Gene James vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Gene James, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.
Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.
Gene James played 3 years in the NBA, 10 less than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Gene James had the first of his seasons in 1948-49, while Magic Johnson had his rookie season in 1979-80. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.
Their Careers |
Player |
Total Seasons |
Playoffs Played |
NBA Years |
Gene James |
3 |
2 |
1948-49 to 1950-51 |
Magic Johnson |
13 |
13 |
1979-80 to 1995-96 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
11 |
- |
3.8 |
- |
- |
- |
0.5 |
- |
- |
- |
1.8 |
1.6 |
4.4 |
.375 |
- |
- |
- |
0.5 |
1.1 |
.500 |
Magic Johnson |
77 |
36.3 |
18.0 |
2.2 |
5.6 |
7.7 |
7.3 |
2.4 |
0.5 |
4.0 |
2.8 |
6.5 |
12.3 |
.530 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
.226 |
4.9 |
6.0 |
.810 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
3 |
- |
0.7 |
- |
- |
- |
0.7 |
- |
- |
- |
2.0 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
.000 |
- |
- |
- |
0.7 |
1.3 |
.500 |
Magic Johnson |
16 |
41.1 |
18.3 |
3.3 |
7.3 |
10.5 |
9.4 |
3.1 |
0.4 |
4.1 |
2.9 |
6.4 |
12.4 |
.518 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
.250 |
5.3 |
6.6 |
.802 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
29 |
- |
1.8 |
- |
- |
- |
0.7 |
- |
- |
- |
1.8 |
0.7 |
2.2 |
.297 |
- |
- |
- |
0.5 |
1.1 |
.452 |
Magic Johnson |
37 |
37.1 |
21.6 |
2.7 |
5.9 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
3.4 |
0.7 |
3.9 |
2.7 |
8.4 |
15.9 |
.532 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
.176 |
4.6 |
6.1 |
.760 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
1 |
- |
2.0 |
- |
- |
- |
0.0 |
- |
- |
- |
0.0 |
1.0 |
3.0 |
.333 |
- |
- |
- |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
Magic Johnson |
3 |
42.3 |
17.0 |
2.7 |
11.0 |
13.7 |
7.0 |
2.7 |
1.0 |
3.7 |
4.7 |
6.3 |
16.3 |
.388 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.3 |
6.7 |
.650 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
48 |
- |
4.2 |
- |
- |
2.9 |
1.5 |
- |
- |
- |
2.5 |
1.6 |
4.9 |
.336 |
- |
- |
- |
0.9 |
1.5 |
.620 |
Magic Johnson |
78 |
38.3 |
18.6 |
3.2 |
6.4 |
9.6 |
9.5 |
2.7 |
0.4 |
3.7 |
2.9 |
7.1 |
13.3 |
.537 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
.207 |
4.2 |
5.6 |
.760 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
14 |
40.1 |
17.4 |
3.9 |
7.4 |
11.3 |
9.3 |
2.9 |
0.2 |
3.1 |
3.6 |
5.9 |
11.2 |
.529 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
.000 |
5.5 |
6.6 |
.828 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
79 |
36.8 |
16.8 |
2.7 |
5.9 |
8.6 |
10.5 |
2.2 |
0.6 |
3.8 |
2.5 |
6.5 |
11.8 |
.548 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
.000 |
3.8 |
4.8 |
.800 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
15 |
42.9 |
17.9 |
3.4 |
5.1 |
8.5 |
12.8 |
2.3 |
0.8 |
4.3 |
3.3 |
6.7 |
13.7 |
.485 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
.000 |
4.5 |
5.4 |
.840 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
67 |
38.3 |
17.6 |
1.5 |
5.9 |
7.3 |
13.1 |
2.2 |
0.7 |
4.6 |
2.5 |
6.6 |
11.6 |
.565 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
.207 |
4.3 |
5.3 |
.810 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
21 |
39.9 |
18.2 |
1.2 |
5.4 |
6.6 |
13.5 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
3.8 |
3.4 |
7.2 |
13.0 |
.551 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
.000 |
3.8 |
4.8 |
.800 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
77 |
36.1 |
18.3 |
1.2 |
5.0 |
6.2 |
12.6 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
4.0 |
2.0 |
6.5 |
11.7 |
.561 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
.189 |
5.1 |
6.0 |
.843 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
19 |
36.2 |
17.5 |
1.0 |
6.1 |
7.1 |
15.2 |
1.7 |
0.2 |
4.0 |
2.5 |
6.1 |
11.9 |
.513 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
.143 |
5.3 |
6.2 |
.847 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
72 |
35.8 |
18.8 |
1.2 |
4.7 |
5.9 |
12.6 |
1.6 |
0.2 |
3.8 |
1.8 |
6.7 |
12.8 |
.526 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
.233 |
5.3 |
6.0 |
.871 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
14 |
38.6 |
21.6 |
1.5 |
5.6 |
7.1 |
15.1 |
1.9 |
0.1 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
7.9 |
14.6 |
.537 |
0.0 |
0.8 |
.000 |
5.9 |
7.6 |
.766 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
80 |
36.3 |
23.9 |
1.5 |
4.8 |
6.3 |
12.2 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
3.8 |
2.1 |
8.5 |
16.4 |
.522 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
.205 |
6.7 |
7.9 |
.848 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
18 |
37.0 |
21.8 |
1.6 |
6.2 |
7.7 |
12.2 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
2.8 |
2.1 |
8.1 |
15.1 |
.539 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
.200 |
5.4 |
6.6 |
.831 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
72 |
36.6 |
19.6 |
1.2 |
5.0 |
6.2 |
11.9 |
1.6 |
0.2 |
3.7 |
2.0 |
6.8 |
13.8 |
.492 |
0.2 |
0.8 |
.196 |
5.8 |
6.8 |
.853 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
24 |
40.2 |
19.9 |
1.3 |
4.1 |
5.4 |
12.6 |
1.4 |
0.2 |
3.5 |
2.5 |
7.0 |
13.7 |
.514 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
.500 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
.852 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
77 |
37.5 |
22.5 |
1.4 |
6.4 |
7.9 |
12.8 |
1.8 |
0.3 |
4.1 |
2.2 |
7.5 |
14.8 |
.509 |
0.8 |
2.4 |
.314 |
6.7 |
7.3 |
.911 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
14 |
37.0 |
18.4 |
1.1 |
4.9 |
5.9 |
11.8 |
1.9 |
0.2 |
3.8 |
2.1 |
6.1 |
12.4 |
.489 |
0.7 |
2.5 |
.286 |
5.6 |
6.1 |
.907 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
79 |
37.2 |
22.3 |
1.6 |
5.0 |
6.6 |
11.5 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
3.7 |
2.1 |
6.9 |
14.4 |
.480 |
1.3 |
3.5 |
.384 |
7.2 |
8.1 |
.890 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
9 |
41.8 |
25.2 |
1.3 |
5.0 |
6.3 |
12.8 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
4.0 |
3.1 |
8.4 |
17.2 |
.490 |
0.6 |
2.8 |
.200 |
7.8 |
8.8 |
.886 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
79 |
37.1 |
19.4 |
1.3 |
5.6 |
7.0 |
12.5 |
1.3 |
0.2 |
4.0 |
1.9 |
5.9 |
12.4 |
.477 |
1.0 |
3.2 |
.320 |
6.6 |
7.3 |
.906 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
19 |
43.3 |
21.8 |
1.2 |
6.9 |
8.1 |
12.6 |
1.2 |
0.0 |
4.1 |
2.3 |
6.2 |
14.1 |
.440 |
1.1 |
3.7 |
.296 |
8.3 |
9.4 |
.882 |
Note: Magic Johnson didn't play in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
32 |
29.9 |
14.6 |
1.3 |
4.5 |
5.7 |
6.9 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
3.2 |
1.5 |
4.3 |
9.2 |
.466 |
0.7 |
1.8 |
.379 |
5.4 |
6.3 |
.856 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Gene James |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magic Johnson |
4 |
33.8 |
15.3 |
2.0 |
6.5 |
8.5 |
6.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3.0 |
0.8 |
3.8 |
9.8 |
.385 |
0.8 |
2.3 |
.333 |
7.0 |
8.3 |
.848 |