Gene James vs. Magic Johnson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Magic Johnson and Gene James 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

Gene James

vs.

Magic Johnson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Gene James: 1948-49 to 1950-51
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Gene James 0 Magic Johnson 5

NBA Seasons Gene James 3 Magic Johnson 13

Playoffs Played Gene James 2 Magic Johnson 13

All-Star Games Gene James 0 Magic Johnson 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Gene James 0 * Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP Gene James 0 * Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team Gene James 0 Magic Johnson 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Gene James 0 Magic Johnson 10

Assists Leader Gene James 0 Magic Johnson 4

Steals Leader Gene James 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 Gene James 3.4 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Gene James 2.9 * Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game Gene James 1.1 Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.4

Totals Stats

Total Points Gene James 296 Magic Johnson 17,707

Total Rebounds Gene James 141 * Magic Johnson 6,559

Total Assists Gene James 95 Magic Johnson 10,141

Total Steals Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1,724

Total Blocks Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 374

Total Games Gene James 88 Magic Johnson 906

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Gene James .334 Magic Johnson .520

3-Point Percentage Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson .303

Free Throw Percentage Gene James .561 Magic Johnson .848

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Gene James 4.2 (1951) Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987)

Rebounds Per Game Gene James 2.9 (1951) * Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982)

Assists Per Game Gene James 1.5 (1951) Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984)

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981)

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Gene James 1.0 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Gene James - * Magic Johnson 7.7

Assists Per Game Gene James 0.5 Magic Johnson 12.3

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Gene James 4 Magic Johnson 3,701

Total Rebounds Gene James 0 * Magic Johnson 1,465

Total Assists Gene James 2 Magic Johnson 2,346

Total Steals Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 358

Total Blocks Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 64

Total Games Gene James 4 Magic Johnson 190

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Gene James .111 Magic Johnson .506

3-Point Percentage Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson .241

Free Throw Percentage Gene James .500 Magic Johnson .838

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Gene James 2.0 (1950) Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Gene James - * Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981)

Assists Per Game Gene James 0.7 (1949) Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985)

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980)

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981)

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** 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.