Magic Johnson vs. Norm Van Lier Comparison

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

Player Comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

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

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Magic Johnson:
1979-80 to 1995-96
Norm Van Lier:
1969-70 to 1978-79

NBA Championships and Seasons

Magic Johnson5
Norm Van Lier0
Magic Johnson13
Norm Van Lier10
Magic Johnson13
Norm Van Lier5
Magic Johnson12
Norm Van Lier3

Honors and Awards

Magic Johnson3
Norm Van Lier0
Magic Johnson3
Norm Van Lier0
Magic Johnson9
Norm Van Lier0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Magic Johnson10
Norm Van Lier1
Magic Johnson0
Norm Van Lier3
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Magic Johnson0
Norm Van Lier8
Magic Johnson4
Norm Van Lier1
Magic Johnson2
Norm Van Lier0
*
* Notes: Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Magic Johnson 19.5
Norm Van Lier 11.8

Magic Johnson 7.2
Norm Van Lier 4.8

Magic Johnson 11.2
Norm Van Lier 7.0

Magic Johnson 1.9
Norm Van Lier 1.8

*
Magic Johnson 0.4
Norm Van Lier 0.2

*

Totals Stats

Magic Johnson 17,707
Norm Van Lier 8,770

Magic Johnson 6,559
Norm Van Lier 3,596

Magic Johnson 10,141
Norm Van Lier 5,217

Magic Johnson 1,724
Norm Van Lier 767

*
Magic Johnson 374
Norm Van Lier 71

*
Magic Johnson 906
Norm Van Lier 746

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson .520
Norm Van Lier .414

3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson .303
Norm Van Lier -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson .848
Norm Van Lier .780

Best Season (no game minimum)

Magic Johnson 23.9
(1987)
Norm Van Lier 16.0
(1971)

Magic Johnson 9.6
(1982)
Norm Van Lier 7.1
(1971)

Magic Johnson 13.1
(1984)
Norm Van Lier 10.1
(1971)

Magic Johnson 3.4
(1981)
Norm Van Lier 2.0
(1974)

*
Magic Johnson 0.7
(1984)
Norm Van Lier 0.3
(1976)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Magic Johnson 19.5
Norm Van Lier 13.9

Magic Johnson 7.7
Norm Van Lier 5.0

Magic Johnson 12.3
Norm Van Lier 6.2

Magic Johnson 1.9
Norm Van Lier 1.7

*
Magic Johnson 0.3
Norm Van Lier 0.3

*

Totals Stats

Magic Johnson 3,701
Norm Van Lier 530

Magic Johnson 1,465
Norm Van Lier 191

Magic Johnson 2,346
Norm Van Lier 234

Magic Johnson 358
Norm Van Lier 47

*
Magic Johnson 64
Norm Van Lier 9

*
Magic Johnson 190
Norm Van Lier 38

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson .506
Norm Van Lier .389

3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson .241
Norm Van Lier -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson .838
Norm Van Lier .784

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Magic Johnson 25.2
(1990)
Norm Van Lier 15.1
(1975)

Magic Johnson 13.7
(1981)
Norm Van Lier 6.3
(1972)

Magic Johnson 15.2
(1985)
Norm Van Lier 9.7
(1977)

Magic Johnson 3.1
(1980)
Norm Van Lier 3.3
(1977)

*
Magic Johnson 1.0
(1981)
Norm Van Lier 0.4
(1975)

*
Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
** Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.