Magic Johnson, Drazen Petrovic -
Success stories cut short: NBA Special Report (Part-2)
Magic Johnson
Before 1991, Los Angeles Lakers legendary point guard Magic Johnson was flying high in his NBA career.
Suddenly, he found himself in a very difficult situation when in a routine check-up before the season; he was tested positive for HIV. The life threatening illness led him to take a major decision and at his peak of his career,
Johnson decided to retire from the game in 1991.
His early retirement rocked the basketball world in general and the Lakers in particular. Although Johnson did come out from his retirement in 1992 and 1996 but he had lost his authority on the game by then. Johnson was at his
best when he decided to leave the game and is still considered the most dynamic point guards in the history of NBA. HIV not only ended his career, but also left him with so much frustration that he never able to recover from that annoyance.
Magic Johnson was drafted by the Lakers in 1979 as the first overall pick and he never played for any other NBA team. Johnson helped the Lakers win five NBA championships and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times.
He played in twelve All Stars games and was a key member of USA’s dream team in the 1992 Olympics. Team USA won the gold medal in those Olympics.
Drazen Petrovic
A fatal car accident cut short Drazen Petrovic’s professional basketball career when he was right at his peak. The Croatian born star ruled the Europeans league before announcing himself in the National Basketball Association.
Although he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986 but played his first game in1989.
Drazen Petrovic was considered as one of the best point guards on the circuit, before he left the whole league and the fans shattered due to a car accident along with his girlfriend in 1993. His death shook the league.
Petrovic was a true great of the game, one who showcased his brilliance on both sides of the Atlantic. His transition as a player was phenomenal. He played for three different clubs in Europe before taking his talents into the
NBA. After making a successful arrival in the league, he quickly adapted to the American style of play.
Drazen stay at the Trail Blazers was not a happy one as he was not afforded appropriate playing time. He was eventually traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1991 where he instantly shined. His playing time was increased from 12 minutes
to around 38 minutes during his time at the Nets. He was playing very well with the Nets, but suddenly decided to play again in Europe.
After featuring in the Euro basket tournament, Petrovic headed towards Croatia along with his girlfriend, but met a fatal car accident that killed both of them on the spot.
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