Magic Johnson vs. Kurt Rambis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kurt Rambis 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, 1 less than Kurt Rambis, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kurt Rambis had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Kurt Rambis 14 9 1981-82 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1979-801981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 64 17.7 4.6 1.8 3.6 5.4 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 3.6 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.8 .504
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
Kurt Rambis 14 19.9 5.9 2.3 3.9 6.1 0.8 0.6 0.9 1.2 3.4 2.4 4.6 .516 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.9 .615

Season 2
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1980-811982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 78 23.2 7.5 2.1 4.7 6.8 1.2 1.3 0.8 1.9 3.0 3.0 5.3 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .687
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
Kurt Rambis 15 25.1 7.5 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.5 3.4 3.0 5.3 .570 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .657

Season 3
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1981-821983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 47 15.8 3.6 1.7 3.9 5.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.2 2.3 1.3 2.4 .558 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .636
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
Kurt Rambis 21 20.4 6.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.7 2.9 4.4 .652 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .636

Season 4
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1982-831984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 82 19.7 5.2 2.0 4.4 6.4 0.8 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.6 2.2 4.0 .554 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.3 .660
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
Kurt Rambis 19 19.7 6.1 2.2 4.6 6.8 0.9 0.9 0.5 1.0 2.7 2.5 4.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .679

Season 5
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1983-841985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 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
Kurt Rambis 74 21.3 5.5 2.1 4.9 7.0 0.9 0.9 0.4 1.3 2.7 2.2 3.6 .595 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .721
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
Kurt Rambis 14 19.1 4.8 1.9 4.1 5.9 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.3 2.8 1.9 3.2 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .722

Season 6
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1984-851986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 78 19.4 5.7 2.0 3.8 5.8 0.8 0.9 0.5 1.3 2.6 2.1 4.0 .521 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.0 .764
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
Kurt Rambis 17 12.6 4.6 0.9 3.0 3.9 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.5 1.4 2.4 .585 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .912

Season 7
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1985-861987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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
Kurt Rambis 70 12.1 4.0 1.5 2.4 3.8 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.5 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .785
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
Kurt Rambis 19 9.8 2.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.5 1.1 1.8 .618 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .692

Season 8
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1986-871988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Kurt Rambis 75 29.8 11.1 3.6 5.8 9.4 2.1 1.3 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.4 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .734
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
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1987-881989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 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
Kurt Rambis 74 25.7 6.2 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.8 1.4 0.5 1.4 2.8 2.6 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.7 .646
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
Kurt Rambis 16 24.1 4.2 2.4 5.3 7.7 1.4 0.5 0.5 1.1 3.2 1.5 3.4 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.8 .679

Season 10
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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
Kurt Rambis 62 14.5 3.6 1.2 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.7 1.3 2.7 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.4 .706
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
Kurt Rambis 4 13.3 1.0 2.0 1.5 3.5 1.0 1.3 0.3 1.0 1.5 0.5 1.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
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
Kurt Rambis 28 13.6 3.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.3 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 1.4 2.9 .463 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .778
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
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
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
Kurt Rambis 72 11.4 2.5 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.9 1.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .662
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
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season 1995-961993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Kurt Rambis 50 12.7 3.3 1.7 2.1 3.8 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 1.2 2.3 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .648
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
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Magic Johnson Kurt Rambis
Season -1994-95
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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 26 7.5 1.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .514 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------
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