Do You Believe in Magic? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lansing, Michigan

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. was born in Lansing, MI, on August 14, 1959. As an adult, his height reached 6ft 9in (2.06m). His son, Earvin Johnson III ("EJ"), was named after him.

Answer: Bill Russell

Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956-1969. He had 11 NBA championship rings. He wore number six and was the center for the team.

Answer: My Life

"My Life" was published on September 1, 1993. Johnson co-wrote it with William Novak. His autobiography covers everything from basketball to women in his life, HIV, and more.

Answer: Yes

He played with the Lakers from 1979-1991 and then in 1996. He was the point guard on the team and wore number 32. Outside of the NBA, he played for the Boras Basket, a professional basketball team in Sweden from 1999-2000. He also played for a team called Magic Great Danes in 2000. Magic was also a coach for the Lakers in 1994.

Answer: 15

Magic was a sophomore at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan, when he was given the nickname. In a basketball game at school, he had a triple-double having 36 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists. Fred Stabley, Jr. from the "Lansing State Journal," wrote about the game and dubbed him "Magic" Johnson.

Answer: Michigan State

Michigan State University (aka MSU) is a state university in Lansing, Michigan. John Clough Holmes founded the school in 1855. The school's motto is "Spartans Will." Their colors are green and white, and the Spartans are the nickname. Magic attended MSU from 1977-1979, majoring in communication studies. His intended profession was television commentator.

Answer: Larry Bird

Larry Bird was born on December 7, 1956, in West Baden Springs, Indiana. He grew up and is associated with French Lick, Indiana. His nickname in sports was "The Hick from French Lick." Larry Bird played with the Boston Celtics from 1979-1992. The Celtics and Lakers are rivals.

Despite their on-court rivalry, Johnson and Bird have been friends since the early 1980s. Larry Bird inducted Magic Johnson into the NBA Hall of Fame.

Answer: Dream Team

The 1992 United States basketball team was the first Olympic basketball team made up of mainly active NBA players. Along with Magic, other players on the Dream Team included: Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan. Throughout the Olympics, the USA men's team were undefeated and won the gold medal.

Answer: Dodgers

Johnson, along with Guggenheim Partners and Stan Kasten, put in a bid for the ownership and won it. Johnson was considered the leader of the ownership group that also included Peter Guber; however, the controlling owner was Mark Walter from the Guggenheim Partners. When the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020, Johnson gained a major league title to his resume.

Answer: HIV/AIDS

Magic founded The Magic Johnson Foundation the same year Johnson himself was diagnosed with HIV. Before Johnson told everyone he had HIV, it was thought of as "The gay man's disease," although at that point, people knew needles (both drug users and blood transfusions) could cause HIV as well.

He let people know he was a straight man with no needle use and still had HIV, and if he had it, anyone could get it.