Magic Johnson vs. Jim Palmer Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Jim Palmer and Magic Johnson 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

Magic Johnson

vs.

Jim Palmer

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96
Jim Palmer: 1958-59 to 1960-61

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Magic Johnson 5 Jim Palmer 0

NBA Seasons Magic Johnson 13 Jim Palmer 3

Playoffs Played Magic Johnson 13 Jim Palmer 0

All-Star Games Magic Johnson 12 Jim Palmer 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Magic Johnson 3 Jim Palmer 0

Finals MVP Magic Johnson 3 Jim Palmer 0 *

All-NBA First Team Magic Johnson 9 Jim Palmer 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Magic Johnson 10 Jim Palmer 0

Assists Leader Magic Johnson 4 Jim Palmer 0

Steals Leader Magic Johnson 2 Jim Palmer 0 *

* Notes: 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 Magic Johnson 19.5 Jim Palmer 8.1

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.2 Jim Palmer 5.3

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 11.2 Jim Palmer 0.8

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.4 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 17,707 Jim Palmer 1,595

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 6,559 Jim Palmer 1,040

Total Assists Magic Johnson 10,141 Jim Palmer 165

Total Steals Magic Johnson 1,724 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 374 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 906 Jim Palmer 196

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .520 Jim Palmer .413

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .303 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .848 Jim Palmer .703

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987) Jim Palmer 10.3 (1959)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982) Jim Palmer 7.0 (1959)

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984) Jim Palmer 1.0 (1959)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981) Jim Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984) Jim Palmer - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 19.5 Jim Palmer -

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.7 Jim Palmer -

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 12.3 Jim Palmer -

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.3 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 3,701 Jim Palmer -

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 1,465 Jim Palmer -

Total Assists Magic Johnson 2,346 Jim Palmer -

Total Steals Magic Johnson 358 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 64 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 190 Jim Palmer 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .506 Jim Palmer -

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .241 Jim Palmer - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .838 Jim Palmer -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990) Jim Palmer -

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981) Jim Palmer -

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985) Jim Palmer -

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980) Jim Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981) Jim Palmer - n/a **

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.