Magic Johnson and wife Cookie adopt baby girl

Jet, Feb 6, 1995

Former NBA superstar Earvin 'Magic' Johnson recently became a father for the third time as he and wife Cookie adopted a baby girl. And he said more kids are on the way!

Elisa Johnson was born the second week of January in Michigan, Johnson recently told JET. He and Cookie were not present for the birth but picked her up a few days later and took her to Los Angeles.

He said they named her Elisa "to keep it in line with all the other E's. I'm Earvin and she (Cookie) is Earletha and our son (age 2 1/2) is Earvin III." Johnson also has a 13-year-old son, Andre, from a previous relationship. He lives in Michigan with his mother.

Johnson, 35, said he has always wanted a big family and is not going to let his HIV status stand in the way.

"Cookie and I will probably have another one ourselves. The medical community is making great progress with HIV. It's unbelievable. I'm still healthy and strong. God has really blessed us."

He is one of 10 children and has always wanted a large family. However, he said that he and Cookie agreed that they would probably stop around six or seven.

"I knew I wanted to ado[t even before we got married. I have always wanted a large family. Kids are special. Elisa has already made us have a special feeling. It's really wonderful. Having a large family is going to be a lot of fun."

Although he no longer plays in the NBA, he still is in touch with many of the players and feels fatherly to many of them. "A lot of the guys in the NBA are like kids to me. It's not just on the court. They call and we talk about life. I just talked with Grant Hill the other day."

This is the happiest point in his life, Johnson said. Besides the children, his complex of 12 movie theaters in Los Angeles opens this spring. "I've got a good family and I'm getting into business for myself. This is the happiest I have been. I'm 20 pounds heavier than I've ever been. But it's muscle. I work out every day. I am really blessed."