`TIME TO MOVE ON' : MAGIC RETIRES AGAIN.Byline: Marc Stein Marc Stein is a sports reporter. He began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 to serve as the site's senior National Basketball Association writer. Daily News Staff Writer The ballyhooed comeback of Magic Johnson “Earvin Johnson” redirects here. For the Milwaukee Bucks center, see Ervin Johnson. Earvin Effay Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan), nicknamed Magic , much like his team's postseason, has been punctuated by an early exit. Barely three months into unretirement and just 12 days after the Lakers' first-round elimination, Johnson made an equally swift but more stunning departure, announcing Tuesday that he was resuming his business career and leaving basketball for the third time. ``I was satisfied with my return to the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= , although I would have hoped we would have gone further in the playoffs,'' Johnson said in a surprise statement issued by agent Lon Rosen. ``But now I am ready to give it up, it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to move on. I am going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992.'' Johnson felt forced to leave in his previous two retirements - early in the 1991-92 season after revealing he had contracted the virus that causes AIDS, and before the '92-93 campaign when, as he prepared to return, concerns about HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. led to unbearable scrutiny. This time, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Rosen, the choice to walk away was strictly Johnson's. More will be learned this afternoon when Magic meets the media for a farewell news conference, but Rosen insisted that neither health nor the heavy criticism Johnson endured in the wake of a poor playoff performance were factors. ``Earvin just decided he wants to go back to his other life,'' Rosen said. Because Johnson, who will be 37 on Aug. 14, had indicated only days ago that he was ``100 percent'' certain of playing the 1996-97 season - ``I can't go out like this . . . this is not what I came back for,'' he said - the Lakers were openly shocked by the news. Johnson, in fact, practiced at the Forum on Tuesday morning with his traveling team but apparently didn't share his plans with anyone in the organization before leaving. Lakers vice president Jerry West
In what will be recorded as his final season, Johnson averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 32 games after rejoining the Lakers on Jan. 29. In what will be recorded as his last game, however, Johnson was benched for more than six minutes of the fourth quarter and finished with a mere eight points in a May 2 loss at Houston that clinched a 3-1 series triumph for the Rockets. ``From the time he came to this team almost 17 years ago, Earvin Johnson has been a very special part of our lives,'' West said. ``While this is a sad day, it's one that we always knew would come, and I would rather look at it remembering all the great moments he brought to this team and our fans.'' Lakers owner Jerry Buss Dr. Gerald Hatten “Jerry” Buss (born in 1934) is an American professional basketball team owner, former real estate developer, and poker player. Early life Raised near Kemmerer, Wyoming, Buss earned a B.S. also released a statement, adding: ``Our position has been as it has always been. We want what is best for Magic. We supported him in his return and we support him again in his retirement. Despite the disappointment that he and the organization felt during the playoffs, the special relationship Earvin continued to have with fans everywhere, myself included, had to make this past season a rewarding one for him.'' Rewarding, yes, but a real strain as well. After initially flourishing with the addition of Johnson as a frontcourt player for the first time, the Lakers suffered a series of setbacks from late March on, starting with Cedric Ceballos' four-day disappearance to protest his diminished role alongside No. 32. Suspensions for confrontations with referees followed for Nick Van Exel Nickey (Nick) Maxwell Van Exel (born November 27 1971 in Kenosha, Wisconsin) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. Van Exel, a 6'1" left-handed point guard, was most well known for his flashy style of play and his ability to hit critical shots during and the venerable Johnson himself, leaving the Lakers out of sync when the playoffs came. Johnson's criticism of coach Del Harris after a Game 1 loss to the Rockets only worsened the atmosphere around the team; the Lakers rallied to win Game 2 but spent the rest of the series bickering bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. about offensive strategy. With his unexpected retirement seemingly bringing the roller-coaster to a halt, Johnson has spared Buss and especially West further trauma. Now the Lakers can proceed with their plans to sign a marquee free agent and not have to worry about Johnson's contract demands - a widely circulated figure of $10 million that had management, with the exception of Buss, privately hoping Magic would sign elsewhere or change his mind and re-retire. ``What happened at the end of the season . . . Earvin is an emotional guy,'' Rosen said. ``He really does care about the Lakers. He likes all these guys. ``He realized what happened. He's an educated guy. He's a smart guy. He knows things didn't work out well at the end of the season, but I think if he would have come back next year, you would have seen a good team.'' Instead, Johnson's teammates and fans will see him back in a three-piece suit Noun 1. three-piece suit - a business suit consisting of a jacket and vest and trousers business suit - a suit of clothes traditionally worn by businessmen vest, waistcoat - a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat , directing his many business interests. His popular Magic Johnson Theatres are ever-expanding, and Johnson also has a land-development company. In addition, Johnson will resume touring the world with his all-star team and is likely to meet with Buss soon to discuss reacquiring the 5-percent ownership stake in the Lakers that he had to sell back upon returning to active-player status. ``The support generated throughout the league and from fans worldwide was tremendous and I want to thank everyone,'' Johnson said. ``. . . This team has a great future and I will be excited to sit courtside court·side n. The area immediately bordering the official court of play, as in tennis or basketball. and root them on to a championship very soon.'' Said shocked center Vlade Divac Vlade Divac (Serbian Cyrillic: Владе Дивац, pronounced [ˈvlaːdɛ ˈdiːvaʦ] , one of only two Lakers to play in both Johnson eras: ``I thought he was coming back. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what to think. I guess life goes on.'' THE MAGIC YEARS 1979 May 11: Announces he will make himself available for the NBA draft The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Association's (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada) can select players who wish to join the league. . May 16: The Lakers, who acquired the right to draft No. 1 when Gail Goodrich Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. (born April 23 1943 in Los Angeles, California) is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is best-known for his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971-72 season. signed as a free agent with New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded prior to the 1976-77 season, announce they have reached a contractual agreement with Johnson. June 25: The Lakers formally select Johnson with the first pick in the 1979 draft. 1980 Feb. 4: Becomes the first rookie starter in the All-Star game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games since Elvin Hayes Elvin Ernest Hayes (born November 17, 1945 in Rayville, Louisiana) is a retired American basketball player. He is a member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Early years A quiet, introverted youth, Hayes first picked up a basketball in eighth grade, by accident. in 1969. Scores 12 points in the West's 144-136 loss. May 16: Starting at center in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar For the football player, see . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. on April 16, 1947) is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant coach. in Game 6 of the NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association. The team winning the Eastern Conference Finals earns one of the two berths in the championship round, with the other going to the team that wins the Western Conference Finals. , he gets 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists against Philadelphia to lead the Lakers to the title. He becomes the first rookie named MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. of the Finals and the third player to win NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association and NBA titles in consecutive seasons, joining Bill Russell Noun 1. Bill Russell - United States basketball center (born in 1934) William Felton Russell, Russell and Henry Bibby Charles Henry Bibby (born November 24, 1949 in Franklinton, North Carolina) is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). . Nov. 19: Misses 45 games with torn cartilage in his left knee. 1981 Feb. 27: Returns from the knee injury and averages 22.4 points in the final 16 games. June 26: Signs a 25-year, $25 million contract with the Lakers. 1982 April: Joins Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to get 700 points, rebounds and assists in the same season. June 8: Earns his second playoff MVP award after leading the Lakers past Philadelphia 114-104 in Game 6 of the Finals. 1983 April: Leads the NBA in assists with a 10.5 average and breaks Jerry West's club record with 829. Is named to the All-NBA first team for the first time, beginning a string of nine straight selections. 1984 April: Leads the NBA in assists for the second straight year, this time with a record 13.1 average. May 15: Sets a playoff record with 24 assists in a 118-102 victory over Phoenix in the Western Conference final. 1986 April: Leads the NBA in assists with a 12.6 average. Dec. 23: Scores a career-high 46 points in an overtime victory over Seattle. 1987 Feb. 5: Scores his 10,000th point. Feb. 8: Becomes the all-time All-Star assist leader as the West beats the East 154-149 in overtime. May 18: Named league MVP after averaging a career-high 23.9 points and leading the league with 12.2 assists. June 14: Named Finals MVP for the third time after guiding the Lakers past Boston in six games, the last a 106-93 victory at the Forum. The regular-season and playoff MVP sweep enables him to join Willis Reed, Moses Malone and Larry Bird as the only players so honored. 1988 June 21: Guides Lakers to 108-105 victory over Detroit in Game 7 of the NBA Finals as Lakers become the first team to repeat since Boston in 1969. 1989 April: Breaks his own club record for assists with 988 and leads the NBA in free-throw shooting at 91.1 percent. May 22: Leads the Lakers to their eighth consecutive division title and earns his second regular-season MVP award, edging Michael Jordan of Chicago in the closest voting since 1981. June 8: Injures his left hamstring in the third quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, won by Detroit 108-105. June 13: Misses his first playoff game ever as Detroit completes a sweep of the Lakers for the title. 1990 Feb. 11: Scores 22 points in the West's 130-113 All-Star Game loss and is voted MVP of the game for the first time in his nine appearances.May 22: Leads the Lakers to a 63-19 record and is named regular-season MVP for the second straight year, making him the sixth player in NBA history to capture the award three times. 1991 April 15: Sets an NBA record for career assists in a 112-106 victory over Dallas. Johnson, who needed nine assists to break Oscar Robertson's record of 9,887, got 19. June: Leads the Lakers to the NBA Finals for the ninth time in his 12-year career. Nov. 7: Announces his retirement at age 32 after testing positive for the AIDS virus AIDS virus n. See HIV. . He leaves the NBA ranked first in career assists with 9,921 and second in career steals with 1,698. 1992 Feb. 9: Wins MVP honors in the NBA All-Star Game as the West beats the East 153-113 in Orlando, Fla. Aug. 8: Wins gold medal as the United States beats Croatia 117-85 in the Olympic Games in Barcelona. Sept. 29: Announces he will return to the Lakers and play limited schedule in the 1992-93 NBA season. Nov. 2: Announces his retirement again in a statement issued by the Lakers. 1994 March 22: Named coach of the Lakers, replacing Randy Pfund. April 16: Announces he won't return as coach of the Lakers. April 24: Finishes the season with a 5-11 record as coach, including a franchise-record 10 straight losses to end the season. June 27: Purchases 5 percent interest in the Lakers. 1996 Jan. 29: Signed contract for the remainder of the season with the Lakers after selling his interest in the team. May 14: Announces retirement. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, 2 Boxes Photo: (1--color) Magic Johnson, shown here dur ing a playoff loss to Houston, has retired from the Lakers. (2) Magic Johnson shows his frustration during the Lakers' playoff series against the Houston Rockets. Michael Owen Baker / Daily News Box: (1) THE MAGIC YEARS (see text) (2) MAGIC JOHNSON'S CAREER STATISTICS |
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