Two hours before the start of the game, Johnson was surrounded by reporters in the locker room, bombarded with a barrage of questions, many of which were related to health and AIDS.
Johnson maintained a smile, telling everyone that no matter what happens, he stays positive and optimistic. As long as he has the support of family and friends, he can overcome any difficulty.
Gan Guoyang, Jordan, Thomas, and others all became supporting characters tonight, willingly so, as Johnson deserved a retirement performance.
When the game started, Johnson represented the West Team in the starting lineup, and the 20,000 fans on site erupted in the loudest cheers and applause.
Johnson held back tears as he stepped onto the court, followed by a hug with Isiah Thomas, his great friend and rival, breaking down their barriers.
The game quickly began, and both sides were playing without intensity, as the theme of tonight was to have fun with Magic Johnson.
