Unblinded with Sean Callagy - Magic Johnson: Winning Mindset, Mentorship, and Building Legacy Beyond the Game

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

In this inspiring episode of Unblinded with Sean Callagy, Sean sits down with one of the most influential figures in sports and business history — Magic Johnson.But this conversation goes far beyond basketball.It’s a masterclass on leadership, preparation, mentorship, integrity, and winning the right way.Magic reflects on what truly separated him from other elite athletes: not talent alone, but a relentless commitment to preparation, mindset, and execution. From learning discipline and excellence from his father, to being coached hard by legends like Pat Riley and Chuck Daly, Magic explains how embracing tough coaching — instead of resisting it — became a competitive advantage that carried him into business and life .He shares how recognizing what he didn’t know after basketball pushed him to seek mentors, most notably Dr. Jerry Buss, who opened the Lakers’ books and taught Magic the fundamentals of business. Through humility, curiosity, and a willingness to put in the work — countless breakfasts, lunches, and late-night meetings — Magic built a business empire rooted in trust, execution, and over-delivery.The conversation revisits defining moments in sports history, including:- Stepping into Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s role as a rookie in the NBA Finals.- Leading with belief when teammates doubted.- Winning Finals MVP through preparation, strategy, and confidence.- Being mentored by idols like Dr. J, then competing against them on the biggest stage.Sean and Magic also explore leadership at the highest level through the lens of the 1992 Dream Team, where ego was left at the door, roles were clearly defined, and excellence became a shared mission. Magic opens up about representing the United States while living with HIV — and why that moment was about far more than a gold medal. It was about proving that strength, faith, and purpose can transcend adversity.Off the court, Magic speaks powerfully about impact, explaining why his greatest legacy won’t be championships — but jobs created, scholarships funded, technology centers built, and lives changed in underserved communities. For him, success without service is incomplete.This episode is a blueprint for anyone who wants to win with integrity, lead with purpose, and build something that lasts.🔑 Key Themes CoveredWhy mindset and preparation separate winners from everyone else.The role of mentorship in scaling success beyond your comfort zone.How trust and integrity create long-term business advantage.Leadership lessons from championship teams and elite coaches.Why execution matters more than motivation.Building businesses where demand already exists.Leaving ego at the door to unlock team excellence.Turning adversity into influence and impact.Defining success by who you lift, not just what you win.Episode Highlights How Magic Johnson learned excellence from his father and coaches.Why embracing hard coaching became a lifelong advantage.The importance of believing you belong in the room.Lessons from Dr. Jerry Buss on business, ownership, and mentorship.The mindset shift that helped Magic win Finals MVP as a rookie.How preparation fuels confidence in high-pressure moments.Leadership lessons from Pat Riley and Chuck Daly.What made the 1992 Dream Team truly unstoppable.Why ego destroys teams — and clarity builds champions.Turning adversity into purpose and public inspiration.Why Magic measures success by impact, not trophies.Building legacy through service, faith, and integrity.🎧 This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs, leaders, athletes, and anyone committed to winning with integrity — on the court, in business, and in life.

This man is one of the greatest leaders in our country. No, I didn't shrink. This is Magic Johnson. This is Mr. Magic Johnson. And this man is a champion, a winner at every level in life, in love of God, in leadership, and all of it. I cannot be more thrilled and honored. This moment on the Sean Caligan Blinded podcast with Magic Johnson was a remarkable moment. You got to watch this entire thing.

Any final message, sir? No, first, God is so good. Thank you for what you're doing for everybody out here to help. you grow to help you understand it. You can take your life, your business to a whole another level. Please continue to pray and ask God to help you out. May God bless all of us and continue success. And this man is one of the greatest leaders in our country. God bless everybody. Thank you, Mr. Madge, John. Thank you. And beat Larry Bird 2 out of 3. That's right. Be Larry. That's right, Larry. You all straight the camera. That's right, Birdman. If you want to be

successful, then you got to think that you can be successful and that you can do it. Well, let me tell you this story that very few people even know. So I'm probably saying this for the first time. So this is great. So here we are with another spectacular guest on the Sean Calgary Unblinded Podcast where we on the Unblinded Podcast are helping people see what they don't see about having grow their financial abundance, time freedom, magic and impact in a space of integrity, growth, and possibility. And let's introduce our guest, Tink. Today on the Sean Calgary and Blinded podcast, we welcome a living legend, a visionary, an artist, a master, whose life is a symphony of triumph and transformation. He is the sunrise that broke through

the fog of limitation, illuminating courts and communities with the brilliance that could not be contained. Where others saw boundaries, he saw blank canvases, turning hard wood into a stage, hope soared and every past became a brushstroke of possibility. His journey is the epic tale of a young dreamer from Lansing, Michigan, who rewrote the laws of gravity, not just with his leap, but with his spirit, lifting teams, cities, and hearts to heights one thought unreachable. In the crucible of adversity, he became the alchemist, transmuting challenge into gold, setbacks into comebacks, and silence into the war of millions. Off the court, he is the architect, of new worlds, building bridges where walls once stood,

planting seeds of opportunity in fields where others saw only stone. His legacy is not just measured in banners or medals, but in the constellation of lives he's touched, each one is star, shining brighter because of his light. Today we honor not just the legend, but the force of nature who reminds us that true greatness is not what we achieve, but what we awaken and others. Let's welcome to the Sean Calgan Blinded podcast,

Magic Johnson. Thank you. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you. And thank you for the intro. Wow. Mike Tyson and Magic Johnson, wow, for intros, back to back, wow.

So two for two. Thank you for that. And we mean every word though. And that wasn't just creative through AI. That was created with intentionality and heart for the honor and privilege of having you here today. Thank you. You stand for so many things.

Such a unique champion, legend, legend master person of impact. What would you say is something, though, just for a little fun energy you start with, that a lot of people don't hear from you that you wish the world knew more about, about you? I would probably say I'm emotional, you know, and cry at movies and things that really touch my heart. People really don't know that about me. You know, and so I would say that's probably the main thing is that I'm still on. emotional guy, even though I'm tough and I'm strong and those things that my dad passed on to me,

but probably one of the most emotional guys that you're running into. Wow. And what are some of your favorite movies? Well, they're all going to be shoot them up, bang them up now. So the number one movie of my life is Godfather. That's probably, I've seen a godfather probably a million times, one, two, three. And I think it's the, best in terms of well written the actors director I mean and and when you think about the godfather it just was just amazing movie and even if you watch it for me a million times it's still great it's still fantastic it's still amazing so that's my number one movie of all time and what do you take away from the godfather I think people could take away more from the godfather I think

the strategy. I like the strategy like, you know, from the dad, pass it on to Michael. I mean, it was never about I just want to kill somebody, you know, or I want to, you know, or I want to, you know, control gambling or this or that. It was always a strategy to it. And, and I love when he said, no, two. It was strategy for him saying yes, and it was strategy for him saying no. And then he told you the reason why he said no. And I think that's powerful. Well, thank you. And how should I refer to you? I feel like pulled towards Mr. Johnson. I know that well was, would you prefer Mr. Johnson, magic? How do you, how shall I refer to you? Whatever comes out of your mouth. Because I'm fine with magic is fine. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I.

I always want to be deferential to your incredible success. Thank you, magic. Why have you been so successful off the court? So many incredible athletes, people of impact. Because what this show is all about is how people can increase with integrity, their financial abundance, their time freedom, their building of impact. You've done all those things so incredibly,

both on the court and off the court. And so many times players don't have that translation from on the court leadership and success off the court. And so many people say that you're every big of successful off the court and you're impacting your business career as you were as an incredible legendary basketball player. Why do you think that is? Well, because I understood what I knew and what I didn't know, right?

And so I know the pick and roll. I know to know look past. I know the hook shot. I know defense, offense, pick and roll. But what I didn't know was business. So what I decided to do was to make sure I got mentors, to help me to learn business. Also helped me to understand how they became successful. I love meeting with people and understanding their journey.

I'm attracted to knowledge. So I've always been a guy who love to learn and love to improve and get better. So I asked Dr. Bus, who was the owner of the Lakers, to become my first mentor because I looked up to him and he decided to do that. And he really gave me a lot of great information and nuggets to take away. And he opened up the Laker books to me when that was unheard of and showed me all the revenue streams of the Lakers. And then he told me, listen, it's not going to be easy. You got to put the work in and the time in. I said, hey, if that's what it's going to take for me to be successful in business,

I'm willing to do just that. And so I was meet with him all the time. Lunch, dinner. See, what people don't understand is you've got to put that time in. It's not going to come easy to you. So you have to say to yourself, okay, I'm willing to put the time in and willing to go where I have to go. See, that's another thing.

A lot of breakfasts, a lot of luncheons, a lot of dinners you don't want to go to. Be in New Jersey in the winter having this conversation. With you, right? So I was willing to put in the work in the time because I took that from basketball. And so once I got to understand how to start a business, then I took off from there. And I think I'm successful because of the fact that I've been a winner my whole life. I don't know nothing but winning.

And so that helped me to understand that I would do whatever it takes for me to win in business. And then I said, what's missing in urban America? Let me start where I grew up, right? And so I started there and I knew that there were, we were short on housing, we were short on retail, we were short on in terms of places that people can go to have a meal or to go to the movie. So I just started in those areas where there were heavy demand, but nobody was meeting the demand. And so that's why I jumped into urban America. That's powerful and inspiring for sure.

and we have the blessing and privilege of interviewing. I do. Come up shortly, Mr. Bus's daughter. Jenny Bus, we're out in L.A. in a week. I love Jeannie. That's my, we grew up together, basically. Wow. And she'll probably tell you that, too.

Yeah, we'll go forward to it. And I did a lot of homework coming in, so I did hear that Mr. Bus was a mentor of yours. And if you were to share with people in the audience, because what this show is so much about is what you've just perfectly captured, is the fact that we don't know how to do things. You weren't born knowing how to do a no look pass. You're genetically gifted for sure, but you learned how to do things.

And I'm going to talk about Pat Riley a little bit, if that's okay with you. But what is it do you think that people struggle with? I had this conversation with Mike Tyson the other day, and he and Custamato, how did you find your way to trusting Mr. Buss's advice and guidance? So he's your employer, right? How did that work? And what were the friction points around that? With him and maybe even bridging in a Pat Riley.

you know, please about people struggle to listen to them. There's Daniel, Mr. Miyagi, any karate kid, right? He's fearful that Mr. Miyagi is using him and arming him. How do all that work out for you? Yeah, that's a great question. Probably a question I've never really received or gotten from anybody else. Number one, you first got to understand that you belong in the room. A lot of times what happens is we're already defeated before we even get in the room

because we oh my god do I really belong there do do do I have what it takes to become a business person right and I think that's number one number two the trust issue the trust will come as you meet with people as I met with Dr. Bus he was sincere I saw that right he really wanted to help me so once you see that a person is sincere and they really open up to you and say hey I really want to help you reach your goals and dreams right then that's what a trust you you say you take that deep breath and say okay now I can open up to that person and and sure enough there will be test along the way right to make sure that person really believes in you and really want to help you and every test he was testing me I was

testing him and then all of a sudden we let those guards down and then we just really became first great friends forget owner and player so we were that first but then we became friends off the court and then mentor and student after that so there were steps to that relationship that we took and listen I trust very few people right but you know those who are in my circle that I do trust it's a reason why I trust them right and and vice versa there's a reason why they trust me but you said something that started to show off integrity right you talked about that being a big part of your show well that's a big part of trust right it's a

big part of us understanding that once a person have that and you see that in that person right and then you build your brand that way see i've always built my company my brand with with that we're going to lead with that we're going to lead with hey we believe in excellence best in class we're going to lead with i'm a man of my word so i told you i was showing up here i'm here right that's that's that's who i am and you were here That's right. I'm a disciplined man. I get up every morning at four o'clock without a clock, right? And I go to the gym, and then I'm in the office all day. So that's who I am. And so that's who I am as a ball player, but also that's who I am as a CEO and a businessman. So, and when I shake your

hand, I'm going to tell you what I can do. Also, I'm going to tell you what I can't do, right? And I think that goes a long way as well. So my, whether it's clients, customers, or my partners, they trust me because of the fact that I'm going to shake their hand and say, I'm going to do these 10 things, but really I'm going to do 15. Because I believe in one word, over deliver. That's awesome. So I want to over deliver. I think you've done a pretty spectacular job about your whole life. Very clear. Thank you. Certainly magic for that. So where that come from, You know, we're going to, you know, keep this super tight on appropriate timing. Got a few topics to go still.

But the power of this, I win. I'm going to win. And I know your dad is a mentor. You know, for sure I saw that. Pat Riley, Chuck Daly. They'll talk a little about the Olympics and the complexity of that and a few. But where did that, like, I win. I'm about excellence.

I'm about discipline. Like, where did that come from? And please. I think first it had to come from my father, passed on. then from there it went from my coaches that I played for right whether it's junior high high school coach fox coached coach in college and then Pat Rowley and so my father always said you got to do everything the right way and he didn't let me slide on that you know I remember a story that really changed my life forever so my father had two or three jobs because he had 10 kids to

support so we had a trash hauling service we would go pick up people's trash before now they got all the companies that do that for you at your home so it was snow I mean Michigan we get a lot of snow and it's cold so my job was to get all the loose trash around the barrels and then put it in put it on the truck so this day was so cold I did a half job right and I didn't chop the ice up and get the trash out of the ice and put on the truck so I ran to the cabin I jump in oh man it's warm by the time I got comfortable my father opened that door pick me up with one hand took me back to the ice and said son if you do this job halfway you'll do everything in your

life halfway you'll practice halfway everything at school, you know, your homework, you're going to do halfway. And he said, you got to learn to do everything the right way. So get a shovel, chop that ice up, get that trash out of that ice and put it on the truck. That's when I became a perfectionist like my father. That means I do everything the right way. And so that's where it came from. And then my coach is pushing me.

See, a lot of players don't want to get coached hard. today. But I love being coached tired. So because of that, again, they helped me to develop not only on the court, but off the court as well. So that's why I'm a worker today. My father, my coaches, if you give me an assignment, trust me, it's going to get done in a timely fashion. As we all grew up, remember, we couldn't, we couldn't just look at our father like our kids today can say, Well, why? We couldn't say why. Somebody tell you to get, go get that trash or go take it out. We had to get up and go take that trash out or something going to happen to it.

Now today, my grandkids always want to leave with why. I said, you're lucky. My parents wouldn't lie today to hear you say that, right? It even happens to you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I had to tell him, I said, listen, I'm going to make you a deal. I said, I'm not going to do something to you. I get in trouble, right?

Child abuse, child abuse, child abuse. But no, I just let them know that, listen, you want what you want, right? And I don't never question that. And I try to buy you the toy that you want, this, that you want, the sneakers that you want. And I don't question that. And I don't want you to question me. So when I asked you to do something, please do it. And see, my parents never said, please.

They had a bell waiting. So can I jump into? We have three quick clips that I think will be positive for today. So let's hit our first clip. I think it's 1980. And something that happened in 1980. Okay, let's see what happened. Here's the man in the hour, Magic Johnson.

Magic Girl, what do you have that makes you perform like this in these championship games? well I love to win and I guess that's the thing and go in and think and we can win any game and I'll play despite you know Kareen went in and we want to say hey we did it for you Big Thor

because you got us here and we don't want to take 9 of America the most valuable player is Project Johnson you know that guy I know that guy um

Pat Riley Lakers 80 Kareem standards please share what's that all about well when you think about that clip number one we were in the finals game five against Philadelphia and my idol I idolized dr. J that's crazy that I idolized the man and now I'm playing against him in the world championship crazy so Kareem Springs his ankle in game five that was a big game because the series was tied to two two So we had to win that game, which we did, to go back to Philly.

So we're up 3-2. But Kareem has been pronounced that he's not going to play in game six. So once they announced that, we got to the airport, and I saw all my teammates' heads were down. I said, what's wrong? Then you hear Kareem can't play. I said, so what? We're going to win anyway. And they were like, go sit down, rookie.

What are you talking about? We can't win and beat Philadelphia. without Kareem. I said, we're going to win this game without Kareem. And so I had to do something because sometimes you got to do something to shake up the atmosphere, the, you know, make sure that they know that I was serious about what I said. So I asked the stewardess, could I go on the plane first because Kareem sat in 1A, that's his seat, right? And so I sat in Kareem's seat And as every Laker came by, I said, never fear magic is here.

So they start laughing like you just did. And I said, I got five hours to work on that mindset and attitude. Because your audience got to know that they got to have a mindset and an attitude of winning. If you're going to be a business person, if you want to start off being an entrepreneur, if you want to be successful, then you got to think that you can be successful. and that you can do it. And so I knew that if we went back and we had a mindset of that we're defeated before we even played the game, they were going to blow us out by 50 points.

But if we had that mindset of we can win, we can still beat them, that we had a chance to win. And sure enough, I talked to them by the time we landed in Philly, we played the game the next day. had their mindset they were ready and we ended up winning now if i'm going to say all that i got to bag it up with action so i became the first rookie in NBA history to be named finals MVP i scored 42 points 15 rebounds 15 rebounds seven assists in that game and we end up winning and so i became the first rookie ever to be named NBA finals MVP so playing center playing center for you not do you born up in yeah well i play center guard and forwards Crazy.

I believe that you have to have a winning mindset. But why do you think that you had that belief different from most of the players? Like, what was it? And we talked a little bit about your dad and the whole thing. But why was it different for you? Why does it always seem to be different for you? Where that happened, it goes, ah, we're not going to win. You're like, you're a rookie.

And we're going to win. And why do you think that's different? for you, even among the most elite, masterful athletes on earth who had to have incredible mindsets too, why as a rookie already were you different? Well, it's all about, to be, preparation. I was always prepared for those moments. I live for those moments. And if I feel, if I'm prepared and if I understand how we're going to win, it's not just

we're going to win. you have to have strategy behind that, right? And so how are you going to do it? So like I told our teammates, we're going to be faster than them. They're going to be bigger than us, but we got to run them and run them and run them. And that's what we did. And that was our advantage, the fact that we were smaller and quicker than them. And we used that to our advantage to win the game.

So, yeah, it's something that you can just say, oh, we're going to win. no you got to have strategy behind it and then the number one thing you got to execute on the strategy see people got to remember business is about execution right and so you got to execute in business and if you can do that you give yourself a chance to win how how did dr jay relate to you after that during that after that you know he's this superstar you're this emerging superstar but a rookie how did that feel for you how did he react towards you and you know after you guys won well let me tell you this story that very few people even know so I'm probably saying this for the first time so this is great so I'm making a decision

at Michigan State we had just beat Larry Bird that dude I hate and the end series finals and that game is still the number one watch college basketball game in history Indiana State versus Michigan State So now I'm making the decision to turn pro. So I needed somebody to talk to. So I asked my coach, I want to call Dr. Jay. He was like, what? Can you give me Dr. Jay's number?

I want to call him, because I want to ask him what went in for him to make the decision to turn pro and leave college early. So he ended up finding the number. He called Philadelphia. They gave him Dr. Jay's personal. number I called him up and we talked about I said I'm trying to make this decision whether leave Michigan State or turn pro he said I'm gonna do you one better guess what he said I'm gonna fly you out to Philadelphia we're playing in the

we're playing in the playoffs I want you come stay with me what I'm I'm like fainting right now I'm like going crazy I'm gonna stay at dr. J House During the playoffs. Yeah, exactly. I ran in, I told everybody, oh, I'm staying at Dr. J. House, you know. And so sure enough, flew the Philly. He put me up at his house. You were like, we were running around talking about you coming here today.

And so he gave me so much information. I watched them play against the Hawks in the playoffs. And then I flew home. And now six, eight months later, I'm playing them in the end. NBA fighter. Is that a trip or what? I should have told you stay in college. And then I'm beating my idol in the championship. So I don't know how he felt. Did you guys ever talk about it? Yes, we did talk about it and it was like a trip for him. I just hosted you at my house.

That's bad matters. I want to win. Let me tell you this about me. I don't care who I'm playing. I can be playing my mother. My daughter played point guard for the local high school. My wife tells me, play a one-on-one, you'll help her get better. I said, no, because I know who I am.

I said, no, I don't want to play a one-on-one. But when your wife tell you to do something twice, you better get to it, right? You may get to it. So I said, okay, we go to 10. I let her get to 9. That was hard for me. That was real hard. But I let her get to 9.

And then I crushed her from then. My wife was so mad at me. She's like, you couldn't let her win. No, I can't let nobody win. It's not who I am. It's not in my DNA. I'm not made up like that. Wow.

Well, super. And I only feel like contextualizing this in my listening. So before I went blind, just real quick. I was a Division I was a Division I recruit in baseball and football. I was a four-year division one start at Columbia University. I was captain of my team senior. So I have a listening for what you're sharing. I had incredible mentors athletically.

So long before business, my background was built on sports. So these stories, these dynamics, these elements, I was a three-sport player in high school. And I was one top ten hitters division one in the country my junior year. So I receive it and I'm present to it for what you're talking about, the mastery, the competitiveness, the spirit of it all. But more than that, you didn't let that. hold you bad see I came because I'm impressed with that thank you that you got what I have right that gene of we're gonna win despite and you're winning right now despite of that you allowing but you're sharing it and so that's a that's a

powerful tool when you can share that with other people in terms of trying to help them to become successful so God's really blessing you and you blessing other people that's what it's about amen and I feel like you're saying Mr. Johnson right now. So that's named by Mr. Johnson. And for fun, I believe that influence is the only human attainable superpower. That's what Dr. Bus had.

That's how he caused yeses, that's what you do off the court and on the court. He caused yeses in leadership. So for fun, I have a million dollar bet out that I can't be out influenced on a neutral set of facts that I challenge everybody out there for charity. So I love competing. So I amen to that.

And I think that so much of business now and so much of sports and so much of all these challenges you have in the world because people don't do what you did. We just step on that court and say, we're going to go win and put yourself out there as that man in the arena. And that's why it's so inspiring to have conversations with just a champion like yourself. So thank you for that. And can we step into, you know, actually, if you don't mind, Pat Riley.

So I did a lot of research, five championships together. You know, he's somebody who speaks a lot about mindset. that had a lot of conversations. Same type of question. How is that evolution, the doubts, the challenge, the trust build, you know, his methodologies were unique. I've heard there was moments of maybe not seeing things fully eye to eye. But what do you feel like sharing please about Pat Riley

and coaching mentorship and leadership from that perspective? Well, he coached me hard. And, you know, when you go on after the same goal you have the same mindset, you're going to bump heads. That's just the natural. But in a good way, I understood who was the leader, right? And I understood my role. But I love Pat and still do.

Pat's one of my best friends today. But when he coached, he made it difficult because he stayed on top of you to be great. He knew that he had to push me every single day. And what he did was he held me to the standards of two guys, right? Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. And so he said, listen, I'm never going to let you take a day off or take a game off. I'm always stay on top of you because I'm holding you to those two standard right there. And that was the measuring stick for me, right?

And so there was a number that he always had. And all three of us played over 700. That was like amazing if you got over 700. And so he made me so mad one day. So here we are. Chicago and Boston played before the Lakers. So when I got to the arena, their game was over. And we're getting ready to get started a couple hours from now.

So Pat's on the board. he's writing up the game clan. And see, he knew what buttons to push with me. So he said, he's talking to the assistant coach named Bill. Bill, did you see what Larry Bird did tonight? Man, 45 points, 20 rebounds, nine assists. Oh, man, that bird is something. So he knew I was sitting in my seat.

I'm getting mad now. I'm steaming. Okay, so about 20 minutes later, he said, Bill, Flath, Wait, man, bulletin material. Michael Jordan just scored 55 points. So he knew, he knew, oh, I'm mad now. I got to go out there and get a big triple double. We've got to win.

So he knew sometimes what he said about those guys that would motivate me, right? And so what made him so great as a coach, he knew every single guy and what button the push with every single guy to make them go to their highest level, right? And make sure that they understood that if you're going to play for the Lakers and we're going to win the championship, you've got to be the best six man, the seventh man, the fifth man, on and on, best point guard. Kareem, you got to be the best center, Jane Worthy, you got to be the best small four, on and on. He just points to everybody. And everybody got to accept their role.

He believed in that, right? And he believed in family. He preached family and team. Nothing goes outside the family. If we have an argument, it stays within the family. If we have a disagreement, it stays within the family. And so, but his main thing was we're going to be the best conditioned team in all the NBA. And guess what?

We're going to be mentally and physically tough. And guess what? we were. That's how we're going to win the championship. And that's why we were in the finals. Guess what? Nine times in 12 years. Crazy. And beat Larry Bird two out of three. That's right. Beat Larry Bird two out of three. That's right. Larry. You're going to strike the camera. That's right. Two out of three in the NBA and an NCAA championship, too. So when you have him on the show, you run this tape back to him. Let him see it. That's a match. Man had three out of four.

Three out of four. Excuse me. Three out of four. Because of the college. So thank you for that. We had Mike Ruisione from 1980 Miracle and Ice Team, you know, playing Herb Brooks on a couple months ago. And it's just the patterns, Mike Tyson and Customato, yourself, Pat Riley, you know,

Mike Arizioni, Herb Brooks, it's the same things over and over again, that dynamic. It's just so powerful. So can we show you a second quick clip? Okay. Yeah. This is going to be now Chuck Daly stepping into. the Olympics and bringing together the greatest, I believe

the greatest sports team ever assembled. And P.S. basketball, I'm very integrous. Basketball is my third favorite sport. I played a little basketball grown up and then I transitioned wrestling in high school. But I do believe. I was a huge Knicks fan back in the

day, Patrick Ewing, that this is the greatest sports team ever assembled on the court of players. I authentically in any sport ever believe that. So please. I was talking to Matthew Johnson just for before the game, that was an intensity in his face that I hadn't seen in some time. They thought they played well against Lithuania. Croatia is better.

Final seconds. The U.S. has to be with Croatia one hundred than seven chance to 85. How'd that feel for you, winning for your country? That was nothing but God, really. you know, all that I had been through to be able to be on that stage with those other nine guys who, that team is the only team that every single guy is in the basketball Hall of Fame. That's amazing. No team, no other team can claim that.

Crazy. Right. And so with me being out of basketball had been retired to be able to come back and represent my country, represent, you know, the NBA, United States, and then play with two of my heroes, too. All of those guys are my heroes. But I always, on my bucket list, I've always wanted to play with Larry and Michael and get a chance to play with both of those guys. Oh, my goodness.

I just fell to my knees crying and saying, thank you to God for allowing me to open up that door for me to be able to play in the Olympics and just to make sure that see two things happen it wasn't for me it wasn't just about the gold medal it was about also showing people that you can be strong and still with something yet you're dealing with an element you could still be successful in life and so you're showing everybody right now you didn't you you you being blind, you're saying, hey, I can still do great things and you're doing it. So right now you're a hero to so many people who watch this show, but also so many people who might not watch this show who just meet you,

just run into you, and you can change their life forever just by meeting you because of your walk in life. So my walk in life on that stage changed a lot of people's lives and said, hey, if you're dealing with something, you can still be successful. You can reach the highest of the highest and win a gold medal despite me living with HIV.

See? And so that's a beautiful thing. Yeah. And I thank you, Mr. Magic Johnson. I was a Columbia University of the time, you know, becoming captain or great during that 1992 time frame. And it was a complicated, scary time in a lot of different ways for a lot of people. and the resiliency, the power, the vulnerability for dealing with something that had, you know, the negative stigma that it did.

It was so inspiring. And with great humility, I just throw out a concept. You know, I believe that God makes all things work together for good. I heard you reference God. I wouldn't have said if you didn't. And I believe that that journey that you went through, and I'm sorry for all the pain and challenges that would have surrounded it, was an unbelievable blessing for so many humans on this earth for hundreds of different reasons.

But really, I thank you. And that was one of the most inspiring moments in the United States history and truly, I believe, world history, what happened in that team and what was going on personally for you and the complexities of the time. And thank you. And how did Chuck Daly,

just to move back into the leadership for a moment, how did he put you guys together I mean, every, and Hall of Famer, every person. Right. How does that work? Because it's totally different than Herbrooks and Mike Arizioni because all those guys were kids and the world changed and that you can have professionals. How do he handle all that? And I've heard you compliment him so beautifully.

But what do you think he did so well that work? Well, I think Chuck, I mean, the architect of this whole dream team and him picking the right players with the right mindset and the right attitude. to, it was all about the team. He said day one, this is, oh man, awesome. When he walked into the locker room, he said, all right, you already know you're not going to get the same shots that you normally get. You're not going to get the same minutes. Most of you play 40 minutes or not.

You're not even going to get close to that on this team. Most of you understand that you probably take 30 shots. You can take 20 to 30 shots on your team. You might get 10. shots right so you have to be okay with that and then he said Michael Jordan is going to be the captain of the dream team Michael Jordan stood up and said no I don't deserve to be captain of the dream team Larry and magic should be captain of the dream team everything changed wow everybody had to leave their ego at the door at that moment and come to practice to work hard come to the games

to play as a team and let's blow everybody out and once don't forget that and that's what we did right we put a show on but let me say this what happened we didn't know we had this type of effect I remember

one guy filed Michael Jordan and he started crying in the middle of the game I can't believe I filed Michael Jordan oh my goodness and Michael's sitting there we're all sitting there man

he's really crying happy that he followed Michael. I mean, but we didn't understand the power, right, of the dream team. And that allowed us to really understand what these guys were feeling playing against us and finally meeting us for the first time in their lives. So we changed basketball forever. That's why there's so many international players into the NBA today because of the dream team. And what I'm hearing you say, received, thank you, is that Chuck Daly created just like really clear agreements with everybody.

That's right. Had the right mindset, had the right players on the right seats in the bus, and everybody went along with it. Any friction points, any complicated moments, or at all sort of was pretty smooth. Yeah, it was smooth all the way. Chuck Daly was a straight shooter, so you respected that, right? And so he would come in and say, Magic, you're not going to start tonight. John Stockman, we've got to get him some starts. So he's going to start tonight.

No problem. You know, see, when a coach is straight up with you and tell you the day before, then you got it. So Chuck Daly was always honest. He was the best dress coach because he could dress. Man, his suits were incredible. Him and Pat Riley were incredible dressers. And so we understood that he had our backs too,

Because leaders, you know, once their employees or the people who work for them, once those people understand the CEO or the president got their back, they'll go through a wall for them. And sure enough, we would go through a wall for Coach Daly, and I would go through a wall still today for Pat Riley. Because of the fact he always put me in a position to be successful, and he never lied to me. He always told me the truth.

He was always honest with me. whether I played great or I didn't play great. And he was the same guy. See, a leader has to be consistent every single day. And that's what you are and that's what I am. That's why so many people listen to your podcast and follow you because you're consistent. And also, too, the integrity you talk about, well, you have it. So that's what it's all about, right?

Just being who you are. And then we both understand our purpose. See, God gave us a purpose. So you're living out your purpose and I'm living out my purpose. And that's why I had the toy drive just two days ago, all those inner city kids who wouldn't have a great Christmas, I made sure they had a great Christmas by supplying toys to them. And Thanksgiving, we did the same thing,

making sure they had turkey and chicken and dry goods and on and on. Because that's my purpose. And so that's what it's all about. I just had a quick thought. I'm not sure if this will be helpful, if it's too late or not. But would an extra, would you know what to do with an extra 10,000 toys? Oh, I know what to do with them. So we're going to provide an extra 10,000 toys.

Oh, my goodness. Man, that's a blessing right there. I always know what to do with toys or food because there's so many people in need today. you know and you know what's beautiful is that the fact that you and i are blessed i mean beyond we probably never thought we'd be in the position that we're in my mom pushed a hot dog cart and jersey city was a kid and mine worked at the school cafeteria so we we understand and uh but here we are and they all are proud of us right our families our parents are proud of what we're doing and what we have become wow amen

Final couple minutes here is what do you do from here? What happens? You know, you have the blessing of living another 100 years on earth and a miracle happens. You have all that time. Between this day and that final day, what more happens for you? And if you think about it, what would you want to be remembered for? Well, I'm going to be remembered for really the impact that I made off the court. And, you know, the job.

that I've given people the scholarships. We've given over 10,000 minority students scholarships. You know, a lot of them have the grades to go, but they don't have the financial means to go. The technology centers that we build in the poorest neighborhoods that kids can have access to a computer. You know, I can keep going. Those are the things that I'll be remembered for,

and I want to be remembered for. It's not everything else. There's always going to be. be guys winning championships in basketball or you know guys being MVP but the impact in people's lives to understand that they need help and you're there to help them you're there to hug them high-five them you know that's what i want to be remembered for and uh last but not at least that I did everything the right way, you know, and that I never cheated somebody. I never, you know, kids and people who want my picture or autograph,

I try to accommodate them always. And so, you know, that's who I am. I'm built like my mother and my father. My mother gave back, and she taught us how to give back and to help thy neighbor. And so I got that in me from her and her smile. And then I got my work ethic and my strength and my toughness from my father. And so that's a beautiful combination. And they both taught us to love the Lord and to make sure that we give back and help.

And so nothing has changed. So I'm still that guy. And I'm glad I married somebody who also believes in that, too. Cookie believes in that as well, giving back and affecting change across this country of ours. Well, Mr. Magic Johnson, I hope this is not the end of the beginning in researching, you know, about you, your mission, your purpose, education, technology, you know, read all about it. We have an AI company. I'm not asking for anything. but I want to give value, give value, give value

because you open doors everywhere and we want to change the world, we want to solve problems that are enormous, have been unsolved. So I can't tell you how grateful I am that you blessed us and honor us with your presence, your mastery, your identity, the power of your identity.

I am not confused. Thank you for bringing that to the Sean Caligamp on the podcast. May God bless you. And I hope every single dream you still have, which are so many for people and changing lives, comes true. Merry Christmas and thank you, sir. Well, Merry Christmas. Thank you too. To everybody out there,

happy holidays. And listen, you, you know, it's hard for a successful person to still be willing to say, I want to help the world. And for me to come on this show, doing my research on you and what the show was all about, because I don't do a lot of podcasts. I hope they told you that. They did. But, The only reason I'm doing this one is because our conversation wasn't just about leadership, is about the Lord, about God, it's about giving back. And that's why I came because the man that you are. Also, you said, you know what, I'm not going to let this stop me for being great. I mean, look, you are amazing and you're doing amazing things.

And yes, you had more hits and you were doing great. there but guess what you said you know what I can have more hits with my podcast and my business AI and the things that you're doing so so the greatness having stopped just because you're dealing with something that's what I like about you so you and I gonna do some things together and I'm I'm happy thank you for the the gift of the 10,000 toys and I'm gonna tell you where and you gonna see where all 10,000 went to because I'm a man you just don't give me something I'm gonna show you what I did with the 10,000, okay? And then we're going to do other thing. I like the AI thing.

We're going to do some AI together. All right. God bless you. I have a long way to go to earn your trust. I'm going to earn it. And I promise you that I'm going to make sure before I leave this planet if I do earn it that I will bring more value to your life than anything that we have thought about and talked about. I promise. You got it. Thank you, sir. And my promise is to I've received that. Okay. God bless. Thank you. Mr. Roger Johnson. What a show. Thank you, thank you.

I think we're going to take a picture. Go on get one straight like this, bro.