Magic Johnson Recalled His Parents Buying Him $1.99 Sneakers While His Competition Showed Up With Julius Erving Signatures

What can one say about Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson that hasn’t been said already? His talent was touched by the Gods themselves. He has beaten all odds to survive an HIV diagnosis since 1991. His incredible moves on the court are as talked about as his storied lifestyle off it, filled as it is with lavish parties and a host of celebrities.

During his playing days, athletes — even superstars like Magic Johnson — did not make the kind of money they do. But post retirement, thanks to sound business ventures and savvy investments, he has become a billionaire in his own right, joining Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Tiger Woods as one of the only four athletes to figure in Forbes billionaire list. But what many do not know — or have possibly forgotten — is just how hard the Hall of Famer had to work to get there.

Nobody knows better than Magic how how important discipline, focus and hard work were to escape poverty. The Lakers legend famously grew up in a poor family, where he, his parents, and his 9 siblings all shared a three-bedroom household.

Johnson opened up about that tough childhood during a talk at a private event decades ago. “You can’t be late to the dinner table when you’ve got nine other brothers and sisters,” he somberly joked in an interview with The Limits. “So a lot of times, I went to bed hungry,” he added, after taking a slight pause to remember how difficult it was being a Johnson kid.

Basketball was his ticket out

Basketball served as a welcome distraction for Magic Johnson, especially since he was so good at it. He later told a story of how his parents could barely afford to buy him sneakers. “I remember back in the day the Dr.J’s and Clyde Frazier Pumas were the thing to have, and I couldn’t have them…my family was poor.” But Magic didn’t let that keep him down.

“I used to go to Walgreen’s and pick from those 99 cent specials that they had,” Johnson revealed to the crowd. “You had to pick your own sneakers for $1.99.” After making a joke about finding the right size, Magic recalled his friends wearing the Dr.J sneakers when they played basketball. “But you know what? I was wearing them out in those $1.99 specials.”

Magic started to perk up at this point. He told the audience that not only did he find success, not just in the NBA but as a businessman, but his siblings did as well.

Johnson never got the Dr. Js, but he did get his own shoe deal with Converse

While Magic Johnson may have missed out on getting those Pumas that he wanted as a kid, he eventually managed something way better: get his own sneaker line.

The now 65-year-old Hall of Famer signed with Converse in 1979, a deal that made a large portion of his money until dropping the brand in 1991.

Going from $1.99 Walgreens chucks to making nearly $2 million per year from a sneaker deal is a great full-circle moment for Johnson, one that he certainly recognized while on stage speaking to that crowd.

Not many people are able to escape the poverty they grew up in. Magic is a prime example of taking as big a swing as possible with your life. Sometimes you might strike out, but every once in a while. You’ll hit a Grand Slam.

About the author

Joseph Galizia

Joseph is a Las Vegas based actor and circus performer. For the last seven years he's had the pleasure of covering sports for multiple outlets, including the Lifestyles section of Sports Illustrated. In that time, he's conducted over 50 interviews with athletes, filmmakers, and company founders to further cement his footprint in the journalism world. He's excited to bring that skillset to the SportsRush, where he'll be covering the NBA news cycle.

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