Magic Johnson vs. Sam Mitchell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Mitchell 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 and Sam Mitchell both played 13 years in the NBA. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Sam Mitchell had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Sam Mitchell 13 9 1989-90 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Sam Mitchell 80 30.2 12.7 2.3 3.5 5.8 1.1 0.8 0.7 1.2 3.8 4.7 10.4 .446 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.4 .768
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
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 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
Sam Mitchell 82 38.1 14.6 2.3 4.0 6.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.3 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Sam Mitchell 82 26.2 10.1 1.9 3.8 5.8 1.1 0.6 0.5 1.2 2.8 3.7 8.8 .423 0.0 0.1 .182 2.5 3.2 .786
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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
Sam Mitchell 81 17.3 7.2 1.1 1.9 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.0 .445 0.0 0.3 .174 1.9 2.3 .811
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
Sam Mitchell 4 6.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.3 2.0 .625 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 5

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Sam Mitchell 75 14.5 4.8 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.9 4.1 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.5 .745
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
Sam Mitchell 15 6.6 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.5 0.6 1.7 .346 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.3 .750

Season 6

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Sam Mitchell 81 17.0 6.5 1.2 1.8 3.0 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.7 2.5 2.5 5.1 .487 0.0 0.1 .100 1.6 2.1 .724
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
Sam Mitchell 17 13.1 4.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.4 1.4 3.8 .359 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .786

Season 7

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Sam Mitchell 78 27.5 10.8 1.4 3.0 4.3 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.1 2.8 3.9 7.9 .490 0.0 0.2 .056 3.0 3.7 .814
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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
Sam Mitchell 82 24.9 9.3 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.8 3.3 7.4 .446 0.0 0.3 .160 2.7 3.6 .759
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
Sam Mitchell 3 15.7 5.7 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 3.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.7 .625

Season 9

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 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
Sam Mitchell 81 27.6 12.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.5 4.6 9.9 .464 0.2 0.5 .349 3.0 3.6 .832
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
Sam Mitchell 5 35.8 14.4 1.4 4.0 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 5.2 11.6 .448 0.6 2.8 .214 3.4 3.8 .895

Season 10

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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
Sam Mitchell 50 26.9 11.2 1.1 2.5 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.2 4.3 10.4 .408 0.2 0.8 .237 2.5 3.3 .764
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
Sam Mitchell 4 32.8 10.0 1.3 2.3 3.5 1.5 0.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 0.3 1.5 .167 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 11

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves 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
Sam Mitchell 66 18.6 6.5 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.8 2.5 5.7 .447 0.2 0.3 .435 1.2 1.4 .880
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
Sam Mitchell 4 17.0 5.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.5 .500 0.5 1.3 .400 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 12

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1990-912000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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 37.1 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
Sam Mitchell 82 12.0 3.5 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.4 1.4 3.5 .408 0.1 0.5 .209 0.5 0.7 .727
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
Sam Mitchell 4 12.5 1.5 0.3 1.5 1.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Sam Mitchell
Season 1995-962001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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
Sam Mitchell 74 9.8 3.3 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.1 1.3 3.1 .432 0.1 0.5 .286 0.5 0.7 .776
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
Sam Mitchell 3 11.3 2.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000