Johnson was the first selection in the 1979 NBA draft and he immediately established himself as one of the league's best players, leading the Lakers to the league championship the following spring and was selected as the MVP of the Finals, the first rookie to receive such an honor.

The Lakers reached the NBA Finals nine times in Johnson's 12 seasons, most recently last June, when they were beaten by the Chicago Bulls in five games.

Johnson earned All-NBA status for the ninth time and was second behind Chicago's Michael Jordan in the MVP voting last season.

The Lakers won their last championship in 1988, when they became the first NBA team to win consecutive titles since the Boston Celtics in 1969.

In his 12 NBA seasons, Johnson averaged 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 11.4 assists. He was chosen in September to play for the United States in the 1992 Olympics, the first Games in which pro basketball players will be eligible.

Johnson, from Lansing, Mich., was married in his home state on Sept. 14 to longtime girlfriend Cookie Kelly. He has a son, Andre, who lives in Lansing.

Johnson didn't waste time assuming his role as a spokesman for awareness of AIDS.