What if Magic never got HIV...

[dankok8]

.. or alternatively people actually knew that playing basketball isn't dangerous when you have HIV and that HIV doesn't spread through contact. Some cats like Karl Malone actually refused to play with Magic at one point because they thought they'd get infected.

Magic barely had injuries and I think he could have had a good 20 year career considering his game didn't rely a lot on athleticism and broken a lot of records like Stockton's assist record, had many more playoff triple doubles etc. The big question is could he have won another title? How much stronger would his GOAT case be today?

[LAmbruh]

https://i.postimg.cc/yYhS3x4Z/e166d07c30117d40223b07d881e003de.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[brownmamba00]

Karl malone really was a scumbag. Can't believe he still gets to play in commercials. Hollyweird.

[Axe]

Then ej would never be a transgender cleveland jr.

[SATAN]

https://i.postimg.cc/yYhS3x4Z/e166d07c30117d40223b07d881e003de.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Magic had chicks following him around every state meanwhile MJ was rejected by Madonna who settled for his sidekick because MJ couldn't satisfy her. He then went on to marry and habitually cheat on Juanita:

https://frostsnow.com/uploads/gossip/2017/06/26/michael-jordan-s-ex-wife-juanita-vanoy-know-her-current-affairs-and-reason-for-divorce.jpg

Imagine if Michael Jordan caught HIV back then :lebronamazed:

[Xiao Yao You]

.. or alternatively people actually knew that playing basketball isn't dangerous when you have HIV and that HIV doesn't spread through contact. Some cats like Karl Malone actually refused to play with Magic at one point because they thought they'd get infected.

Magic barely had injuries and I think he could have had a good 20 year career considering his game didn't rely a lot on athleticism and broken a lot of records like Stockton's assist record, had many more playoff triple doubles etc. The big question is could he have won another title? How much stronger would his GOAT case be today?

Magic was on the decline. Stockton would have passed him regardless. Doubt they would have gotten another ring without help like Lebron got

[LegendaryBaller]

I’m pretty sure Magic was bi and/or into the tranny scene. Much like his teammate James Worthy. Oddly his wife never got the virus. So either she was his beard or they had a terrible marriage where they weren’t having any physical intimacy.

[light]

I’m pretty sure Magic was bi and/or into the tranny scene. Much like his teammate James Worthy.

What are you basing that on?

[ronniec]

Imagine if Bird never injured his back

[FireDavidKahn]

https://i.postimg.cc/yYhS3x4Z/e166d07c30117d40223b07d881e003de.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Cover for his real desire.

[r0drig0lac]

https://i.postimg.cc/yYhS3x4Z/e166d07c30117d40223b07d881e003de.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

/thread

[HoopsNY]

Magic was on the decline. Stockton would have passed him regardless. Doubt they would have gotten another ring without help like Lebron got

How much on a decline was he?

1990 Magic: 22.4/11.5/6.6 on 48%, All-Star, MVP, All-NBA 1st Team
1991 Magic: 19.3/12.5/7.0 on 48%, All-Star, 2nd in MVP voting, All-NBA 1st Team

His points dropped but his assists went up and so did his rebounding slightly. I could see Magic continuing to average 19-20 PPG and 11+ assists for at least 2-3 more years.

Keep in mind, 36 year old Magic came back and averaged 15/6/7 on 47% in just 30 minutes of play, after a four year layoff. That's freaking impressive.

[dankok8]

Magic during his brief comeback in 95-96 started 9 games and averaged 19/7/7. That was after half a decade of no basketball at age 36. That's a very small sample though.

Lakers drafted Van Exel in the 2nd round and Eddie Jones 10th in the mid 90's so they could have drafted them even with Magic. Magic could have led those Lakers with those two plus Divac, Scott, Perkins to maybe another Finals but they don't beat the Bulls IMO. Perhaps maybe they could sneak one in 1994. But I especially wonder if Magic never retired and Shaq came over in 1996 along with young Kobe... Maybe those flawed Del Harris Lakers with Magic at PG win the title in 1997 or 1998. Magic even if he lost two steps still knew how to get guys good shots and to be a locker room leader even at 37 years old.

[nayte]

https://postimages.org/

[Phoenix]

Magic was on the decline. Stockton would have passed him regardless. Doubt they would have gotten another ring without help like Lebron got

HoopsNY already covered it but Magic in 91 was still an MVP caliber talent( 2nd in voting). His raw stats that season were basically par with career averages( 91 season 19/13/7 48%, career 20/11/7 52%). He dipped in efficiency but that coincided with him taking 3s.

The 91 Bulls not only won the title, they prevented either a Pistons 3peat, or Magic winning his 6th. Without Kareem onboard Magic may have occupied a permanent top 3-4 spot if that happened, especially had he beaten the Bulls. Isiah would have moved up the rankings too had they won, especially if he had a strong finals showing. But back on point, had Magic kept playing he probably would have continued putting up in the ballpark of 18/11/7 47% for another 3-4 years. Probably wouldn't have won any more chips with that Bulls squad/MJ peaking, but individually Magic had plenty left in the tank, even if he declined from MVP level/top 3 to merely lower top 10. ISH trolls like to speak to his HIV status when he retired but beating Magic in 91 still meant something.

[HoopsNY]

HoopsNY already covered it but Magic in 91 was still an MVP caliber talent( 2nd in voting). His raw stats that season were basically par with career averages( 91 season 19/13/7 48%, career 20/11/7 52%). He dipped in efficiency but that coincided with him taking 3s.

The 91 Bulls not only won the title, they prevented either a Pistons 3peat, or Magic winning his 6th. Without Kareem onboard Magic may have occupied a permanent top 3-4 spot if that happened, especially had he beaten the Bulls. Isiah would have moved up the rankings too had they won, especially if he had a strong finals showing. But back on point, had Magic kept playing he probably would have continued putting up in the ballpark of 18/11/7 47% for another 3-4 years. Probably wouldn't have won any more chips with that Bulls squad/MJ peaking, but individually Magic had plenty left in the tank, even if he declined from MVP level/top 3 to merely lower top 10. ISH trolls like to speak to his HIV status when he retired but beating Magic in 91 still meant something.

ISH trolls do this because they're insecure about their boy toy Bran. The only way to legitimize Bran's legacy, at least in their eyes, is to diminish the status of other great NBA stars.

Since LeBron joined LAL and is playing PG, you'll find more of them come out the woodwork to claim that he's greatest PG, ever. There was a thread already about it where Bran stans are claiming he's the best at nearly every position all-time.

By diminishing Magic's legacy, they can easily place LeBron above him - both in the ranks of the great LA Lakers players as well as being the greatest PG, ever.

And while doing this, it somehow always falls back to diminishing MJ. The theory is, "Magic was on the decline!" They only do this to downplay MJ's dominance and ultimately his finals victory in 1991. I mean, we see this with how they discuss the Pistons.

1990: "Detroit was a great team smacking MJ around! NBA Champs!
1991: "Detroit was old!" womp womp

Magic goes from being an MVP, All-Star, All-Star MVP, All-NBA 1st team, leading his team to 63 wins into the WCSF in 1990 to finishing 2nd in MVP voting, All-Star, All-NBA 1st team, leading his team to 58 wins and making it to the NBA finals in 1991.

But he was on the decline. And not a "decline" fractionally speaking, but that he descended out of his prime into the category of washed up status.

The funny thing is, Bran stans act like nobody sees this obvious child's play.:lol

[pandiani17]

If Larry Bird and Magic hadn't retired so early they would be much higher at the all-time individual statistics and they would easily be in the GOAT discussion with MJ, KAJ ldn't have and LeBron.

[biggestnbafan]

If my aunt had a d*ck, she'd be my uncle.

[Stanley Kobrick]

If my aunt had a d*ck, she'd be my uncle.
:milton

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Magic had chicks following him around every state meanwhile MJ was rejected by Madonna who settled for his sidekick because MJ couldn't satisfy her. He then went on to marry and habitually cheat on Juanita:

https://frostsnow.com/uploads/gossip/2017/06/26/michael-jordan-s-ex-wife-juanita-vanoy-know-her-current-affairs-and-reason-for-divorce.jpg

Imagine if Michael Jordan caught HIV back then :lebronamazed:

At least MJ didn't choose to satisfy men. You do realize that HIV is usually a disease that is spread by gays? Also go take a look at Magic's son hahahaha

[dankok8]

Some what if's are kind of pointless like "What if Bird never got injured...". Getting injured is part of the game and Bird was injury prone so that isn't a good what if. But Magic's what if is legit. HIV has nothing to do with playing basketball and if he got it today, he would definitely keep playing. There is no danger to himself or others but at that time people didn't know.

[Axe]

If my aunt had a d*ck, she'd be my uncle.
You're a virgin, lol.