Magic Johnson is a name that's synonymous with great achievement and great bravery. For everything he achieved as a basketball player - and that was a lot - he achieved a great deal more for society by helping to break down the taboos around HIV and AIDS.
Johnson's name is synonymous with the LA Lakers. He served the team as a great player, then as a coach, and then as part owner. He's still with the team today as the president of basketball operations, meaning he's been involved with the Lakers for 39 years. When he was first diagnosed with HIV, awareness that the illness could affect heterosexuals was very low, and those who were affected never spoke about it. By choosing to speak publicly, and educate others about the dangers of unsafe sexual conduct (which Johnson admitted was the cause of his own infection), Johnson may have saved more lives, and educated more people, than anyone could ever count.