Magic Johnson Instagram – I don’t get nervous often, but when I was blessed with the chance to meet Nelson Mandela in 1996 – I was shaking! While touring with my team of former NBA players, President Mandela invited us down to play games and run free basketball clinics with giveaways in the villages of South Africa. I was, and still am, in awe of all of the peaceful work and leadership that President Mandela displayed in the face of adversity. He is a hero to me, and his legacy still carries strong throughout the world!