Magic Johnson’s life changed when he made it to the NBA, but more especially, when he landed in Los Angeles. The 5x NBA champion met a lot of people during his NBA tenure, including some of the biggest stars in showbiz. One of those was none other than the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, whom Magic had a close relationship with.
The player and the artist used to travel together, sharing many memories, and taking inspiration from each other. Talking with Variety, Magic mentioned that he once invited Jackson to a Lakers game, but the singer wasn’t sure about that, given his popularity and how fans could react to his presence.
Of course, this wasn’t Jackson being petty or something. He just wanted to enjoy the game and let others enjoy it, but he was so huge at that time, that they had to stop the match to get the late icon out of the arena.
Johnson is a vivid storyteller, and it helps that his spectacular life has allowed him to cross paths with so many famous people. He recalls how as a young athlete he traveled with the Jackson 5 on three of their tours. “Michael Jackson, he was such a perfectionist,” Johnson says. “You know, see him look in a mirror for two hours, working on his moves without his brothers.” Johnson urged Jackson to return the favor by coming to a Lakers game, and he reluctantly agreed even though he didn’t think the fans would let him watch in peace. “He was right,” Johnson says. “He sat down; people went crazy. They were running from upstairs, the sides. We had to stop the game to get him out.”
Michael was an incredible performer and one of the greatest artists to ever live. During his peak, he caught everybody’s attention, and not even the Showtime Lakers could compete against him. Even during his last days on earth, Jackson was worshipped by many people around the world. He was an incredible legend and nobody can deny his impact on pop culture.
