST BRAINY QUOTES OF
MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON...

EVERY KID, EVERY MINORITY KID CAN BE SO SUCCESSFUL IF THEY FOCUS ON THEIR EDUCATION.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’LL HEAR PEOPLE SAY EVERY SO OFTEN THAT HAVING HIV MUST NOT BE SO BAD

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THE BEST DOCTORS AND MEDICINE IN THE WORLD CAN’T SAVE YOU IF YOU DON’T DO WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I LIKE TO TAKE WALKS IN THE PARK BY MYSELF, WHERE NO ONE CAN BOTHER ME AND I CAN THINK.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

LIFE DOESN’T STOP BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I ENJOY BEING THE MESSENGER FOR GOD IN TERMS OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIV AND AIDS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M GONNA LOVE MY SON UNTIL THE END.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I LOOK THREE TO FIVE YEARS AHEAD, NOT 10 YEARS BEHIND.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I GOT BLESSED FROM MY MOM. SHE’S THE PERSONALITY; SHE’S THE ONE WHO SMILED, SO I TOOK ON PART OF HER, AND WHO ALSO WANTED TO HELP AND SAVE THE WORLD. THEN I TOOK ON PART OF MY DAD, WHO IS TOUGH.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M THE BIGGEST MUSIC LOVER IN THE WORLD. I MEAN, I HAVE SEEN EVERYBODY. I WENT ON TOUR WITH MICHAEL JACKSON AND THE JACKSONS FOUR OR FIVE TIMES.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I MAKE SURE I GET A LOT OF VEGETABLES, A LOT OF FRUIT. I AM A BIG FRUIT MAN; I AM A VEGETABLE MAN, ANYWAY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I WANTED TO DO TWO THINGS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, ABOUT YOUR AGE. I WANTED TO PLAY IN THE NBA, AND I WANTED TO BE A BUSINESSMAN AFTER MY BASKETBALL CAREER WAS OVER, AND THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING NOW.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

TO ME, EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL. LIFE IS WONDERFUL.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M A BUSINESSMAN, AND WHAT I KNOW IS NUMBERS AND BUSINESS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I AM AND WILL ALWAYS BE A LAKER FOR LIFE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MY DAD WORKED TWO JOBS HIS WHOLE LIFE, AND SO I TOLD HIM HE’S THE REASON I HAVE 20 JOBS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MY WORK ETHIC IS FROM SPORTS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M THE ONE WHO WILL TAKE CHANCES, NOT WORRY ABOUT THE BACKLASH.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M FROM THERE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GROW UP WITH THESE PEOPLE AND SEE THEM EVERY DAY AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IT WAS EASY; IT WAS A NO

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I GREW UP A DETROIT TIGERS FAN, AND NOW TO BE AN OWNER OF THE DODGERS IS AMAZING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

ATHLETES DON’T LIKE TO GET UP EARLY, BUT IT NEVER BOTHERED ME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MY DAD WAS MY HERO. AND I GOT MY PERSONALITY FROM MY MOTHER.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I LOVE PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK OF COLOR.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND BE FULLY PREPARED FOR COLLEGE OR THE WORKPLACE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WHEN A WOMAN IS FRUSTRATED, AND IT’S YOUR WIFE, YOU AS THE HUSBAND GET THAT FRUSTRATION.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

A WOMAN ALWAYS REMEMBERS. REMEMBER THAT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I THANK HIM EVERY CHANCE I GET

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I THINK THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS GOALS FOR ME TO TRY TO ACHIEVE, AND I’M GOING TO WORK TOWARD THOSE GOALS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

PEOPLE SEE ME HIGH

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I HAVE A FOND PLACE IN MY HEART FOR SEATTLE, SO I HOPE THAT AN NBA TEAM COMES BACK TO THIS GREAT CITY, THIS GREAT SPORTS CITY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MY HAVING HIV HAS NO BEARING ON MY BUSINESS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NASCAR BRAND, IT RESONATES EVERYWHERE. THEY HAVE THE NO. 1 SPORTS BRAND.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

URBAN AMERICA IS LIKE A FOREIGN COUNTRY IN A SENSE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MY FAMILY IS A PRAYING FAMILY, A CHRISTIAN FAMILY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WHEN I GREW UP, MY FAMILY, WE SAT DOWN, ALL OF US TO WATCH ‘GOOD TIMES,’ ‘SANFORD AND SON,’ ALL THOSE SHOWS THAT WERE OUT AT THAT TIME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I DON’T CARE WHO IS ATTACKING MY SON. I STILL SUPPORT HIM; I STILL LOVE HIM.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I LOVE TO BE IN THE BALLPARK. I LOVE TO JUST GO IN AND ENJOY A GREAT BASEBALL GAME, A GREAT PITCHERS’ DUEL.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

FOR A LONG TIME, I’D WORK UNTIL 10 OR 11. WHEN I WORK, I’M ON. I’M ‘MAGIC.’ I LOVE IT, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF ME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WHEN YOU ARE HONEST AND OPEN WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY LET YOU IN.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I RESPECT WOMEN TO THE UTMOST.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M FAR FROM BEING A HOMOSEXUAL.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MY FATHER IS MY IDOL, SO I ALWAYS DID EVERYTHING LIKE HIM. HE USED TO WORK TWO JOBS AND STILL COME HAPPY EVERY NIGHT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I GUESS WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TRANSITION TO THE NBA FROM COLLEGE, IT IS DEFINITELY DEFENSE AND THE MENTAL PART.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M GLAD THAT GOV. SCOTT DOWN IN FLORIDA ACCEPTED OBAMACARE, BECAUSE IT WILL WORK.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I MET WONDERFUL PEOPLE PLAYING IN THE NBA. WHETHER IT IS THE OFFICIALS, THE SCOREKEEPERS, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE NBA, NOT JUST FOR THE LAKERS, BUT I’M TALKING ABOUT JUST FOR THE LEAGUE ITSELF.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

OBAMACARE IS WORKING. I TALK TO A LOT OF CEOS OF HOSPITALS. IT IS WORKING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MAGIC IS CRAZY. HE IS THAT CRAZY WILD GUY ON THE BASKETBALL COURT THAT IS VERY INTENSE AND VERY SERIOUS. HE IS THE GUY WHO LIVES AND EATS AND BREATHES BASKETBALL.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

RESEARCH YOUR IDEA. SEE IF THERE’S A DEMAND. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GREAT IDEAS, BUT THEY DON’T KNOW IF THERE’S A NEED FOR IT. YOU ALSO HAVE TO RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITION.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HEALTH COVERAGE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THE AUDIENCE LIKES THEIR EMOTIONS TO BE TOUCHED. THEY WANT TO LAUGH AND CRY AND FEEL GOOD.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I DO NOT HAVE BAD DAYS. I DON’T WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND THINK THAT I’M GOING TO GET AIDS. I DON’T DREAM BAD DREAMS ABOUT IT. IF I DID, I’D BE GIVING IN TO THE NEGATIVITY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M BUILDING SHOPPING CENTERS AND MOVIE THEATERS IN THE INNER CITIES. SO THAT MEANS SUPPLYING JOBS AND LETTING BLACKS UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES BACK, NOT LOOKING TO ANYBODY ELSE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

YOUNG PEOPLE WANT YOU TO BE REAL WITH THEM.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU NOT ONLY HURT YOURSELF, BUT YOU HURT THE ONES THAT LOVE YOU.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

SOMETIMES FRIENDS MOVE APART FROM EACH OTHER FOR WHATEVER REASON.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THE REAL STORY IS THAT I HAD UNPROTECTED SEX. THAT’S THAT. THAT’S EASY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

AS AN ATHLETE, I UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF MY HEALTH INSURANCE. I KNEW THAT IN MY PROFESSION, INJURIES WERE COMMON AND COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER MY WHOLE LIFE. I’VE ALWAYS LED. I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THE IMPORTANT THING IS THIS JUST BECAUSE I’M DOING WELL DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY’RE GOING TO DO WELL IF THEY GET HIV. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE I HAVE ANNOUNCED. THIS DISEASE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I TRY TO HIRE PEOPLE I DON’T HAVE TO MOTIVATE. BUT I DO MOTIVATE THE PEOPLE WORKING WITH AND FOR ME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

A LOT OF BLACK GUYS ALWAYS ASK ME, ‘DID LARRY BIRD REALLY PLAY THAT GOOD?’ I SAID, ‘LARRY BIRD IS SO GOOD IT’S FRIGHTENING.’

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THE FIRST YEAR WAS HARD FOR ME TO DEAL WITH. THE SECOND YEAR WAS A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT STILL DIFFICULT. IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS TO GET IT OUT OF ME. IT WAS A DIFFICULT MOMENT, A DIFFICULT TIME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IT ALL STARTED WHEN I GOT INJURED EARLY IN MY SECOND SEASON. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE AS DIFFICULT EMOTIONALLY AS PHYSICALLY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THEY SAID PLAYING BASKETBALL WOULD KILL ME. WELL, NOT PLAYING BASKETBALL WAS KILLING ME.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IF THE COMMUNITY IS HAPPY, THEN THEY SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS AND IF YOUR BUSINESS IS DOING WELL, THEN YOU CAN GIVE BACK EVEN MORE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

DON’T GIVE UP! BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO HELP YOU WORK HARD.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

LARRY, YOU ONLY TOLD ME ONE LIE. YOU SAID THERE WILL BE ANOTHER LARRY BIRD. LARRY, THERE WILL NEVER, EVER BE ANOTHER LARRY BIRD.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M AT PEACE WITH MYSELF. THE MAIN THING IS NOT LETTING PEOPLE DICTATE WHAT I DO OR WHAT I AM.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

YOU EITHER HAVE TO BE GREAT OR YOU HAVE TO BE BAD TO GET A GOOD PICK.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

EVEN AS A FIERCE COMPETITOR I TRY TO SMILE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

HIV CHANGED MY LIFE, BUT IT DOESN’T KEEP ME FROM LIVING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

ON HIS TELEPATHIC UNDERSTANDING WITH JAMES WORTHY

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IF YOU HATE TO LOSE, YOU DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE BUSINESS IS SUCCESSFUL.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

ASSISTS IS WHAT EARVIN IS ALL ABOUT. THAT’S WHAT MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN, ASSISTING OTHERS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

PEOPLE DON’T STOP EATING, AND THEY DON’T STOP DRINKING COFFEE.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

EVEN WHEN I WENT TO THE PLAYGROUND, I NEVER PICKED THE BEST PLAYERS. I PICKED GUYS WITH LESS TALENT, BUT WHO WERE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND HAD THE DESIRE TO BE GREAT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT I WANTED TO DO, I COULD SEE THE OPPORTUNITY, EVEN WHEN OTHERS COULD NOT, AND I STAY COMMITTED TO DOING IT AND DOING IT WELL, NO MATTER WHAT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

A COMPETENT AND SELF

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WE ALL HAVE TO PLAY AS A TEAM TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WHEN I’M UNDER THE GUN AND I’VE GOT PRESSURE ON ME, I DON’T PANIC. I LOOK FOR THE RIGHT SOLUTION, AND THEN I GO FOR IT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I LOVE BUSINESS. I LOVE HELPING URBAN COMMUNITIES GROW. I LOVE PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK OF COLOR. I LOVE MAKING SURE

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO BE YOUR MENTOR, YOU BETTER BE READY TO LISTEN AND BE HUMBLED.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

BECAUSE IF YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE, LOSE. I’M SERIOUS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE HEALTHY, AND I’M HEALTHY, CAN’T EVEN LIVE MY LIFE. TRUST ME. I GET UP 530

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

YOU CAN’T GET AIDS FROM A HUG OR A HANDSHAKE OR A MEAL WITH A FRIEND.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP KNOCKING DOWN DOORS, YOU HAVE TO KEEP BEING AGGRESSIVE, AND EVEN IF SOMEBODY SAYS ‘NO’, THEN YOU HAVE TO KNOCK ON THE NEXT DOOR.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’VE ALWAYS STUDIED BUSINESS. EVEN WHEN I WAS A BALL PLAYER, I’D READ BUSINESS JOURNALS AND THE BUSINESS SECTIONS OF NEWSPAPERS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IF PEOPLE AROUND YOU AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE, IF THEIR DREAMS ARE NO BIGGER THAN HANGING OUT ON THE CORNER, OR IF THEY’RE DRAGGING YOU DOWN, GET RID OF THEM.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M A BIG BELIEVER IN DREAMING. IF YOU DON’T DREAM IT, YOU CAN’T BECOME IT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO USE EVERY CONNECTION YOU’VE GOT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

BEING ABLE TO TOUCH SO MANY PEOPLE THROUGH MY BUSINESSES AND MAKE MONEY WHILE DOING IT, IS A HUGE BLESSING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

FOR ME, IT ALWAYS GOES BACK TO SOMETHING I LEARNED IN BASKETBALL. THERE’S WINNING AND THERE’S LOSING, AND IN LIFE YOU HAVE TO KNOW THEY BOTH WILL HAPPEN. BUT WHAT’S NEVER BEEN ACCEPTABLE TO ME IS QUITTING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THE LOOKS, THE STARES, THE GIGGLES . . . I WANTED TO SHOW EVERYBODY THAT I COULD DO BETTER AND ALSO THAT I COULD READ.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

THERE’S MICHAEL [JORDAN], THEN THERE’S THE REST OF US.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. WHATEVER YOUR DREAM IS, GO FOR IT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE MAGIC TO BE SPECIAL. YOU’RE ALREADY SPECIAL, YOU’RE YOU.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IT’S A BURDEN TRYING TO KEEP A SECRET. IT’S HARD. IT PROBABLY TAKES MORE OUT OF YOU TRYING TO HOLD IT AND KEEP IT THAN IT DOES FOR YOU TO REALLY LET IT OUT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I GREW UP POOR, BUT I DIDN’T HAVE POOR DREAMS

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I’M FROM THERE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GROW UP WITH THESE PEOPLE AND SEE THEM EVERY DAY AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS… IT WAS EASY; IT WAS A NO

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I NEVER THINK THAT THERE’S SOMETHING I CAN’T DO, WHETHER IT’S BEATING MY OPPONENT ONE ON ONE OR PRACTICING ANOTHER HOUR BECAUSE SOMETHING ABOUT MY GAME IS JUST NOT RIGHT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH. WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS THE BEST PLAYERS ARE THE HARDEST WORKERS.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I WOULDN’T DO THE ‘MAGIC HOUR’ AGAIN, BUT I WOULD DO TV AGAIN. THE ‘MAGIC HOUR’ IS NOT ME. ANYTHING I WOULD DO, I WOULD HAVE TO BE ME. THAT IS HOW IT WOULD WORK.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I ONLY KNOW HOW TO PLAY TWO WAYS: RECKLESS AND ABANDON.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

EVERYBODY ON A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM DOESN’T GET PUBLICITY, BUT EVERYONE CAN SAY HE’S A CHAMPION.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IN LIFE, WINNING AND LOSING WILL BOTH HAPPEN. WHAT IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE IS QUITTING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I TELL YOU, IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE THE ONLY TIME I THINK ABOUT HIV IS WHEN I HAVE TO TAKE MY MEDICINE TWICE A DAY.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

LIFE DOESNT STOP BECAUSE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO YOU.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

ANY GUY WHO CAN MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WITHOUT MUCH PLAYING TIME CERTAINLY EARNS MY RESPECT.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

I LIKE THINGS GOING ON IN MY LIFE. I DON’T WANT TO BE ON A BEACH SOMEWHERE JUST RELAXING.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

WE CUT HIM OFF AND THERE WAS NOWHERE FOR HIM TO GO BUT OUT OF BOUNDS … IT’S STILL THE GREATEST MOVE I’VE EVER SEEN IN BASKETBALL, THE ALL

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

ON THE BEST TACTIC WHEN PLAYING ALONGSIDE KAREEM ABDUL

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON

IF YOU’RE A COMPETITIVE PERSON, THAT STAYS WITH YOU. YOU DON’T STOP. YOU ALWAYS LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER.

MAGIC EARVIN JOHNSON