Frank Gates vs. Magic Johnson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Magic Johnson and Frank Gates that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Frank Gates

vs.

Magic Johnson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Frank Gates: 1949-50 to 1949-50
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Frank Gates 0 Magic Johnson 5

NBA Seasons Frank Gates 1 Magic Johnson 13

Playoffs Played Frank Gates 1 Magic Johnson 13

All-Star Games Frank Gates 0 Magic Johnson 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Frank Gates 0 * Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP Frank Gates 0 * Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team Frank Gates 0 Magic Johnson 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Frank Gates 0 Magic Johnson 10

Assists Leader Frank Gates 0 Magic Johnson 4

Steals Leader Frank Gates 0 * Magic Johnson 2

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Frank Gates 4.5 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game Frank Gates 1.4 Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.4

Totals Stats

Total Points Frank Gates 287 Magic Johnson 17,707

Total Rebounds Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 6,559

Total Assists Frank Gates 91 Magic Johnson 10,141

Total Steals Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1,724

Total Blocks Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 374

Total Games Frank Gates 64 Magic Johnson 906

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Frank Gates .281 Magic Johnson .520

3-Point Percentage Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson .303

Free Throw Percentage Frank Gates .622 Magic Johnson .848

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Frank Gates 4.5 (1950) Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987)

Rebounds Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982)

Assists Per Game Frank Gates 1.4 (1950) Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984)

Steals Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981)

Blocks Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Frank Gates 3.6 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 7.7

Assists Per Game Frank Gates 1.3 Magic Johnson 12.3

Steals Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Frank Gates 25 Magic Johnson 3,701

Total Rebounds Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1,465

Total Assists Frank Gates 9 Magic Johnson 2,346

Total Steals Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 358

Total Blocks Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 64

Total Games Frank Gates 7 Magic Johnson 190

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Frank Gates .243 Magic Johnson .506

3-Point Percentage Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson .241

Free Throw Percentage Frank Gates .700 Magic Johnson .838

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Frank Gates 3.6 (1950) Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981)

Assists Per Game Frank Gates 1.3 (1950) Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985)

Steals Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980)

Blocks Per Game Frank Gates - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981)

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.