"Everything," Byron Scott said when asked what he remembered about Nov. 7, 1991.
On that date, Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA due to contracting the HIV virus. Scott was Johnson's teammate and close friend.
"I was at Loyola Marymount at the gym," Scott remembered. "(Former Lakers' coach) Mike Dunleavy said we had a mandatory meeting at the (Great Western) Forum."
Scott said that he was with James Worthy, and the pair of teammates attempted to figure out why they had this meeting. Scott said they had "pretty much" figured it out before the duo headed home to shower up.
"Unfortunately, back in those days, we didn't have practice facilities, so we couldn't take showers and get dressed and have lunch and all that good stuff, so I went home," Scott continued hinting that the modern NBA players may be a tad bit spoiled.
Scott said he heard the news to confirm what he already believed the moment he got in the car.
"Got home and took a shower, sat on my bed with my head in my hands," Scott continued to reminisce about that unforgettable day 23 years ago. "And my wife came in and she was hysterical."
Then, he went to the meeting.
"Then, went to the forum, and Earvin told us what he was about to tell the world, and there wasn't a dry tear in the locker room."
Scott feared the worst. The Lakers’ coach said from his limited knowledge of HIV, he thought it was a "death sentence."
"Twenty-three years later and he's making millions and millions of dollars being as only Earvin can be," Scott finished his recounting with a smile.
Johnson, who was one of the Lakers' harshest critics in recent years, was present when Scott was announced as the Lakers' coach and has continued to back the team despite an 0-5 start to the season.
I know the Lakers are 0-5, but they are playing exciting basketball and Kobe is worth the price of admission. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) November 5, 2014
