Basketball player Earvin Johnson earned the nickname "Magic" when he was only 15 years old. He led his high school to a state championship, led Michigan State University to the NCAA title and won the NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers all within a period of only three years. The tallest point guard in NBA history (2.06m), Johnson was elected the NBA's most valuable player of the year three times and, with the Lakers, won five NBA championships. His all-around play inspired the term "triple-double" to refer to a game in which he scored at least 10 points, captured at least 10 rebounds and made at least 10 assists. On 17 April 1989, the International Basketball Federation voted to allow NBA professionals to participate in the Olympics for the first time at the 1992 Barcelona Games. The United States chose a squad of all-stars that deservedly came to be known as the Dream Team. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were honoured with the positions of co-captains. The Dream Team was so much better than their opponents that they never called a single time-out, and their average margin of victory was 43¾ points. They also averaged an Olympic record 117¼ points per game and scored more than 100 points in every one of their eight games.

Barcelona, 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. American basketballer Earvin JOHNSON performs during the final between the United States and Croatia. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona, 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. American basketballers Charles BARKLEY and Earvin JOHNSON perform during the final between the United States and Croatia. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona, 26 July 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. Men's basketball, United States vs Angola: Earvin "Magic" JOHNSON (centre) in action. Credit: Getty Images/Olympic Museum/MUNDAY Steve

Barcelona, 26 July 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. American basketballer Earvin JOHNSON performs a free throw during the United States vs Angola game. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona, 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. Earvin JOHNSON of the United States performs a free throw during the basketball final between the United States and Croatia. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona 26 July 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. American basketball player Earvin JOHNSON performs during the match United States - Angola. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona 26 July 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. Men's basketball, match United States - Angola: the American team on the sidelines. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. American basketball players Michael JORDAN and Earvin JOHNSON celebrate their victory after the final match against Croatia. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. Ceremony of medals presentation for men's basketball: Earvin "Magic" JOHNSON of the United States on the podium. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Barcelona 8 August 1992, Games of the XXV Olympiad. Ceremony of medals presentation for men's basketball: Earvin "Magic" JOHNSON of the United States on the podium. Credit: Getty Images/POWELL Mike

Credit: IOC

For further info., please visit http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?par_i_id=59916.