AP Was There: Magic announces he has HIV, retires from NBA
By Olivia Zamora •
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Magic Johnson stunned the NBA and those watching his news conference live on TV in 1991 by announcing he had tested positive for HIV and would be retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers. Johnson and the Lakers’ physician both made clear the guard didn’t have AIDS. Johnson said he didn’t know how he contracted the virus. Johnson later returned to play 36 games in 1996, including the playoffs, before retiring again. The Associated Press is republishing verbatim the story on Johnson’s announcement Nov. 7, 1991:
