Michael Jordan will be there. So will Chris Mullin, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, David Robinson and all the rest. But all the star power assembled for today's NBA All-Star Game won't detract from what it really is: Magic's game.
For 12 years Johnson was perhaps the NBA's most enduring star, playing on five NBA Championship teams. Today is Magic's chance to say goodbye. His chance to flash that last kinetic smile, deliver that last exuberant hug, give the world a last memorable look at the Magic Man together with his wondrous game."It will be a great event for me simply because of the fact that it may be my last game, so my VCR will be working," said Johnson. "And I'll get to play with all those stars one more time, all in one game, so I can pop it in for my son or daughter who will be born and say, `Hey, this is Dad's last game. He got a chance to say goodbye.' Because I haven't had a chance to say goodbye to all the fans, so this will be my way of saying goodbye."
Johnson never got that chance before because he didn't know until early November that his career was over. He shocked the world by announcing on Nov. 7 he had contracted the AIDS virus and was retiring.
Since then, there has been a worldwide outpouring of support for Johnson, who still plans to play in the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona. He even talked of returning to the NBA. But for now, there's only one game he's certain of.
West Coach Don Nelson said on Friday that if Johnson wants to play all 48 minutes in today's game, he can.
"I feel great, but I know with all those stars I'm not going to be playing 48 minutes," said Johnson. "But whether I play one minute or five minutes, I'll thank him (Nelson) dearly for those minutes."
Johnson was voted to the All-Star team by fans, even though he officially retired in November. NBA Commissioner David Stern ruled Johnson was eligible to play and added Golden State's Tim Hardaway - the third guard in the voting - to the team.
"I must tell you I'm glad Magic Johnson is playing in All-Star Weekend. I'm the one who got to make the choice," said Stern. "And I'm glad it was."
Johnson says he is fit and ready to play in NBA-calibre competition, though he hasn't done so since the exhibition season. He denied being restless not playing, but said, "I was telling my wife the other day it's gonna be fun getting back out there."
"He may not have played in awhile," said Phoenix's Jeff Hornacek, "but he'll be so pumped up, the adrenalin will carry him for awhile."
"How sharp am I gonna be?" said Johnson, flashing his old smile. "We-e-e-e-l, we'll just have to wait and see."
West teammate David Robinson, who sat out of basketball for two years serving in the Navy, said he understands how Johnson will feel. "When I finally stepped out on the floor, I felt sick and had butterflies before the game. Certainly I can see that's how he'll feel. I think it's going to be very emotional."
Jazz forward Karl Malone said he is glad Johnson is playing. "I have no problem with it," he said.
Johnson, Portland's Clyde Drexler, Golden State's Chris Mullin and Malone were voted to the starting lineup by NBA fans. The East starters are Philadelphia's Charles Barkley, New York's Pat Ewing, Chicago's Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan and Detroit's Isiah Thomas.
Boston's Larry Bird was voted to the team, but will miss due to a back injury. But for one final reunion, the rest will all be there, playing the Magic Man's game.
"The pregame, just to hear the crowd again, all of it'll be emotional, without a doubt," said Johnson. "Guarding Michael and Isiah the rest of them, throwing that first pass . . . I think it all will be emotional. You know, Nellie (Nelson) thumpin' his feet at me and hollering like (former coach Pat) Riley used to do . . . all of it will be great.
"I will suck it all up and devour it and I will put a cap on it and never let it go."