Famous People Who Overcame Dyslexia
Magic Johnson
 Earvin
"Magic" Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing,
Michigan) is a 6' 9" former American professional basketball
star who played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s
and early 1990s. Playing point guard, he led the Lakers to
five NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988),
as well as four other NBA Finals appearances. He also led
Michigan State University to the NCAA title in 1979 against
arch-rival Larry Bird's Indiana State University. Johnson
is also the only NBA rookie to win the NBA Finals Most Valuable
Player Award (1980). He is one of only four players to win
NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years.
Johnson earned the nickname "Magic"
in high school, both for his flamboyant passing style and
winning ways. While not known as an exceptional scorer, Magic
excelled in all other facets of the game. In different periods
of his career, he led the league in assists and steals. He
led the Lakers in scoring three times (1987, 1989, 1990) and
in rebounding twice (1982, 1983). His unselfish playmaking
and dazzling no-look passes on the fast break ushered in the
"Showtime" era of Laker basketball, which dominated
the eighties. Although he and Bird eventually became the best
of friends off the court, they revived the heated Lakers-Celtics
rivalry, and drew millions of new fans to the NBA.
Perhaps the greatest game of Johnson's career
came in his rookie season: May 16, 1980, in Game 6 of the
NBA Finals at Philadelphia. Filling in for the injured Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Magic started the game at center and eventually
played every position on the floor in a dominating performance.
Scoring a game-high 42 points and grabbing a game-high 15
rebounds, he led the Lakers to the NBA crown, stunning Julius
Erving, the Philadelphia 76ers, and a national television
audience who came to understand the moniker "Magic".
Johnson went on to lead the Lakers to championships in 1982,
1985, 1987, and 1988.
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