Harvey Catchings vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Harvey Catchings, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

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.

Harvey Catchings played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Harvey Catchings had the first of his seasons in 1974-75, 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
Harvey Catchings 11 9 1974-75 to 1984-85
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1974-751979-80
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 37 14.3 2.6 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.6 - 2.2 1.1 2.0 .554 - - - 0.4 0.7 .640
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 %
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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

Season 2

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1975-761980-81
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 75 23.1 3.5 2.5 4.4 6.9 0.8 0.3 2.2 - 3.5 1.4 3.2 .426 - - - 0.8 1.3 .604
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 %
Harvey Catchings 3 29.0 5.7 4.0 5.3 9.3 2.0 0.0 3.0 - 3.7 2.7 4.3 .615 - - - 0.3 1.0 .333
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

Season 3

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1976-771981-82
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 53 16.3 3.0 1.2 3.2 4.4 0.6 0.4 1.5 - 2.5 1.2 2.3 .504 - - - 0.6 0.9 .702
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 %
Harvey Catchings 8 6.8 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.5 - 1.1 0.3 0.6 .400 - - - 0.0 0.4 .000
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

Season 4

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1977-781982-83
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 61 12.3 2.9 1.7 2.4 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.1 0.7 2.0 1.1 2.9 .393 - - - 0.6 0.9 .618
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 %
Harvey Catchings 7 3.7 1.3 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.4 1.1 .375 - - - 0.4 0.6 .750
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

Season 5

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1978-791983-84
Team Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 57 16.6 4.6 1.8 3.5 5.3 0.8 0.4 1.6 1.5 2.3 1.8 4.3 .420 - - - 1.1 1.4 .769
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 %
Harvey Catchings 2 13.0 1.0 2.5 1.5 4.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.0 0.5 3.0 .167 - - - 0.0 1.5 .000
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

Season 6

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 72 19.0 3.2 2.3 3.4 5.7 1.1 0.3 2.3 0.9 2.7 1.3 3.4 .398 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .629
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 %
Harvey Catchings 6 10.7 1.0 0.8 2.7 3.5 0.3 0.0 1.3 0.3 2.2 0.3 1.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .500
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

Season 7

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 77 21.2 4.2 2.0 4.1 6.1 1.3 0.4 2.4 1.4 3.7 1.7 3.9 .447 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .641
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 %
Harvey Catchings 7 15.6 1.1 1.4 2.3 3.7 1.1 0.0 1.6 1.0 3.4 0.4 2.3 .188 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
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

Season 8

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 80 20.0 2.9 1.6 2.8 4.5 1.2 0.5 1.7 1.2 3.0 1.2 2.8 .420 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .594
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 %
Harvey Catchings 6 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 0.3 0.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 9

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 74 21.0 3.3 1.8 3.7 5.5 1.0 0.4 2.0 1.1 3.0 1.2 2.7 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .674
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 %
Harvey Catchings 9 15.4 2.3 1.7 2.6 4.2 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.2 2.0 1.0 2.1 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
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

Season 10

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 69 16.8 2.1 1.3 2.6 3.9 0.6 0.4 1.2 0.8 2.5 0.9 2.2 .399 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.6 .524
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 %
Harvey Catchings 5 5.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.4 0.2 0.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500
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

Season 11

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings 70 15.0 2.9 1.3 2.5 3.7 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.8 2.3 1.0 2.1 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.3 .663
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 %
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season -1990-91
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Lakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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 %
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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.

Season 13

Harvey Catchings Magic Johnson
Season -1995-96
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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 %
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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