73YO Business Icon Behind Billionaire Magic Johnson Earns Heartwarming Tribute Amid Iconic Honor

Almost 3 decades away from the NBA hardwood and Magic Johnson is still winning. The only difference? That number 32 jersey has been replaced by high-end custom-tailored suits, and the arena is no longer the Great Western Forum but the entire business space. From professional sports teams to restaurants and from movie theaters to financial services, Johnson is everywhere. No wonder he recently received an honor, recognizing his contributions to entrepreneurship and business leadership. And the one to present Buck with this honor? One of the first in the business space to have faith in Magic.

That person is 73-year-old Ken Chenault, a name that holds serious weight in corporate America. But for Magic, it’s not just about business. It’s personal. Just last year, the Lakers icon revealed something deeply touching—Chenault and American Express were the first major backers of his business ventures after he publicly announced his HIV diagnosis. “I will always hold deep gratitude and love in my heart towards him for believing in me and helping jumpstart my business career,” he shared on Instagram. And now, Chenault has recently bestowed the 5x NBA champ with a major honor.

The update came from Magic Johnson himself in a post on X. “A big thank you to one of the founders of the Boca Black Executive Leadership Conference John Utendahl and former American Express CEO Ken Chenault, for presenting me with the Boca Founders Entrepreneur Award at the 26th Annual Boca Black Executive Leadership Conference,” he wrote. And what significance does it hold?

The Boca Founders Entrepreneur Award is an honor presented at the Boca Black Executive Leadership Conference, an annual event that recognizes and celebrates excellence among Black leaders in business, finance, and entrepreneurship. Now in its 26th year, the conference serves as a prestigious gathering for executives, innovators, and thought leaders, and the award highlights individuals who have made significant entrepreneurial contributions and demonstrated leadership that inspires economic and social advancement in the Black community. And Magic truly deserves the recognition.

And Magic Johnson didn’t stop there. He gave a nod to Utendahl’s remarkable rise from Wall Street to building the Utendahl Group, one of the top African American-owned investment banking firms. But when it came to Chenault, his words became even more heartfelt. “Ken Chenault is my hero and one of the smartest men in America. He is an astute businessman and someone who helped me 33 years ago, changing the course of my life,” Buck wrote. However, this was just the surface of how deeply Johnson respects Chenault.

Magic Johnson picks 73YO businessman as his presidential candidate over Stephen A. Smith

You may want to sit down for this one, because Stephen A. Smith might’ve just stirred up his biggest headline yet. The always opinionated First Take host surprised just about everyone last week when he floated a serious possibility: running for president in 2028. And no, this wasn’t some over-the-top sports take. Smith doubled down, saying, “I have no choice.”

Now, just as that bold statement had people buzzing, none other than Magic Johnson jumped into the mix with a lighthearted jab. “Is it true that my boy Stephen A. Smith is running for President? ????????????‍♂,” the NBA icon posted on X. Yep—he went there. But wait, there’s more. Magic Johnson didn’t stop at poking fun. He actually had someone else in mind for the job.

In the aforementioned X post, where Johnson praised John Utendahl and Ken Chenault, he wrote, “Ken is so smart he could be the Mayor of NY, the Governor NY, or the President of the United States – that’s how brilliant he is.” So there you have it—Magic Johnson’s presidential nod goes to 73-year-old Chenault, not Stephen A. Smith. Honestly, with that level of respect, it’s easy to see why.