Magic Johnson's Health Journey: Living with HIV for 33 Years

Magic Johnson, the former NBA superstar, has been living with HIV for 33 years. Back in the day, when he was just 31, he had to walk away from basketball, a sport he loved. His peers' reactions and the initial hardships weren't easy. But today, on World AIDS Day, he shared some great news. He credits medical advances and the amazing work done in the HIV/AIDS community for keeping him healthy and strong. “We’ve really come far, but there’s more to do, ” he says. “Let’s help those still fighting and end the stigma! ” Back then, not everyone wanted to play with Magic because of his HIV status. Things got tough, especially in his community where HIV numbers were high. He even talked about how there was only one medicine, AZT, when he was first diagnosed. It was a challenging time, but he kept going and eventually, others stood by him. Magic has since become an owner of multiple sports franchises. But it hasn’t been easy. He spoke about his struggles on the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. ’s legacy. At the time, getting the right medicines was hard, but it’s gotten better over the years. Today, there are many more options available. Once, Magic was stopped from playing, but fans’ support gave him a new chance. Before the 2024 Olympics, he shared his thoughts on the journey. People were afraid to play with him at first, but he eventually got back into the game. A former NBA commissioner let him play in an All-Star game. That’s when things started to change for the better. Magic even said that game "saved his life. "