2022 might have gifted us Nadal’s history-making grand slam win at the Australian Open, but to reflect on the early 90s is to recall a time in sporting history where athletes were revered with the kind of fame and international clout of Hollywood’s biggest stars. These were the players known solely by last name, who were bigger than sport itself, becoming household names around the world as they put sport on the map. And when it comes to basketball, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson was one such player.
In NBA history, Johnson still stands out as one of the most decorated players. He retired in November of 1991 due to his HIV diagnosis, but in his time on the court he managed to win five championships and three MVP awards while earning 12 All-Star appearances, with his team the Lakers.
Though he stepped away from the NBA, he came back to the court in 1992 where he played on Team USA’s Dream Team at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, helping the US squad dominate the competition and run away with the gold medal, winning by an average of 44 points. Johnson later returned to the Lakers in the mid-1990s as head coach for 16 games across the 1993-94 season, then as a player for 32 games in the 1995-96 campaign. Then, in February of 2017, he returned once more to the organisation as the team’s president of basketball operations.
All of this makes for an incredible career, and naturally, entertaining viewing. Now, Apple TV+ has given fans their first look at the upcoming documentary. The four-part series is set to feature interviews with the likes of basketball superstars Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West and Dwayne Wade, along with the likes of President Barack Obama, Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg, just to name a few.
Landing on the streaming service on April 22, the documentary will present an intimate look at the life and legacy of Johnson, while showcasing conversations with the basketball legend and his family. According to the official synopsis: “For global sports icon Earvin Johnson, ‘Magic’ has many meanings. It’s the sparkle of his megawatt smile and dazzling style of play that forever changed the game of basketball. It’s the magnetic connection that led him to the love of his life. It’s the shock of an HIV diagnosis that he transformed from grief into triumph – shifting global dialogue about the disease and overcoming its staggering odds. It’s his transcendence from sports superstar to business titan, blazing new trails for former athletes and revolutionising the way corporate America does business in Black communities. Featuring intimate interviews with Magic and an all-star lineup, They Call Me Magic charts the cinematic life of one of the biggest cultural icons of our era with unprecedented access in a definitive four-part documentary series.”
