Magic Johnson Reveals What Michael Jordan Told Him After Returning From HIV Diagnosis

Magic is doing the rounds to promote his show on Apple TV.

The Los Angeles Lakers star went on Jimmy Kimmel this week and talked about his return to the NBA in early 1996 after nearly five years away due to his HIV diagnosis. In his second game back, Magic played the soon-to-be world champion Chicago Bulls.

“They really showed me the difference between a championship team and a playoff team,” Johnson said. “They were a championship team, we were just a regular team. And they played me so hard. They were physical, they pushed me around…” “They roughed you up,” Kimmel interjected. “Oh, no question about it,” Johnson replied.

Then Johnson revealed the advice Jordan gave him after the game.

“Michael, after that game, he pulled me aside — I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody this,” Johnson said. “He met me in between the locker rooms, and he said, ‘Earvin, you have to remember now, you’re not with Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], you’re not with James Worthy. All the guys you used to play with, Showtime, are not on that Laker team anymore. So remember, maybe you should think about retiring.”

Johnson took Jordans advice and retired for good at the age of 36.

Kimmel still has thoughts on Jordan’s advice to Johnson.

“What a sick person,” Kimmel said, laughing. “What a sick individual.” “But he was right,” Johnson responded. “He was right.”

MJ is one competitive dude, so not too surprising his advice for Magic would be to hang it up.

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