Basketball: Magic cover boy again

Earvin "Magic" Johnson has made his 25th appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

This week's issue centres on his health and productivity a decade after he contracted the Aids virus. The story examines Johnson's life as a business leader, basketball icon and one of the world's most famous HIV survivors.

He is fourth in Sports Illustrated covers, trailing basketball rival Michael Jordan (49), three-time heavyweight boxing champ Muhammad Ali (38) and all-time NBA scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (28).