The Only NBA Game Ever Called on Account of Hugs
The 1992 NBA All-Star Game was one for the ages, a Magical night no fan of basketball or comeback stories will ever forget…
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THE 1992 NBA ALL STAR GAME WAS APPROPRIATELY PLAYED IN ORLANDO, HOME OF THE MAGIC. The sunny Florida locale typically associates magic with animated mice and the Magical Kingdom, but that day the only Magic that mattered was the one on a basketball court.
Magic Johnson was a three-time NBA MVP. He played in nine NBA Finals and appeared in 12 All-Star games. Along with Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan, Magic was unquestionably one of the premier faces of the league. It’s no exaggeration to say Magic and Bird saved the NBA.
But none of that mattered on the afternoon of November 7, 1991.
The sports world watched in shock as Magic Johnson announced his immediate retirement before the stunned media. The season had just gotten underway six days earlier, but Johnson had yet to play. That day, everyone learned why. In a preseason physical, Magic had tested positive for HIV.
We know much more about HIV 28 years later, but it was all so new at the time. I remember watching my television at age nine, aghast at the news. Magic wasn’t just retiring. To many, it felt like a death sentence.
Johnson retired effective immediately, dedicating his life to “battle this deadly disease.” Most figured they’d never see him on a basketball court again.
Now, barely three months later, Magic was suiting up for another basketball game. Despite never playing a game that season, the fans voted Johnson in to the All-Star Game. Once it was determined that Magic’s participation would cause no undue health risk for either him or his opponents, it was decided that he could play.
Not everyone agreed with the decision. Longtime Lakers teammates A.C. Green and Bryon Scott didn’t think Magic should play, and Karl Malone famously worried he was at risk of being contaminated in the game if Johnson had an open wound.
Controversial or not, Johnson would play, and thanks to Tim Hardaway’s selfless decision to give up his starting spot, Magic would start in what everyone assumed would be his last basketball game ever. And even in a game loaded with the NBA’s biggest and brightest stars, there was no question about the spotlight that day.
This was Magic’s show, and everyone else was just a supporting character.
It’s not like the teams in the 1992 All-Star Game weren’t absolutely loaded.
Nine of the 10 starters went on to play for the Dream Team that summer in the Barcelona Olympics. That included Magic Johnson, with Isiah Thomas a controversial exclusion. Magic’s West teammates in blue included Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, and David Robinson. His opponents in white were Thomas, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing. Another Dream Teamer, Larry Bird, would also have started if he weren’t out with an injury.
The benches had plenty of ammo, too. Magic’s included NBA legends like Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton, James Worthy and Dikembe Mutombo. Tim Hardaway was there, after giving up his starting spot, just a month before giving birth to Tim Jr., now with the Dallas Mavericks.
The 1991–92 season turned out to be a transitional one for the NBA. Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers had played in the NBA Finals the summer before, falling to the Chicago Bulls in Michael Jordan’s first championship. The 80s had been dominated by Magic and Bird, but Johnson was now retired and Bird and Kevin McHale missed much of the season for the Boston Celtics. Dominique Wilkins also missed the whole season with a torn Achilles.
Johnson and Bird would play for the Dream Team that summer, more as figureheads than stars. This was MJ’s league now, and Chuck’s and Hakeem’s and Clyde’s.
Not every player that played that day was a star. It’s hard not to chuckle at some of the inclusions lucky enough to tell their grandkids one day about the time grandpa got to play in Magic’s final All-Star Game.
Kevin Willis made his only All-Star appearance. He was second in the NBA in rebounds with one of his three positive Box Plus-Minus years in 23 NBA seasons. Michael Adams of the Washington Bullets was an injury replacement for Larry Bird. Adams was the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point makes. Journeyman Otis Thorpe made his only All-Star appearance, robbing players like Drazen Petrovic and Kevin Johnson. Thorpe’s lineup introduction recognized him as one of the game’s field-goal percentage leaders who had recently played his 500th straight game. Thorpe played four minutes — but he’ll always remember appearing in this one.
The Eastern starters were announced first, followed by the West. When the final name was announced, the Orlando crowd went berserk.
There was Magic Johnson, with his characteristically bright smile, ready for one final NBA appearance.
The game was about to begin.
IT WAS AN UP-AND-DOWN AFFAIR EARLY, with teams running the fast break back and forth while dizzied fans tried to catch their breath. Magic and Isiah pushed the pace at either end.
Johnson hadn’t played professionally since the Finals the previous summer, but he hardly looked out of shape. Instead, Magic was the one running the show. He hit an early baby hook in the post, a throwback to an iconic moment in Game 4 of the 1987 Finals against the Celtics. The game was so back-and-forth early that Dick Enberg referred to it on the broadcast as a “table tennis match.” Fonder times.
Magic scored 10 early points, and the West went on a 14–0 run to open up a 44–31 lead as the first quarter concluded.
Johnson played most of the first quarter and looked like the player everyone remembered but worried they’d never see again.
Magic was back.
The West continued their dominance in the second quarter, adding another 17–0 run to extend their lead. The 90s may have belonged to the Chicago Bulls and the East, but this night was about Magic.
It’s a strange game to rewatch. On many possessions, Magic and Isiah just dump the ball into the post and watch guys like Brad Daugherty and Kevin Willis go to work. Not all days are fonder.
Scottie Pippen and Patrick Ewing typically donned iconic #33 jerseys, but neither wore 33 on this day. That number went to Larry Bird, even as he watched from the sidelines. Pippen and Ewing split the difference; Scottie wore 30, and Patrick went with 3.
The game’s other Dream Teamer, John Stockton, didn’t even check in until the second quarter. It’s hard to watch Stockton’s muted performance next to Isiah Thomas’s brilliance and not wonder how Stockton got Isiah’s Olympic spot that summer. Thomas was a two-time NBA champion and superstar, but rumors have always persisted that key players like Jordan and Magic didn’t want Isiah on the team. Johnson even blamed Thomas at one point for spreading rumors that Magic was HIV-positive because he was bisexual or gay. The two recently had an emotional reconciliation.
Isiah’s NBA teammate, Dennis Rodman, was one of the second quarter stars. Rodman led the NBA that year with 18.7 rebounds per game, 50% more than all but one other player, his first of seven straight years leading the league. Rodman beasted the boards with 10 in the first half, but the East was no match for the West.
Even with Charles Barkley scoreless at the half, Magic and the West was coasting. They led 79–55 at the half, and Johnson led all scorers with 16 points.
The crowd was abuzz as the players returned for second-half warmups, and not because of Magic.
Two West players came out in Orlando Magic warmup jackets, and in case you’re no geography whiz, Orlando ain’t exactly out West. Clyde Drexler and David Robinson donned blue-and-black Magic warmups, a confusing sight that led fans to wonder if the two had been traded. No such luck for Orlando; the pair had simply lost their team warmups in a luggage snafu. A strange sight, nonetheless.
Vanilla Ice performed at halftime, and MC Hammer sat next to Deion Sanders courtside. NBA commissioner David Stern was shown talking on a phone, his hand cupped over his ear. The phone had a cord. This was peak 90s.
Magic is the NBA’s all-time leader in assists per game, but he recorded his first assist of the game to David Robinson a few minutes into the third quarter. Johnson had a muted quarter overall as Drexler led the way, finishing the quarter with 22 points to lead all scorers.
The broadcast team openly expressed concern for Magic’s health, were he to continue playing ball, fearing years lost at the end of his life if he kept up with such a demanding and physical sport. I always thought of Magic retiring because of fear from his opponents, and there was certainly some of that, but it’s important to remember that Magic himself was at risk too.
The third quarter concluded with the West leading 115–83, and the finish line was in sight.
After a quiet third quarter, Magic burst to life, scoring his first bucket of the second half minutes into the final session. Later, Magic caught a pass at half court facing the opponent’s basket and whipped a no-look behind-the-back pass to Hardaway for a layup before even landing. Just one of a handful of dazzling dimes from Magic on the night.
Soon after, Dennis Rodman broke up a fast break with a bear hug foul on Magic near half court. Rodman has never been afraid of much, and that bear hug foul was closer contact than many assumed the players would be comfortable with that game. It wouldn’t be the game’s last hug.
With under three minutes remaining, Magic swished a three, his first of the game, as the crowd began to rise. The next time down, he nailed another three on a heat check as the crowd went wild. Isiah gave Magic a playful shove on their way back up the court as Magic’s trademark smile lit up the arena. A couple possessions later, Johnson whipped a no-look pass to Dan Majerle, the only player yet to get on the score sheet, for a wide open layup.
Then it was Isiah’s turn. Thomas knew this might be the last time he’d ever face his friend Magic professionally, and he wanted to have some fun. The crowd buzzed as Isiah dazzled with an array of dribbles and crossovers, iso-ing Magic outside the three-point line as Magic smiled in defense. Thomas settled for a pull-up that clanged out, and Johnson raised his fist in celebration.
The next trip down it was MJ. The other eight players cleared out as Jordan took Magic one-on-one. The broadcast team noted the mismatch even Magic himself would have admitted, but neither Jordan nor Thomas wanted to embarrass their friend. Jordan dribbled back and forth at Magic before settling for a jumper that missed, and Johnson pumped his fist again.
The clock ticked under a minute as Magic brought the ball up in what would be the game’s final possession. Michael and Isiah double-teamed Johnson near center court, half playfully and half their endlessly competitive fire. Johnson passed the ball off as Jordan face-guarded him in his grill near half court a few seconds before easing off the pressure.
Magic drifted right and got the ball back with a pass over top of the defense. With the shot clock running down, Johnson dribbled with Isiah in his face and pulled up for one final off-balance, fall-away three.
SWISH!
The crowd went ballistic as Magic’s teammates bombarded him with hugs at center court. There was still time on the clock, but the East didn’t inbound the ball. Like their opponents and the players on the bench, they were overcome with joy. The players all gathered round Magic, with hugs all around.
The game’s final 14.5 seconds were never even played.
The West had won, 153–113.
MAGIC WAS NAMED ALL-STAR GAME MVP, and it was far from nominal. Johnson led all scorers with 25 points and had a game-high nine assists, all in the second half. His three treys in the game’s final minutes were more threes than the entire Eastern team. Drexler was the only other player with 20+ points, and Jordan led the East with 18. Thanks to Magic setting the tone, the West doubled the East in assists, 44 to 22.
At the MVP ceremony, Ahmad Rashad handed off to David Stern, who called this Magic Moment one of his favorite in 30 years running the league. Johnson thanked the fans for voting him in to the All-Star Game. He thanked the players for deciding it would be alright to play with him and thanked Tim Hardaway for allowing him to start.
Johnson may have been retired, but he was clearly still a star. He may not have been MVP-caliber anymore on a nightly basis, but he was still one of the best in the game.
Magic barely stopped smiling all game. He rarely ever does.
Johnson played on the Dream Team that summer, leading Team USA to gold with many of his All-Star Game teammates. He would attempte an NBA comeback that fall and even played a few preseason games before retiring again, citing controversy from opposing players. Even some of his Dream Team teammates expressed concerns, and Magic “didn’t want to hurt the game.” Johnson has since said he wishes he hadn’t retired and wouldn’t have, if he knew what we knew now about HIV.
Magic ended up coaching the Lakers briefly in 1995, leading the team to a 5–11 record, and he made a short but successful comeback in 1996. Johnson returned at age 36 with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists off the bench in his first appearance. He made only nine starts but averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, topping 10,000 assists for his illustrious career. The Lakers went 22–10 in Magic’s games, and he even got a few MVP votes.
Johnson retired for good after a first-round playoff exit that summer.
On his terms, this time.
That was the coda to Magic’s NBA career, but the 1992 All-Star Game was the final, seminal moment. Like Michael Jordan’s shot over Bryon Russell in the 1998 Finals, that All-Star Game was the final moment we’ll all look back on as the deserving exclamation point to an all-time Hall of Fame career.
Yet for all 25 points and nine assists, the memorable threes and incredible passing, it was a non-basketball moment that stood out more than any other.
It was the game’s final moments, when love overcame fear, as Magic’s teammates and opponents looked past the fear of the unknown and bombarded him with hugs at center court. Today more than ever, perhaps we can appreciate how meaningful that moment was.
Magic later said it was the first ever game called on account of hugs.
We should all be so lucky. ■
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