Magic Johnson vs. Mel Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Payton 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.

Mel Payton

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Magic Johnson 5 Mel Payton 0

NBA Seasons Magic Johnson 13 Mel Payton 2

Playoffs Played Magic Johnson 13 Mel Payton 2

All-Star Games Magic Johnson 12 Mel Payton 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Magic Johnson 3 Mel Payton 0 *

Finals MVP Magic Johnson 3 Mel Payton 0 *

All-NBA First Team Magic Johnson 9 Mel Payton 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Magic Johnson 10 Mel Payton 0

Assists Leader Magic Johnson 4 Mel Payton 0

Steals Leader Magic Johnson 2 Mel Payton 0 *

* 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 Magic Johnson 19.5 Mel Payton 5.4

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.2 Mel Payton 3.6

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 11.2 Mel Payton 1.1

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.4 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 17,707 Mel Payton 595

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 6,559 Mel Payton 396

Total Assists Magic Johnson 10,141 Mel Payton 126

Total Steals Magic Johnson 1,724 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 374 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 906 Mel Payton 111

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .520 Mel Payton .363

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .303 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .848 Mel Payton .746

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987) Mel Payton 7.1 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982) Mel Payton 4.7 (1953)

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984) Mel Payton 1.2 (1953)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984) Mel Payton - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 19.5 Mel Payton 5.0

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.7 Mel Payton 1.8

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 12.3 Mel Payton 0.2

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.3 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 3,701 Mel Payton 25

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 1,465 Mel Payton 9

Total Assists Magic Johnson 2,346 Mel Payton 1

Total Steals Magic Johnson 358 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 64 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 190 Mel Payton 5

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .506 Mel Payton .421

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .241 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .838 Mel Payton .900

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990) Mel Payton 10.5 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981) Mel Payton 3.0 (1953)

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985) Mel Payton 0.3 (1952)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981) Mel Payton - 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.