As the basketball world descends upon Los Angeles for a reformatted 75th NBA All-Star celebration,, it is impossible to not look back at the most emotional chapter in the game's history: the 1992 return of Earvin "Magic" Johnson after his HIV diagnosis.

Thirty-four years ago, the NBA was at a crossroads. Just three months before the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando, Johnson had stunned the globe by announcing his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers after testing positive for HIV. At the time, the world was reeling from the AIDS epidemic. Diagnoses like Johnson’s were often viewed as a death sentence, and the stigma surrounding the virus was a wall that few dared to climb.

Despite being away from the court all season, the fans—Magic’s "purple and gold" faithful and basketball lovers worldwide—voted him in as a starter for the Western Conference. 

Johnson stepped onto the floor on Feb. 9, 1992, to  a deafening standing ovation. His  rival and friend, Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas met him with a kiss on the cheek—a simple gesture that shattered myths about how the virus was transmitted.

Over  29 minutes, Johnson proved that while his life had changed, his game remained untouched. He led all scorers with 25 points, dished out nine assists, and shot a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. As the clock wound down, the game turned into a poetic one-on-one showcase between Johnson and Eastern Conference leaders Michael Jordan and Thomas. After Johnson buried a final, contested three-pointer, the game was called with 14 seconds left as players from both teams rushed the court to hug the man who had defined their era.

"I’ve been trying to write this story all week," Johnson said after being named the game's MVP. "And the game was like I was at my typewriter, and I said, 'Here’s my ending.' Period."