Horace Grant vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Horace Grant, 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.

Horace Grant played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Horace Grant had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Horace Grant 17 13 1987-88 to 2003-04
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1987-881979-80
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Horace Grant 81 22.6 7.7 1.9 3.6 5.5 1.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 2.7 3.1 6.3 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.2 .626
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 %
Horace Grant 10 29.9 10.1 2.5 4.5 7.0 1.6 1.4 0.2 0.7 3.5 4.6 8.1 .568 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.5 .600
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1988-891980-81
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Horace Grant 79 35.6 12.0 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.1 1.1 0.8 1.6 3.2 5.1 9.9 .519 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.5 .704
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 %
Horace Grant 17 36.8 10.8 3.1 6.7 9.8 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 4.0 4.2 8.2 .518 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.9 .800
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1989-901981-82
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Horace Grant 80 34.4 13.4 3.0 4.9 7.9 2.8 1.2 1.1 1.4 2.9 5.6 10.7 .523 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.2 .699
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 %
Horace Grant 16 38.5 12.2 4.6 5.4 9.9 2.5 1.1 1.1 1.6 3.2 5.1 9.9 .509 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.3 .623
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1990-911982-83
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 78 33.9 12.8 3.4 5.0 8.4 2.3 1.2 0.9 1.2 2.6 5.1 9.4 .547 0.0 0.1 .167 2.5 3.6 .711
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 %
Horace Grant 17 39.2 13.3 3.3 4.8 8.1 2.2 0.9 0.4 1.2 2.6 5.4 9.2 .583 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.5 .733
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1991-921983-84
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 81 35.3 14.2 4.2 5.7 10.0 2.7 1.2 1.6 1.2 2.4 5.6 9.8 .578 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.9 .741
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 %
Horace Grant 22 38.9 11.3 3.5 5.4 8.8 3.0 1.1 1.8 1.0 3.1 4.5 8.3 .541 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 3.5 .671
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1992-931984-85
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 77 35.6 13.2 4.4 5.0 9.5 2.6 1.2 1.2 1.4 2.8 5.5 10.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 2.3 3.6 .619
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 %
Horace Grant 19 34.3 10.7 3.2 5.0 8.2 2.3 1.2 1.2 0.9 3.2 4.4 8.0 .546 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.8 .685
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Horace Grant 70 36.7 15.1 4.4 6.6 11.0 3.4 1.1 1.2 1.6 2.3 6.6 12.5 .524 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.3 .596
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 %
Horace Grant 10 39.3 16.2 3.0 4.4 7.4 2.6 1.0 1.8 1.0 2.3 6.5 12.0 .542 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.1 4.2 .738
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1994-951986-87
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Horace Grant 74 36.4 12.8 3.0 6.6 9.7 2.3 1.0 1.2 1.1 2.7 5.4 9.6 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.9 .692
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 %
Horace Grant 21 41.4 13.7 3.5 6.9 10.4 1.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 3.2 5.8 10.7 .540 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.8 .763
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1995-961987-88
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Horace Grant 63 36.3 13.4 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.7 1.0 1.2 1.0 2.3 5.5 10.7 .513 0.0 0.1 .167 2.4 3.3 .734
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 %
Horace Grant 9 37.1 15.0 3.4 7.0 10.4 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.7 2.6 6.8 10.4 .649 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.7 .867
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1996-971988-89
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 67 37.3 12.6 3.1 5.9 9.0 2.4 1.5 1.0 1.5 2.3 5.3 10.4 .515 0.0 0.1 .167 1.9 2.7 .715
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 %
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1997-981989-90
Team Orlando MagicLos 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 %
Horace Grant 76 36.9 12.1 3.0 5.1 8.1 2.3 1.1 1.0 1.2 2.4 5.2 11.3 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .678
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 %
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1998-991990-91
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Horace Grant 50 33.2 8.9 2.3 4.7 7.0 1.8 0.9 1.2 0.9 2.0 4.0 9.1 .434 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .671
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 %
Horace Grant 4 32.0 6.8 3.5 3.5 7.0 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 2.8 7.5 .367 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.0 .625
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

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001995-96
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Horace Grant 76 35.4 8.1 2.2 5.6 7.8 2.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 2.5 3.5 7.9 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.5 .721
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 %
Horace Grant 5 37.0 4.8 1.6 4.6 6.2 2.0 1.6 1.0 0.2 2.4 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.8 .500
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

Season 14

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 2000-01-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 77 31.0 8.5 2.9 4.2 7.1 1.6 0.7 0.8 0.6 2.4 3.4 7.4 .462 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.2 .775
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 16 26.6 6.0 2.5 3.5 6.0 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.9 2.7 2.3 6.0 .385 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .733
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 2001-02-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 76 29.1 8.0 2.1 4.2 6.3 1.4 0.8 0.6 0.7 1.6 3.5 6.8 .513 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .721
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 4 31.8 4.5 2.0 5.8 7.8 2.3 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.8 2.0 5.5 .364 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 2002-03-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 5 17.0 5.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.0 0.2 1.0 2.6 5.0 .520 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Horace Grant Magic Johnson
Season 2003-04-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant 55 20.1 4.1 1.4 2.8 4.2 1.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 1.3 1.7 4.1 .411 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.0 .722
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------