1991–92 Los Angeles Lakers season
Encyclopedia
The 1991-92 season was the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers
, as they had to cope with the sudden retirement of their longtime superstar, Magic Johnson
. Without Johnson for the first time since 1979, the Lakers struggled to make the playoffs, as they finished with their worst record since the 1975-76 season.
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #5C2F83; color: #FCB625; text-align: center;" | Los Angeles Lakers 1991-92 roster
|- style="background-color: #FCB625; color: #5C2F83; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
|-
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | REB
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | AST
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | STL
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | BLK
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | PTS
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | AVG
|- align="center"
| Vlade Divac
|| 36 || 247 || 60 || 55 || 35 || 405 || 11.3
|- align="center"
| A. C. Green
|| 82 || 762 || 117 || 91 || 36 || 1116 || 13.6
|- align="center"
|-
|}
, Johnson missed the first three games with an unspecified "stomach ailment". On November 7, 1991, Johnson made the shocking announcement that he was infected with HIV
and would immediately retire. Johnson discovered his condition when he tried to obtain life insurance
and had failed the compulsory HIV test conducted by Lakers team doctor Dr. Michael Mellman. Johnson gave a grave but defiant statement, stating he was happy that both his wife Cookie and her unborn child were HIV negative and that he was going to dedicate his life to spread the word about HIV prevention and promote safer sex. The NBA world was in shock, and even U. S. president George H. W. Bush
mourned: "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for anyone who loves sports." Johnson immediately was listed as an injured reserve on the roster, but due to his valid contract, he continued to be paid by the Lakers franchise.
Nonetheless, Johnson was still voted into the 1992 NBA All-Star Game
, and the press speculated whether he was going to make a comeback. Moreover, many colleagues were wary: as HIV can be transmitted by blood contamination, they argued that Johnson would be a deadly risk if he would get a bleeding wound and touch them. One of the most vocal opponents was Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone
. Johnson won the skeptics over and made a triumphant return, leading the West to a 153-113 win and being crowned All-Star MVP. The game was also a curiosity, ending prematurely when he drained a last-minute three-pointer and his colleagues refused to play further, instead running collectively on court, hugging him and exchanging high-fives. However, it remained Johnson's only NBA game for a long time.
. The squad was quickly dubbed the Dream Team because of its abundance of NBA stars such as Jordan, Karl Malone
and Bird, but Johnson was the main attraction. At the Olympic Opening Ceremony, German tennis
player Steffi Graf
ordered colleague Barbara Rittner
to photograph her with Johnson, and in the match against Spain, Spanish captain Juan Antonio San Epifanio
and his squad demonstratively hugged him, showing that his HIV infection did not matter to them. During the tournament, Johnson struggled with knee problems and played for only a fraction of the games. The point guard position was mostly run by Utah Jazz all-time assist leader John Stockton
, but Johnson's presence alone was enough to provoke standing ovation
s from the crowd. He used the spotlight to attempt to inspire HIV
positive people in several interviews.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, as they had to cope with the sudden retirement of their longtime superstar, Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
. Without Johnson for the first time since 1979, the Lakers struggled to make the playoffs, as they finished with their worst record since the 1975-76 season.
NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 52 | Anthony Jones | Forward | Oral Roberts Oral Roberts University Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries... |
|
Roster
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #5C2F83; color: #FCB625; text-align: center;" | Los Angeles Lakers 1991-92 roster
|- style="background-color: #FCB625; color: #5C2F83; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Ht. !! Wt. !! From
|-
Season standings
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Season
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | REB
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | AST
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | STL
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | BLK
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | PTS
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | AVG
|- align="center"
| Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills...
|| 36 || 247 || 60 || 55 || 35 || 405 || 11.3
|- align="center"
| A. C. Green
A. C. Green
A.C. Green, Jr., is a retired American NBA basketball player who played in more consecutive games than any other player in NBA and ABA history. With 1,192 straight games played, he earned the nickname "Iron Man". He played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat...
|| 82 || 762 || 117 || 91 || 36 || 1116 || 13.6
|- align="center"
|-
|}
Magic’s Retirement
In the 1991-92 NBA season1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
, Johnson missed the first three games with an unspecified "stomach ailment". On November 7, 1991, Johnson made the shocking announcement that he was infected with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and would immediately retire. Johnson discovered his condition when he tried to obtain life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
and had failed the compulsory HIV test conducted by Lakers team doctor Dr. Michael Mellman. Johnson gave a grave but defiant statement, stating he was happy that both his wife Cookie and her unborn child were HIV negative and that he was going to dedicate his life to spread the word about HIV prevention and promote safer sex. The NBA world was in shock, and even U. S. president George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
mourned: "For me, Magic is a hero, a hero for anyone who loves sports." Johnson immediately was listed as an injured reserve on the roster, but due to his valid contract, he continued to be paid by the Lakers franchise.
Nonetheless, Johnson was still voted into the 1992 NBA All-Star Game
1992 NBA All-Star Game
The 1992 NBA All-Star Game was the 42nd edition of the All-Star Game. The event took place at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The West defeated the East, 153-113. The game is most remembered for the return of Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who retired before the 1991-92 NBA season...
, and the press speculated whether he was going to make a comeback. Moreover, many colleagues were wary: as HIV can be transmitted by blood contamination, they argued that Johnson would be a deadly risk if he would get a bleeding wound and touch them. One of the most vocal opponents was Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
. Johnson won the skeptics over and made a triumphant return, leading the West to a 153-113 win and being crowned All-Star MVP. The game was also a curiosity, ending prematurely when he drained a last-minute three-pointer and his colleagues refused to play further, instead running collectively on court, hugging him and exchanging high-fives. However, it remained Johnson's only NBA game for a long time.
Magic and the Dream Team
Despite being HIV positive, Johnson was chosen for the US team for the 1992 Summer Olympics1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. The squad was quickly dubbed the Dream Team because of its abundance of NBA stars such as Jordan, Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
and Bird, but Johnson was the main attraction. At the Olympic Opening Ceremony, German tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
ordered colleague Barbara Rittner
Barbara Rittner
Barbara Rittner is a former professional tennis player who comes from Germany. Her career high ranking was No. 24 in the world, a ranking she achieved on 1 February 1993. She currently is the captain of the German Fed Cup team....
to photograph her with Johnson, and in the match against Spain, Spanish captain Juan Antonio San Epifanio
Juan Antonio San Epifanio
Juan Antonio San Epifanio Ruiz is a retired Spanish basketball player, considered one of the greatest small forwards ever to play in Europe...
and his squad demonstratively hugged him, showing that his HIV infection did not matter to them. During the tournament, Johnson struggled with knee problems and played for only a fraction of the games. The point guard position was mostly run by Utah Jazz all-time assist leader John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, but Johnson's presence alone was enough to provoke standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
s from the crowd. He used the spotlight to attempt to inspire HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
positive people in several interviews.