hiː pˈɪkt ˌʌp ðə mˈædʒɪk ɡˈeɪm ˈæftɚ səstˈeɪnɪŋ ɐ fˈʊtbɔːl ˈɪndʒɚɹi ɪn hˈaɪ skˈuːl, ænd hɐz ɡɔn ˌɔn tə bɪkˌʌm wˈʌn ʌvðə mˈoʊst sˈɛləbɹˌeɪɾᵻd plˈeɪɚz ɪnðə ɡˈeɪmz hˈɪstɚɹi, ˈɜːnɪŋ ðə nˈɪkneɪm "ðə ɡɹˈeɪt wˌʌn".
He picked up the Magic game after sustaining a football injury in high school, and has gone on to become one of the most celebrated players in the game's history, earning the nickname "The Great One".