Episode 3708: Magic: The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson by Roland Lazenby

Episode 3708: Magic: The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson by Roland Lazenby

From This Week in America with Ric Bratton by Ric Bratton

June 5, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 3708

About this episode

This episode features a discussion on the biography of basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson by Roland Lazenby.

Magic: The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson by Roland Lazenby The definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, from the highly respected, career sportswriter and author of Michael Jordan: The Life . Magic Johnson is one of the most beloved, and at times controversial, athletes in history. His iconic smile lifted the dowdy sport of American professional basketball from a second-tier sport with low ratings into the global spotlight―a transformation driven by Magic’s ability to eviscerate opponents with a playing style that featured his grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed the Los Angeles “Showtime” Lakers to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charm. Then, in 1991, at the height of his charismatic power, Johnson shocked the world with a startling cautionary tale about sexually transmitted disease that pushed public awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Then out came his confession of unprotected sex with hundreds of women each year, followed by his retirement, an attempted return, and a proper farewell on the iconic 1992 Olympic Dream Team. Longtime biographer Roland…

People in this episode

Host: Ric Bratton

Guest: Roland Lazenby

Topics covered

  • biography
  • basketball
  • HIV/AIDS awareness
  • sports history
  • entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • Magic Johnson
  • Roland Lazenby
  • basketball biography
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • sportswriter
  • entrepreneur

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Michael Jordan: The Life

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