Magic Johnson vs. Rod Strickland Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rod Strickland 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 Rod Strickland, who played 17. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rod Strickland had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Rod Strickland 17 11 1988-89 to 2004-05

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 Rod Strickland
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 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
Rod Strickland 81 16.8 8.9 0.6 1.3 2.0 3.9 1.2 0.0 1.8 1.8 3.3 7.0 .467 0.2 0.7 .322 2.1 2.9 .745
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
Rod Strickland 9 12.3 6.0 0.7 0.8 1.4 2.8 0.4 0.1 1.4 2.3 2.4 5.4 .449 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.0 1.9 .529

Season 2

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 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
Rod Strickland 82 26.1 10.6 1.1 2.1 3.2 5.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.0 4.2 9.2 .454 0.1 0.4 .267 2.1 3.4 .626
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
Rod Strickland 10 38.4 12.3 2.2 3.1 5.3 11.2 1.4 0.0 3.4 3.0 5.4 12.7 .425 0.0 0.7 .000 1.5 2.7 .556

Season 3

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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
Rod Strickland 58 35.8 13.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 8.0 2.0 0.2 2.7 2.2 5.4 11.2 .482 0.2 0.6 .333 2.8 3.6 .763
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
Rod Strickland 4 42.0 18.8 1.3 4.0 5.3 8.8 2.3 0.0 3.3 3.5 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 1.5 .000 4.3 5.3 .810

Season 4

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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
Rod Strickland 57 36.0 13.8 1.6 3.0 4.6 8.6 2.1 0.3 2.8 2.1 5.3 11.6 .455 0.1 0.3 .333 3.2 4.6 .687
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
Rod Strickland 2 40.0 15.5 0.0 3.5 3.5 9.5 1.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 6.5 11.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625

Season 5

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1983-841992-93
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
Rod Strickland 78 31.7 13.7 1.5 2.8 4.3 7.2 1.7 0.3 2.6 2.0 5.1 10.5 .485 0.1 0.4 .133 3.5 4.9 .717
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
Rod Strickland 4 39.0 13.5 2.3 4.3 6.5 9.3 1.3 0.5 1.8 2.5 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 3.0 .833

Season 6

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1984-851993-94
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 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
Rod Strickland 82 35.2 17.2 1.5 3.0 4.5 9.0 1.8 0.3 3.1 2.1 6.4 13.3 .483 0.0 0.1 .200 4.3 5.7 .749
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
Rod Strickland 4 38.5 23.5 0.8 3.3 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.5 2.5 3.3 9.0 18.0 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.8 .815

Season 7

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1985-861994-95
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 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
Rod Strickland 64 35.4 18.9 1.1 3.8 5.0 8.8 1.9 0.1 3.3 1.8 6.9 14.8 .466 0.7 1.9 .374 4.4 5.9 .745
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
Rod Strickland 3 42.0 23.3 0.3 3.7 4.0 12.3 1.0 0.7 3.3 3.7 9.0 21.7 .415 0.7 1.7 .400 4.7 6.0 .778

Season 8

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1986-871995-96
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 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 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
Rod Strickland 67 37.7 18.7 1.3 3.1 4.4 9.6 1.4 0.2 3.8 2.0 7.0 15.3 .460 0.6 1.7 .342 4.1 6.3 .652
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
Rod Strickland 5 40.4 20.6 2.4 3.8 6.2 8.4 1.0 0.0 2.4 2.8 7.4 16.8 .440 1.2 2.4 .500 4.6 7.2 .639

Season 9

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 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
Rod Strickland 82 36.5 17.2 1.2 2.9 4.1 8.9 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.0 6.3 13.5 .466 0.2 0.9 .169 4.5 6.1 .738
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
Rod Strickland 3 41.3 19.7 1.7 4.3 6.0 8.3 1.0 0.0 3.7 2.7 7.3 17.3 .423 0.3 0.7 .500 4.7 6.3 .737

Season 10

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second 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 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
Rod Strickland 76 39.7 17.8 1.5 3.9 5.3 10.5 1.7 0.3 3.5 2.4 6.4 14.9 .434 0.2 0.6 .250 4.7 6.5 .726
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
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
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
Rod Strickland 44 37.1 15.7 1.3 3.5 4.8 9.9 1.7 0.1 3.2 2.1 5.7 13.7 .416 0.3 1.0 .286 4.0 5.4 .746
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
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
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
Rod Strickland 69 31.7 12.6 1.1 2.7 3.8 7.5 1.4 0.3 2.7 2.1 4.7 11.0 .429 0.0 0.3 .048 3.1 4.4 .702
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
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season 1995-962000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
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 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
Rod Strickland 54 25.4 9.2 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.0 1.4 3.4 7.9 .424 0.1 0.3 .235 2.4 3.2 .751
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
Rod Strickland 2 10.0 4.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 14

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season -2001-02
Team -Miami Heat
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 76 30.2 10.4 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.1 2.1 1.5 4.2 9.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .308 2.0 2.6 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season -2002-03
Team -Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Timberwolves 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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 47 20.3 6.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 4.6 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.2 2.6 5.9 .432 0.0 0.2 .091 1.7 2.3 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 6 12.3 4.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.8 1.8 3.5 .524 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 16

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season -2003-04
Team -Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 61 19.6 6.3 0.6 2.0 2.5 4.0 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.2 2.5 5.8 .425 0.2 0.6 .278 1.2 1.6 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Magic Johnson Rod Strickland
Season -2004-05
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 16 12.3 1.8 0.2 1.5 1.7 2.4 0.2 0.1 1.0 0.9 0.6 2.7 .209 0.1 0.1 .500 0.6 0.6 .900
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------