Magic and Larry – An Inspiring Love Story

Magic and Bird met as teammates in the summer of 1978 on a college all-star team. Their rivalry commenced the following year in the NCAA championship game with Michigan State and Magic versus Indiana State and Bird. Magic was outgoing, always smiling and known as the media darling. Bird was introverted, fiercely private and not a fan of the press. Magic wanted to be everybody’s friend while Bird was more selective about his inner circle. 

Throughout their professional careers, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had the privilege of measuring themselves by one standard – each other. “The first thing I would do every morning during the season,” Bird says, “was look at the box scores to see what Magic did. I didn’t care about anything else. I had to have him there … somebody to compare myself to.”  

In November of 1991, Magic Johnson contacted Larry Bird to inform him he had been diagnosed with HIV and would no longer be playing in the league. Larry Bird has publically acknowledged that for the first time in his career he no longer had the desire to play the game. It was not so much the game of basketball that kept Larry’s spirit alive as it was his long standing relationship with Magic in the game. When his opponent of 13 years retired from the game Larry followed shortly thereafter.   

These men have ultimately had their careers defined by the ever present greatness of one another. They made each other better as athletes and competitors.  They are both responsible for the others’ success. Their relationship evolved from an intense rivalry to a pure, devoted friendship which remains today as one of the greatest love stories of all times in professional sports.