Magic Johnson vs. Otis Thorpe Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Otis Thorpe 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 Otis Thorpe, who played 17. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Otis Thorpe 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
Otis Thorpe 17 11 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 Otis Thorpe
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersKansas City Kings
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
Otis Thorpe 82 23.4 12.8 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.4 0.4 0.5 2.3 3.1 5.0 8.4 .600 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.5 .620
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdKings 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
Otis Thorpe 75 22.3 9.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 1.1 0.5 0.5 1.6 3.1 3.9 6.6 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .661
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
Otis Thorpe 3 11.7 4.0 2.7 1.3 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.0 4.3 .231 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 4.3 .462

Season 3

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 36.0 18.9 3.2 6.8 10.0 2.5 0.6 0.7 2.3 3.6 6.9 12.8 .540 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.6 .761
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.5 20.8 3.4 6.8 10.2 3.2 0.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 7.6 15.0 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 7.4 .755
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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
Otis Thorpe 82 38.2 16.7 3.3 6.3 9.6 2.5 1.0 0.5 2.7 3.2 6.4 11.7 .542 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.5 .729
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
Otis Thorpe 4 38.0 16.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 3.0 1.3 0.3 3.8 4.3 6.0 9.3 .649 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.3 .762

Season 6

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 35.9 17.1 3.1 5.8 9.0 3.2 0.8 0.3 2.8 3.3 6.7 12.2 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.4 .688
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
Otis Thorpe 4 41.0 20.0 3.5 4.8 8.3 1.8 1.3 0.0 2.3 3.0 6.8 11.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.5 .684

Season 7

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.1 17.5 3.5 6.8 10.3 2.4 0.9 0.2 2.6 3.4 6.7 12.0 .556 0.0 0.1 .429 4.1 5.9 .696
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
Otis Thorpe 3 38.7 15.7 2.3 6.0 8.3 2.7 0.7 0.0 2.0 2.7 7.3 12.7 .579 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 8

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.3 17.3 3.5 7.0 10.5 3.0 0.6 0.5 2.9 3.7 6.8 11.5 .592 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.6 .657
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1987-881992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 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
Otis Thorpe 72 32.7 12.8 3.0 5.1 8.2 2.5 0.6 0.3 2.1 3.3 5.3 9.6 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.6 .598
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
Otis Thorpe 12 34.9 14.5 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.6 0.5 0.1 1.4 2.9 6.1 9.6 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.6 .651

Season 10

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1988-891993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 35.5 14.0 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.3 0.8 0.3 2.3 3.1 5.5 9.8 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.7 .657
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
Otis Thorpe 23 37.1 11.3 3.0 7.0 9.9 2.3 0.6 0.4 1.6 3.7 4.8 8.4 .572 0.0 0.1 .500 1.7 2.9 .567

Season 11

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets, Portland 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
Otis Thorpe 70 29.9 13.4 2.9 5.1 8.0 1.6 0.6 0.4 1.9 3.2 5.5 9.7 .565 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 4.0 .594
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
Otis Thorpe 3 22.0 10.3 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 7.0 .571 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 12

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 34.6 14.2 2.6 5.8 8.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.4 3.7 5.5 10.4 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.4 .710
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
Otis Thorpe 3 33.7 11.7 4.7 7.0 11.7 2.3 0.0 0.0 2.3 3.0 4.3 8.0 .542 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .750

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season 1995-961996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 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
Otis Thorpe 79 33.7 13.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.7 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.8 5.3 10.0 .532 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.8 .653
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
Otis Thorpe 5 30.2 9.8 2.4 4.0 6.4 0.8 0.4 0.0 1.8 4.2 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .778

Season 14

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season -1997-98
Team -Vancouver Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings
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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 74 29.7 10.2 2.0 5.2 7.3 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.1 3.2 4.0 8.4 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.2 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season -1998-99
Team -Washington Wizards
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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 49 31.4 11.3 2.0 4.9 6.8 2.1 0.9 0.4 1.8 4.0 4.9 9.0 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.2 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season -1999-00
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 51 15.2 5.5 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.7 2.5 4.8 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.9 .604
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 10 13.6 3.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.1 2.9 1.3 2.7 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.4 .500

Season 17

Magic Johnson Otis Thorpe
Season -2000-01
Team -Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hornets 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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 49 13.2 2.8 1.0 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.7 2.2 1.2 2.7 .450 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 8 7.3 0.5 0.8 1.4 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 0.3 1.1 .222 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -