Most memorable moments in sports occur during games, but there are some moments off the court or field that change fans’ lives even more drastically. One such moment occurred in 1991, when the world watched in awe as one of the NBA’s best players announced his retirement.

On this day, November 7th, in 1991, Magic Johnson announced his retirement from the NBA. The shocking announcement was paired with Johnson revealing to the general public that he had contracted the HIV virus, which was just emerging as a prevalent health threat in the 1980s.  During the press conference, Johnson declared that he would dedicate his life to “battle the deadly disease.”

Despite his retirement, Johnson was voted to the All-Star team and played in the game.  Johnson also went on to win a gold medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics as part of the famous “Dream Team.” Even though his career was cut short, Johnson is still considered one of the best point guards in NBA history and is a member of the Hall of Fame.