Magic Johnson vs. Guy Rodgers Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Guy Rodgers 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

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, 1 more than Guy Rodgers, who played 12. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Guy Rodgers had his rookie season in 1958-59. 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
Guy Rodgers 12 6 1958-59 to 1969-70

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1979-801958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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
Guy Rodgers 45 34.8 10.7 - - 6.2 5.8 - - - 2.9 4.7 11.9 .394 - - - 1.4 2.5 .545
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1980-811959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost East Div 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
Guy Rodgers 68 36.5 11.6 - - 5.8 7.1 - - - 2.9 5.0 12.8 .389 - - - 1.6 2.7 .613
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
Guy Rodgers 9 41.1 13.1 - - 8.6 6.0 - - - 4.3 5.4 15.1 .360 - - - 2.2 4.0 .556

Season 3

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1981-821960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost East Div 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
Guy Rodgers 78 37.2 12.8 - - 6.5 8.7 - - - 3.4 5.1 13.2 .386 - - - 2.6 3.8 .687
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
Guy Rodgers 3 40.3 17.7 - - 7.0 5.0 - - - 5.3 7.0 19.0 .368 - - - 3.7 6.7 .550

Season 4

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1982-831961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsWarriors Lost East Div 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
Guy Rodgers 80 33.1 8.2 - - 4.4 8.0 - - - 3.9 3.3 9.4 .356 - - - 1.5 2.3 .665
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
Guy Rodgers 12 40.2 11.6 - - 5.9 7.3 - - - 4.8 4.3 12.1 .359 - - - 2.9 4.6 .636

Season 5

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1983-841962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists LeaderAchievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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
Guy Rodgers 79 41.1 13.9 - - 5.0 10.4 - - - 3.7 5.6 14.6 .387 - - - 2.6 3.6 .727
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1984-851963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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
Guy Rodgers 79 34.1 11.0 - - 4.2 7.0 - - - 3.1 4.3 11.7 .365 - - - 2.5 3.5 .707
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
Guy Rodgers 12 34.9 12.3 - - 4.8 7.5 - - - 3.8 4.8 14.4 .329 - - - 2.8 3.9 .702

Season 7

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1985-861964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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
Guy Rodgers 79 34.2 14.6 - - 4.1 7.2 - - - 3.2 5.9 15.5 .380 - - - 2.8 4.1 .686
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1986-871965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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
Guy Rodgers 79 36.7 18.6 - - 5.3 10.7 - - - 3.1 7.4 19.9 .373 - - - 3.7 5.2 .727
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1987-881966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls Lost West Div Semis
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
Guy Rodgers 81 37.8 18.0 - - 4.3 11.2 - - - 3.0 6.6 17.0 .391 - - - 4.7 5.9 .806
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
Guy Rodgers 3 32.3 11.3 - - 2.0 6.0 - - - 3.7 5.0 13.3 .375 - - - 1.3 1.7 .800

Season 10

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1988-891967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Cincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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
Guy Rodgers 79 19.6 5.1 - - 1.9 4.8 - - - 2.1 1.9 5.4 .347 - - - 1.4 1.7 .805
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1989-901968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
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
Guy Rodgers 81 26.6 10.3 - - 2.8 6.9 - - - 2.6 4.0 10.6 .377 - - - 2.3 2.9 .793
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
Season 1990-911969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBucks Lost East Div 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
Guy Rodgers 64 11.7 3.2 - - 1.2 3.3 - - - 1.1 1.1 3.0 .356 - - - 1.0 1.4 .744
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
Guy Rodgers 7 9.7 2.4 - - 0.6 3.0 - - - 1.0 0.6 2.0 .286 - - - 1.3 1.7 .750

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Guy Rodgers
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------
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
Guy Rodgers ------- --- ----------