mobile app bar

“I couldn’t care less if Magic Johnson has HIV, I’m going to slam him anyways”: When Dennis Rodman did not hold back his words about having to guard the Lakers legend

Arun Sharma
Published

"I couldn't care less if Magic Johnson has HIV, I'm going to slam him anyways": When Dennis Rodman did not hold back his words about having to guard the Lakers legend

Magic Johnson was famous for two things – being a Laker and beating HIV. It all began when Magic could not keep his Johnson holstered – he got struck down by a virus that had no known cure.

In his quest to beat Wilt Chamberlain, Magic ignored the warnings of latex manufacturers and decided to go in headfirst, with no cover. That brought on some major problems, effects of which can still be felt to this day.

At the time of his announcement, the world did not know much about the virus – almost all the players were afraid to play with or against him. he tried to make a comeback in 1992 when he was cleared, but no one wished to be on the same court as him, so he retired. But 4 years later, his move was accepted.

Two players known for their no filter comments, Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman, had this to say about him. They were on the court only to play basketball and did not care if a man was struck down by a fatal disease. All they wanted to do is body him, as much as they could.

Also Read: “I wish I could win one of those Magic Johnson trophies!”: Celtics legend Larry Bird reacts to the conference finals MVP trophies being named after his eternal rival

Dennis Rodman and Magic Johnson had their battle when the Lakers legend decided to return in the 1996-97 season

And body him they did. Because when Magic returned to play the Bulls in 1996, it was a different world. 4 years may not seem like a lot, but this Bulls team was ready to win its second 3-peat. Dennis Rodman bullied Johnson all night long, riding him like a mechanical bull.

Michael Jordan pulled Magic aside after the game and said “Earvin, you have to remember now, you’re not with Kareem, you’re not with James Worthy. All the guys you used to play with, Showtime, are not on that Lakers team anymore. So maybe you should think about retiring.” These words couldn’t be truer, and it was the final nail in the coffin for his failed attempt to make a comeback.

Johnson did not last long in the league after that and has moved on to other things in life – like making almost 600 million dollars. Not bad for someone who the world thought was going to die at any point in time.

Also Read: “David Stern told me he’d kick me out of NBA if I got more tattoos, I got one that night”: Dennis Rodman defied a direct order from NBA Commissioner

About the author

Arun Sharma

Arun Sharma

instagram-iconlinkedin-icon

Arun Sharma is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. A double degree holder and a digital marketer by trade, Arun has always been a sports buff. He fell in love with the sport of basketball at a young age and has been a Lakers fan since 2006. What started as a Kobe Bryant obsession slowly turned into a lifelong connection with the purple and gold. Arun has been an ardent subscriber to the Mamba mentality and has shed tears for a celebrity death only once in his life. He believes January 26, 2020, was the turning point in the passage of time because Kobe was the glue holding things together. From just a Lakers bandwagoner to a basketball fanatic, Arun has spent 16 long years growing up along with the league. He thinks Stephen Curry has ruined basketball forever, and the mid-range game is a sight to behold. Sharma also has many opinions about football (not the American kind), F1, MotoGP, tennis, and cricket.

Share this article