"I remember just crying to him" - 5x NBA Champ Reveals Private Talk with Magic Johnson Moments Before his Shocking HIV Announcement

Magic Johnson has been regarded as among the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the LA Lakers to five championships during the 1980s, which is dubbed the "Showtime" era. However, Johnson retired abruptly before the 1991-92 season due to HIV.

Johnson's longtime teammate, Michael Cooper, recently opened up about the Lakers legend's HIV diagnosis, which eventually cut short Johnson's career.

In an episode of "Vlad TV" uploaded on Tuesday, Cooper recalled his conversation with Johnson before making public that he contracted the disease. Cooper said that Johnson called several members of the organization to The Forum, the Lakers' former home arena.

"He took me to the side and told me personally, 'Coop, I contracted HIV," Cooper said (Timestamp: 4:13). "At that time, nobody really had the full (information) about that. So all we had hearing about is if you have HIV, it goes to age and you're going to die.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

"So I remember just crying to him and I'm like, 'E, what happened?' He goes, 'Coop, man, don't cry about this. You know, God got me.'"

Cooper was teammates with Johnson for 11 of his 12-year NBA career and was a key cog of the Lakers' championship runs. Cooper added that since information about the disease was limited at that time, many people were against Johnson returning to the NBA.

"I really think had people been a little bit more accepting of that, Magic could have possibly played two or three more years," Cooper added. "(But) it was just a stigma of everything. I just think he's like, 'You know what? I don't even want to have them to deal with this because this is my issue.' And you know, he just cut it short."

Johnson returned to play in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, where he was voted as a starter. Despite several players against him playing, he led his team to a win and was awarded All-Star Game MVP.

Johnson then went on to play 32 games during the 1995-96 season before announcing his retirement for the third and final time.

Magic Johnson was ecstatic when Michael Cooper was inducted into the HOF in 2024

Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper have built a friendship through the years. When Cooper was finally elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year, Johnson was ecstatic.

"My boy made it! My boy made it! My boy Coop made the Hall of Fame!" Johnson said, per the Los Angeles Times in April 2024. "Damn! I was hollering, man, when I heard it. I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited for him, man."

Johnson, who was inducted into the HOF in 2002, praised Cooper, who is known for his defense. Cooper was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and was an eight-time All-Defensive Team selection. He averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his career.

"This is one of the greatest Laker moments in the history of the franchise because here is a guy who is making it to the Hall of Fame and he didn’t even start," Johnson said.

Aside from Magic Johnson and Cooper, other HOF members of the "Showtime" Lakers were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo, Jamaal Wilkes and coach Pat Riley.

Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos