The NBA was stunned in 1991 when [Magic](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nba/orlando-magic) Johnson announced to the world he had contracted HIV. At the time, the disease was heavily stigmatized. Many thought of it as a surefire death sentence.
Johnson was one of the league’s biggest stars, having finished top three in MVP voting for nine consecutive years and winning the award three times during that span. Now, both his NBA career and life were in jeopardy.
Fans voted Magic into the 1992 All-Star game to see him one last time. Some players, most notably Karl Malone, were nervous about playing against him. Others like Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman supported him. Magic decided to play, and he put on a show.
Magic dominated the game, showing that he was still capable of competing against the best. In the game’s final minutes, he stopped Isaiah Thomas one-on-one. Jordan was next. Magic got another stop.
Magic scored plenty too. With 14 seconds left, he launched a fadeaway 3 that swished through the net. The crowd exploded, players ran from the bench to hug him, and the game ended prematurely. Magic’s 25 points and nine assists won him the All-Star MVP.
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