The Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson shared a story on how he got his nickname. It happened in his high school days as he was tagged “Magic” by a reporter after a triple-double game. The four-time NBA champion was a 15-year-old sophomore at Everett High School when he finished the game with 36 points, 19 rebounds, and 18 assists.
“The basketball season started a month or two later. We were picked to come in last again. We got off to a 7-0 start. Everybody was shocked. How is Everett High School undefeated? We then played the school, we blowed them out, who was supposed to be a powerhouse in the state of Michigan. I had 36 points, 19 rebounds, 18 assists. That was my first triple-double,” Johnson said on Literally! With Rob Lowe.
“Everybody said ‘oh my goodness, what a game by this young man’. So the sports writer came in and said ‘hey, because of that performance I got to you give a nickname’. He said ‘somebody’s already called “Dr. J”, somebody is already called “Big E”. I wanna call you “Magic”. So that’s how I got my nickname.”
Listen to the full episode of Literally! with Magic Johnson:
