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In This Story
Key Points
- NBA legend Magic Johnson was the face of the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” era.
- His legacy spans basketball, business, and community development.
- Johnson announced a new initiative that will aid over 2,000 Los Angeles families this holiday season.
Magic Johnson’s legacy extends far beyond his storied career on the basketball court. Before becoming an NBA icon, he was a college superstar at Michigan State, where he led the Spartans to the 1979 national championship in one of the most-watched college basketball games ever played. Drafted first overall that same year, he went on to define the “Showtime” era with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA titles and cementing himself as one of the greatest players in league history.
His impact only grew after retirement. Johnson evolved into a major business force through Magic Johnson Enterprises, with ventures in Starbucks, movie theaters, real estate, and health clubs, and he later expanded his portfolio with ownership stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Commanders and LAFC. Today, his influence spans sports, business, and community development.
Over the years, Johnson has also become deeply associated with philanthropy and community work, supporting education access, urban redevelopment, health awareness and long-standing holiday outreach efforts across Los Angeles.
On Monday, he announced his latest initiative through Atlanta Life, the historic insurance company in which he is part of the ownership group. The company revealed its support for this year’s Holiday Hope LA event – a major community program providing food, clothing and toys to more than 2,000 families in the greater Los Angeles area during this holiday season.
Johnson emphasized the mission behind the effort, saying, “We are more than an insurance company. We are about the community. We want to make sure the community is good.”
This move continues a long pattern of Johnson uplifting Los Angeles. Over the decades, he has helped bring essential businesses to underserved neighborhoods, funded technology and education programs, supported HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives, and championed development projects throughout South LA.
Holiday Hope LA is the newest example of how Johnson continues to pour into the city that embraced him from the beginning – extending his legacy well beyond basketball and into lasting community impact.
About the author
Ayomide Adeduyite covers the NBA, WNBA, and NFL for Athlon Sports’ breaking and trending news team. With more than five years in sports journalism, he has reported on league-wide stories and major seasons across professional basketball and football.
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