Magic Johnson vs. Rick Mahorn Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rick Mahorn 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, 5 less than Rick Mahorn, who played 18. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rick Mahorn had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Rick Mahorn 18 13 1980-81 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1979-801980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
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
Rick Mahorn 52 13.4 4.8 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.7 2.6 2.1 4.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .675
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
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1980-811981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBullets 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 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
Rick Mahorn 80 33.3 12.2 1.9 6.9 8.8 1.9 0.7 1.7 2.0 4.4 5.2 10.2 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.9 .632
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
Rick Mahorn 7 34.6 10.6 2.0 6.7 8.7 1.9 1.4 0.7 2.3 4.3 4.6 10.4 .438 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.0 .714

Season 3

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1981-821982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
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
Rick Mahorn 82 36.9 11.0 2.1 7.4 9.5 1.4 1.0 1.8 2.1 4.1 4.6 9.4 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 3.1 .575
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
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1982-831983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 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
Rick Mahorn 82 32.9 9.0 2.1 6.9 9.0 1.6 0.8 1.5 1.7 4.4 3.7 7.4 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .651
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
Rick Mahorn 4 38.5 9.5 1.8 9.0 10.8 1.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 4.8 3.8 6.3 .600 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 5

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1983-841984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 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
Rick Mahorn 77 26.9 6.3 1.9 5.9 7.9 1.6 0.8 1.4 1.7 4.0 2.7 5.4 .499 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .683
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
Rick Mahorn 4 10.3 3.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.3 2.3 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 6

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 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
Rick Mahorn 80 18.0 4.9 1.5 3.6 5.2 0.8 0.5 0.8 1.4 3.3 2.0 4.3 .455 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.5 .681
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
Rick Mahorn 4 15.3 3.0 0.8 2.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.8 3.5 1.3 3.3 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 7

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsPistons Lost East 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
Rick Mahorn 63 20.3 6.1 1.5 4.5 6.0 0.6 0.5 0.8 1.2 3.5 2.3 5.1 .447 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .821
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
Rick Mahorn 15 32.2 9.7 2.8 6.7 9.5 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.1 4.0 3.9 7.3 .541 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .800

Season 8

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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
Rick Mahorn 67 29.3 10.7 2.4 6.1 8.4 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.9 4.1 7.2 .574 0.0 0.0 .500 2.4 3.2 .756
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
Rick Mahorn 23 17.8 3.3 0.8 3.0 3.9 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.7 2.8 1.3 3.9 .344 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .684

Season 9

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
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 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
Rick Mahorn 72 24.9 7.3 2.0 4.9 6.9 0.8 0.6 0.9 1.3 2.9 2.8 5.5 .517 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.2 .748
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
Rick Mahorn 17 21.2 5.7 1.8 3.4 5.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.6 3.5 2.4 4.1 .580 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .654

Season 10

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers 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 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
Rick Mahorn 75 30.3 10.8 2.2 5.3 7.6 1.3 0.6 1.4 1.4 3.3 4.2 8.4 .497 0.0 0.1 .222 2.4 3.4 .715
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
Rick Mahorn 10 34.2 9.4 1.8 5.2 7.0 1.0 0.7 0.8 1.3 4.1 3.7 8.6 .430 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.6 .769

Season 11

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1989-901990-91
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 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 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
Rick Mahorn 80 30.5 8.9 1.9 5.9 7.8 1.5 1.0 0.7 1.6 3.5 3.3 7.0 .467 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .788
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
Rick Mahorn 8 26.0 6.4 0.9 4.4 5.3 1.8 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.1 2.5 4.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .786

Note: Rick Mahorn didn't play in 1991-92.

Season 12

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNets 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
Rick Mahorn 74 14.6 3.9 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.1 1.4 2.9 .472 0.0 0.0 .333 1.2 1.5 .800
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
Rick Mahorn 4 15.8 2.0 1.0 2.3 3.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.3 2.3 1.0 2.5 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season 1995-961993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNets 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
Rick Mahorn 28 8.1 2.1 0.6 1.4 1.9 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 1.4 0.8 1.7 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.7 .650
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
Rick Mahorn 3 6.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season -1994-95
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 58 10.9 3.4 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.6 1.4 2.6 .523 0.0 0.1 .333 0.7 0.8 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season -1995-96
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 50 9.0 2.4 0.6 1.6 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.4 0.9 2.4 .352 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 0.9 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season -1996-97
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons 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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 22 9.9 2.5 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 1.5 0.9 2.5 .370 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.0 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 2 9.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season -1997-98
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 59 12.0 2.4 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 2.1 1.0 2.2 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Magic Johnson Rick Mahorn
Season -1998-99
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers 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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 16 7.9 0.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.4 0.3 1.1 .278 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .375
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 5 5.8 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.2 0.4 1.2 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500