Magic Johnson vs. Bobby Jones Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bobby Jones and Magic Johnson, 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.

Magic Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bobby Jones, who played 10. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Bobby Jones had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96
Bobby Jones 10 10 1976-77 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1979-801976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 %
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
Bobby Jones 82 29.5 15.1 2.1 6.1 8.3 3.2 2.3 2.0 - 2.9 6.1 10.7 .570 - - - 2.9 4.0 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 6 31.2 12.0 1.8 4.0 5.8 3.5 2.8 2.3 - 4.2 5.2 10.7 .484 - - - 1.7 2.8 .588

Season 2

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1980-811977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
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
Bobby Jones 75 32.5 14.5 2.2 6.3 8.5 3.4 1.8 1.7 2.6 2.9 5.9 10.1 .578 - - - 2.8 3.7 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 13 30.0 12.8 2.8 5.1 7.8 2.7 1.2 0.7 1.8 3.2 5.1 8.9 .569 - - - 2.6 3.5 .739

Season 3

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1981-821978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 80 28.8 12.1 2.5 4.2 6.6 2.5 1.3 1.2 2.1 3.1 4.7 8.8 .537 - - - 2.6 3.5 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 9 28.9 13.1 1.3 3.4 4.8 2.1 0.6 0.4 1.7 3.3 5.3 9.7 .552 - - - 2.4 2.9 .846

Season 4

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1982-831979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 81 26.2 13.0 1.9 3.7 5.6 1.8 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.8 4.9 9.2 .532 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.1 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 18 26.1 12.9 1.6 3.2 4.8 1.7 1.2 1.8 1.3 3.1 5.0 9.6 .523 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.4 .855

Season 5

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1983-841980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 81 25.3 13.5 1.8 3.6 5.4 2.8 1.2 0.9 1.8 2.8 5.0 9.3 .539 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 4.3 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 16 27.7 14.7 2.2 3.3 5.5 2.1 1.1 1.3 2.0 3.8 5.1 10.0 .506 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.5 .830

Season 6

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1984-851981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 76 28.7 14.4 1.4 3.7 5.2 2.5 1.3 1.5 1.9 2.8 5.5 9.7 .564 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 4.4 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 21 28.0 12.2 1.8 3.0 4.7 2.5 0.7 1.0 1.6 3.3 4.5 8.3 .540 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.9 .840

Season 7

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1985-861982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
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
Bobby Jones 74 23.6 9.0 1.4 3.3 4.6 1.9 1.1 1.2 1.5 2.7 3.4 6.2 .543 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 2.8 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 12 27.0 8.6 1.6 3.3 4.8 2.8 1.3 1.5 1.5 2.4 3.6 6.5 .551 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 1.7 .850

Season 8

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1986-871983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 %
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
Bobby Jones 75 23.5 8.3 1.2 3.1 4.3 2.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 2.7 3.0 5.8 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 2.8 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 5 26.0 9.6 1.8 2.8 4.6 1.8 0.6 1.4 1.6 2.4 3.0 6.2 .484 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.8 .947

Season 9

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 80 20.4 7.5 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.9 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.3 2.6 4.8 .538 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 2.7 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 13 23.8 8.2 1.7 2.0 3.7 1.2 0.9 1.2 1.5 2.9 3.5 6.0 .590 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .700

Season 10

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 70 21.7 7.0 0.7 1.7 2.4 1.8 0.7 0.7 1.3 2.3 2.7 4.8 .559 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.1 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones 12 27.4 9.7 0.8 1.9 2.7 2.8 0.8 1.2 1.3 3.3 3.3 6.2 .527 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.2 .760

Season 11

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
Season 1989-90-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Bobby Jones ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
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 %
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
Bobby Jones ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones ------- --- ----------

Note: Magic Johnson didn't play in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Season 13

Magic Johnson Bobby Jones
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 %
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
Bobby Jones ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Bobby Jones ------- --- ----------