Magic Johnson vs. Red Kerr Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Red Kerr 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 Red Kerr, who played 12. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Red Kerr had his rookie season in 1954-55. 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
Red Kerr 12 12 1954-55 to 1965-66

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1979-801954-55
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
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
Red Kerr 72 21.2 10.5 - - 6.6 1.1 - - - 2.3 4.2 10.0 .419 - - - 2.1 3.1 .682
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
Red Kerr 11 33.0 13.8 - - 10.7 1.2 - - - 2.5 5.4 13.7 .391 - - - 3.1 5.5 .557

Season 2

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1980-811955-56
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNationals 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
Red Kerr 72 29.4 13.3 - - 8.4 1.2 - - - 2.3 5.2 13.0 .403 - - - 2.9 4.4 .655
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
Red Kerr 8 26.6 11.1 - - 8.5 1.3 - - - 2.9 4.6 9.6 .481 - - - 1.9 4.1 .455

Season 3

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1981-821956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 72 30.4 12.4 - - 11.2 1.3 - - - 2.6 4.6 11.5 .403 - - - 3.1 4.3 .719
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
Red Kerr 5 32.4 15.2 - - 13.8 1.2 - - - 1.4 5.6 13.0 .431 - - - 4.0 5.8 .690

Season 4

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1982-831957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 72 33.1 15.2 - - 13.4 1.2 - - - 2.7 5.7 14.2 .399 - - - 3.9 5.9 .664
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
Red Kerr 3 38.7 16.7 - - 20.3 1.0 - - - 1.7 6.0 18.3 .327 - - - 4.7 6.0 .778

Season 5

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1983-841958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 72 37.1 17.8 - - 14.0 2.0 - - - 2.5 7.0 15.8 .441 - - - 3.9 5.1 .766
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
Red Kerr 9 34.7 14.4 - - 12.0 2.7 - - - 2.2 5.6 15.8 .352 - - - 3.3 3.7 .909

Season 6

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1984-851959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 75 31.6 14.7 - - 12.2 2.2 - - - 2.8 5.8 14.8 .392 - - - 3.1 4.1 .752
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
Red Kerr 3 34.7 13.7 - - 8.3 3.0 - - - 3.0 5.0 17.0 .294 - - - 3.7 4.0 .917

Season 7

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1985-861960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 79 33.9 13.4 - - 12.0 2.5 - - - 2.9 5.3 13.4 .397 - - - 2.8 3.8 .729
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
Red Kerr 8 26.3 9.5 - - 12.4 2.5 - - - 2.3 3.8 11.0 .341 - - - 2.0 2.9 .696

Season 8

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1986-871961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 80 34.6 16.3 - - 14.7 3.0 - - - 3.4 6.8 15.3 .443 - - - 2.8 3.8 .735
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
Red Kerr 5 38.6 17.6 - - 16.0 2.0 - - - 3.0 8.2 21.8 .376 - - - 1.2 1.6 .750

Season 9

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1987-881962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals 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 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
Red Kerr 80 32.0 15.7 - - 13.0 2.7 - - - 2.6 6.3 13.4 .474 - - - 3.0 4.0 .753
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
Red Kerr 5 37.4 13.6 - - 15.0 1.8 - - - 2.4 5.2 12.0 .433 - - - 3.2 4.2 .762

Season 10

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1988-891963-64
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 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 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
Red Kerr 80 36.7 16.8 - - 12.7 3.4 - - - 2.3 6.7 15.6 .429 - - - 3.4 4.5 .751
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
Red Kerr 5 37.0 19.0 - - 13.8 3.2 - - - 2.4 8.0 16.6 .482 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 11

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1989-901964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Semis76ers 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 37.2 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
Red Kerr 80 22.6 8.2 - - 6.9 2.5 - - - 1.7 3.3 8.9 .370 - - - 1.6 2.3 .696
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
Red Kerr 11 16.5 5.7 - - 3.5 2.5 - - - 1.8 2.2 6.1 .358 - - - 1.4 1.9 .714

Season 12

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
Season 1990-911965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 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
Red Kerr 71 24.9 11.0 - - 8.3 3.2 - - - 2.1 4.0 9.7 .413 - - - 2.9 3.8 .768
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
Red Kerr 3 16.3 1.7 - - 5.7 1.3 - - - 1.7 0.7 3.7 .182 - - - 0.3 0.7 .500

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Red Kerr
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
Red Kerr ------- --- ----------
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
Red Kerr ------- --- ----------