Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Nov. 7, 2024.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Nov. 7, 1991, Earvin “Magic” Johnson retired from the NBA after disclosing that he had tested positive for the HIV virus. Johnson, who helped lead the Lakers to five NBA titles in his 12 seasons with the team, retired as the league’s all-time leader in career assists with 9,921.

“‘I’m going to beat it,’ Magic tells the world,” read the Deseret News headline that day.

Ironically, Johnson was in Utah when he was asked to return to California to talk about his diagnosis. Utah helped introduce Magic to the world.

Johnson first burst onto the national scene at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City as his Michigan State Spartans captured the

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