In an appearance Wednesday on The View, former Los Angeles Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson said Dr. Anthony Fauci was one of the doctors who helped him understand and treat HIV after his 1991 diagnosis.
Yahoo Sports reports Johnson said, “First of all, let me thank Dr. Fauci, Dr. Ho; they both really helped me to be here. They helped me understand that I had to take my meds, I had to be comfortable with my new status, make sure I kept a positive attitude, and keep working out, and so I’ve been doing that. Here I am 30 years later.”
The 62-year-old basketball legend said it was Fauci and Dr. David Ho, a renowned researcher and virologist, who helped him understand the diagnosis.
Johnson also praised his wife, Cookie Johnson, who stayed with him after learning of his diagnosis, and noted that his family and team were a source of support.
The NBA star retired in 1991 after announcing his diagnosis in a press conference. He coached his beloved Lakers for one season and returned to play for a season in 1996 before permanently retiring, per NBA archives.
Johnson also explained that he revealed his diagnosis to help the public and to increase the accessibility of resources and medications for people who could not afford the level of treatment that he could.
“That was everything, for me to heal, also for me to help people, especially in the Black and brown community, because it was running rapidly through our community at that time,” Johnson said. “We brought the numbers down. I became the face, and I am happy about that.”
The former Lakers point guard, now a successful businessman and entrepreneur, appeared on The View to promote They Call Me Magic, which explores Johnson’s life and career. Co-host Joy Behar asked Johnson what prompted him to do the docuseries now streaming on Apple TV. His response: “Michael Jordan did Last Dance, and I was in his incredible doc series, and just the last episode, my phone started ringing a lot: ‘It’s your turn now. When are you going to do yours?'”
They Call Me Magic features appearances by former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, fellow NBA icons Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, rap legend Snoop Dogg and actor extraordinaire Samuel L. Jackson.
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