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PRO BASKETBALL

PRO BASKETBALL;Leaving on His Terms, Johnson Retires Again

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May 15, 1996, Section B, Page 10Buy Reprints
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Ending his latest comeback abruptly, Magic Johnson announced his retirement from basketball yesterday, allowing himself and the Los Angeles Lakers to move in different directions after a controversial season.

"I was satisfied with my return to the N.B.A., although I would have hoped we could have gone further into the playoffs," Johnson said in a statement issued through his agent, Lon Rosen. "But now I'm ready to give it up. It's time to move on. I'm going out on my terms, something I couldn't say when I aborted a comeback in 1992."

Johnson, one of the game's most celebrated players, is perhaps the most visible patient infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. The Lakers were caught off guard by the announcement, apparently receiving no warning from Johnson. The decision was announced by his agent.

Johnson returned to the National Basketball Association on Jan. 29 after more than a three-year absence. But despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding his comeback, the Lakers suffered serious internal problems as the season progressed, and Johnson became frustrated at times with his teammates, his coach and his role. The Lakers were eliminated by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the N.B.A. playoffs, and Johnson complained that he was not used enough at point guard during the series.

It became clear that the Lakers, a young team, were not the perfect fit for Johnson, a 36-year-old player used to being the focus. Johnson apparently decided that retirement was the best solution, rather than trying to sign with another team as a free agent.

If Johnson's retirement is final, it will conclude a spectacular and compelling career. Rosen said the decision had nothing to do with Johnson's health. Johnson initially retired before the 1991-92 season, after it was discovered he had H.I.V. Johnson vowed that he would continue living life to the fullest, and he became an inspiration to others similarly infected, a role that extended beyond the boundaries of sports.

But basketball remained his passion, and Johnson could not stay away. First, he returned for the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando, Fla., with an emotional performance that earned him the game's most valuable player award. Then Johnson returned for the 1992-93 season, but that comeback ended during the exhibition season, when Johnson retired again after some opposing players expressed fear about competing against someone who had H.I.V.

He tried his hand at coaching the Lakers at the end of the 1993-94 season. But he lasted only about a month, finishing with a 5-11 record and saying he would not return as coach.

Johnson continued to play in off-season pickup games against other N.B.A. stars, and he realized he could still compete at the highest level. Finally, Johnson returned again to the league this season, and he insisted that criticism and fear would not drive him away. Johnson was received warmly by his peers, and Johnson felt his experience and leadership might propel the Lakers to a championship.

But problems arose quickly. Although Johnson averaged 14.6 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds a game, he was a different player from the one who led the Lakers to five championships during the 1980's as a do-everything, 6-foot-9-inch point guard.

Stronger and bigger, Johnson was still a gifted passer, but he was also a step slower, especially on defense. And adding a strong personality like Johnson's to a young team like the Lakers proved to be volatile. Cedric Ceballos, a star forward with the Lakers, left the team for several games, and those close to the team said Ceballos was unhappy about his diminished role since Johnson's return.

Later in the season, the starting point guard Nick Van Exel was suspended for seven games for shoving Referee Ron Garretson. Johnson harshly criticized Van Exel, but one week later, Johnson was given a two-game suspension for bumping a referee, after Johnson complained that he had been fouled on a drive to the basket. Johnson was so distraught about the suspension that he apologized to his teammates in tears. But the frustration that boiled over in that incident was a signal of things to come.

After a Game 1 loss against Houston in the playoffs, Johnson criticized Coach Del Harris for playing him too much in the low post. The Lakers never figured out how to mesh the talents of Johnson and Van Exel, and once the Lakers were eliminated, Johnson hinted that he would play elsewhere next season if the Lakers did not want him as the No. 1 point guard. But Johnson's heart was always with the Lakers, and he apparently decided that he would rather retire than play elsewhere.

"We weren't totally surprised, Harris said. "We knew that was one of the possibilities. But obviously, we're sad to see one of the great players who ever played the game make the decision not to play. I don't feel there was a particular disruption, other than basically a broken heart. I think he felt he could be that extra little impetus to put us over the top. In the perfect situation, Earvin would have put on another ring and said, 'Now, that's what I was talking about.' "

If Johnson changed his mind and wanted to return next season, it would need to be approved by at least three-fourths of the league's board of governors. He has many businees interests, including the Magic Johnson Theaters and his land development company.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section B, Page 10 of the National edition with the headline: PRO BASKETBALL;Leaving on His Terms, Johnson Retires Again. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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