Magic Johnson vs. Jerome Kersey Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jerome Kersey 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, 4 less than Jerome Kersey, who played 17. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Jerome Kersey had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Jerome Kersey 17 15 1984-85 to 2000-01

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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
Jerome Kersey 77 12.4 6.1 1.2 1.4 2.7 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.9 1.9 2.3 4.8 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.4 .646
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
Jerome Kersey 8 7.5 4.8 0.6 0.5 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.3 0.3 1.4 2.0 3.9 .516 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 2

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 79 15.4 8.5 1.7 2.0 3.7 1.1 1.1 0.4 1.4 2.6 3.3 5.9 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.9 .681
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
Jerome Kersey 4 14.0 5.5 1.8 2.0 3.8 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.5 3.3 2.3 5.5 .409 0.0 0.3 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 3

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 82 25.5 12.3 2.5 3.6 6.0 2.4 1.5 0.9 1.8 4.0 4.5 8.9 .509 0.0 0.3 .043 3.2 4.4 .720
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
Jerome Kersey 4 15.0 6.0 1.5 3.3 4.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 1.5 3.3 2.5 6.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 4

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 79 36.6 19.2 2.7 5.6 8.3 3.1 1.6 0.8 2.0 3.8 7.7 15.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .200 3.7 5.0 .735
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
Jerome Kersey 4 31.8 19.8 4.3 3.3 7.5 2.3 1.8 1.0 1.3 4.3 8.0 16.3 .492 0.0 0.3 .000 3.8 5.3 .714

Season 5

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 76 35.7 17.5 3.2 5.0 8.3 3.2 1.8 1.1 2.2 3.6 7.0 15.0 .469 0.1 0.3 .286 3.4 4.9 .694
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
Jerome Kersey 3 39.0 20.3 3.7 4.3 8.0 2.3 3.3 0.3 1.3 4.0 7.7 15.7 .489 0.0 0.7 .000 5.0 6.3 .789

Season 6

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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
Jerome Kersey 82 34.7 16.0 3.1 5.4 8.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 1.8 3.7 6.3 13.2 .478 0.0 0.2 .150 3.3 4.8 .690
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
Jerome Kersey 21 39.6 20.7 3.1 5.1 8.3 2.1 1.6 1.0 2.1 4.1 7.9 17.2 .460 0.0 0.1 .000 4.9 6.9 .715

Season 7

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 73 32.3 14.8 2.3 4.3 6.6 3.1 1.4 1.0 2.0 3.4 5.8 12.2 .478 0.1 0.2 .308 3.2 4.5 .709
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
Jerome Kersey 16 36.8 17.9 3.3 3.7 6.9 3.1 1.8 0.4 1.1 4.3 6.6 14.1 .465 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 6.3 .752

Season 8

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 77 33.2 12.6 3.1 5.1 8.2 3.2 1.5 0.9 2.0 3.3 5.2 11.1 .467 0.0 0.1 .125 2.3 3.4 .664
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
Jerome Kersey 21 36.0 16.2 2.8 4.9 7.7 3.6 2.0 0.9 2.5 4.0 6.2 12.2 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 5.4 .693

Season 9

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1987-881992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 65 26.4 10.6 1.9 4.3 6.2 1.9 1.2 0.6 1.3 2.8 4.3 9.9 .438 0.1 0.4 .286 1.8 2.8 .634
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
Jerome Kersey 4 24.5 14.3 2.5 6.0 8.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 3.8 5.5 10.5 .524 0.3 0.3 1.000 3.0 4.3 .706

Season 10

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1988-891993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 78 16.4 6.5 1.7 2.6 4.2 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.8 2.7 2.6 6.0 .433 0.0 0.1 .125 1.3 1.7 .748
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
Jerome Kersey 3 12.7 3.7 1.7 1.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.7 .200

Season 11

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 63 18.1 8.1 1.5 2.6 4.1 1.3 0.8 0.6 1.0 2.7 3.2 7.8 .415 0.1 0.4 .259 1.5 2.0 .766
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
Jerome Kersey 3 21.0 12.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 3.7 5.3 9.3 .571 0.0 0.7 .000 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 12

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards 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 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
Jerome Kersey 76 21.3 6.7 2.0 2.8 4.8 1.5 1.2 0.6 1.0 2.7 2.7 6.6 .410 0.0 0.2 .176 1.3 1.9 .660
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
Jerome Kersey ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season 1995-961996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 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
Jerome Kersey 70 25.2 6.8 1.6 3.6 5.2 1.3 1.7 0.7 1.1 3.1 2.8 6.4 .432 0.2 0.9 .262 1.0 1.7 .602
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
Jerome Kersey 9 23.2 5.4 1.6 3.8 5.3 1.6 1.0 0.7 0.3 3.8 1.9 3.9 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.1 .789

Season 14

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season -1997-98
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 37 19.4 6.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.2 1.4 0.4 1.0 2.8 2.6 6.3 .416 0.0 0.3 .100 1.1 1.8 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 10 21.3 7.8 1.7 2.3 4.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.3 3.2 3.1 7.2 .431 0.0 0.3 .000 1.6 1.9 .842

Season 15

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season -1998-99
Team -San Antonio Spurs
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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 45 15.5 3.2 0.9 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.0 1.5 4.4 .340 0.1 0.3 .214 0.1 0.3 .429
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 14 10.9 2.6 0.7 1.4 2.1 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.4 1.1 3.1 .349 0.1 0.3 .250 0.4 0.5 .714

Season 16

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season -1999-00
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 72 18.2 4.5 0.8 2.3 3.1 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.7 2.2 2.0 4.9 .412 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 2 12.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 2.5 0.5 3.5 .143 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Magic Johnson Jerome Kersey
Season -2000-01
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey 22 11.0 3.3 0.4 1.7 2.0 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.3 1.6 1.5 3.1 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.7 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Jerome Kersey ------- --- ----------