The 1991–92 season was the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they had to cope with the sudden retirement of their longtime superstar, Magic Johnson, due to an HIV infection. However, he would make a brief return playing in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game winning the All-Star MVP award. During the offseason, the Lakers acquired Sedale Threatt from the Seattle SuperSonics. Without Johnson for the first time since 1979, the Lakers struggled to make the playoffs as they finished sixth in the Pacific Division with a 43–39 record. Their worst record since the 1975–76 season. As the #8 seed in the Western Conference, the Lakers were eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs in four games by the Portland Trail Blazers.