Michael Jordan is a person always considered savage and someone who is not worried about anything or anyone. In his long career, he’s had many scandals and controversies. However, Jordan did what he wanted to and focused on his basketball performance.

The documentary ‘The Last Dance’ showed the legend’s legacy and how he managed to win not only one but two 3-peats for his team, the Chicago Bulls. Even the flu couldn’t stop the legend from putting in an exhilarating performance.

But one thing stopped Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, made him retire, and even frightened Jordan. And it was something beyond basketball entirely, it was HIV AIDS. Johnson had declared he tested positive for HIV on November 7, 1991.

Michael Jordan did not think HIV could happen to basketball players

Throwback to the era when NBA players had endorsed Playboy. An All-America Playboy team used to be declared with all the top players. At the same time, Playboy interviewed Michael Jordan. This came right after Magic Johnson declared that he had tested positive for HIV.

In the same interview, when asked if basketball players had ever considered AIDS as a serious possibility, Michael responded, “We were aware of it, but most guys never thought of it happening to heterosexuals. It was always gays, drug users and people who got it from transfusions. But it slapped me right in the face. From all angles, it slapped me.” 

This shows how less aware people were of diseases like HIV and AIDS at the time. However, people started taking it seriously after Magic Johnson’s incident. According to Michael Jordan, this was a revolutionizing incident. Moreover, this was the beginning of people starting to accept that it can happen to everyone and not discriminate against others who also tested positive.

MJ also added in the interview that he would not have been surprised if other athletes at the time tested positive as well. He also stated that he had been tested for the disease as well.

“I’ve been tested for the last two years,” Jordan said. “Because I’ve had insurance policies demanding it,” he added.

What did you think of Jordan’s thoughts on Magic Johnson? Let us know in the comments below.

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