Magic Johnson vs. Sam Perkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Perkins 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 Sam Perkins, who played 17. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Sam Perkins 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
Sam Perkins 17 15 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 Sam Perkins
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 36.3 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 Perkins 82 28.3 11.0 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.6 0.8 0.8 1.2 2.9 4.2 9.0 .471 0.1 0.4 .250 2.4 3.0 .820
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 Perkins 4 42.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.8 3.3 6.0 12.3 .490 0.3 1.0 .250 6.5 8.5 .765

Season 2
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdMavericks 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
Sam Perkins 80 32.8 15.4 2.4 6.1 8.6 1.9 0.9 1.2 1.8 2.7 5.7 11.4 .503 0.1 0.4 .333 3.8 4.7 .814
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 Perkins 10 34.7 14.9 3.0 5.3 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.4 1.6 3.2 5.7 13.3 .429 0.2 0.8 .250 3.3 4.3 .767

Season 3
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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
Sam Perkins 80 33.6 14.8 2.5 5.2 7.7 1.8 1.4 1.0 1.7 3.4 5.8 12.0 .482 0.2 0.7 .352 3.1 3.7 .828
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 Perkins 4 33.3 17.0 3.0 5.5 8.5 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.3 4.0 6.5 13.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 4.0 5.8 .696

Season 4
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost West 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 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 Perkins 75 33.3 14.2 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 1.0 0.7 1.6 3.0 5.3 11.7 .450 0.1 0.4 .167 3.6 4.4 .822
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 Perkins 17 33.6 13.5 2.3 4.3 6.6 1.8 1.5 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.2 11.5 .451 0.1 0.4 .143 3.1 3.9 .803

Season 5
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
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 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 Perkins 78 36.7 15.0 3.0 5.8 8.8 1.6 1.0 1.2 1.8 2.9 5.7 12.3 .464 0.1 0.5 .184 3.5 4.2 .833
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 Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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
Sam Perkins 76 35.1 15.9 2.8 4.8 7.5 2.3 1.2 0.8 1.9 3.0 5.7 11.6 .493 0.1 0.4 .214 4.3 5.6 .778
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 Perkins 3 39.3 15.0 3.3 4.0 7.3 2.7 1.0 0.7 2.3 5.7 5.3 12.0 .444 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 5.7 .765

Season 7
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers 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 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 Perkins 73 34.3 13.5 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.5 0.9 1.1 1.4 3.4 5.0 10.2 .495 0.2 0.9 .281 3.1 3.8 .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
Sam Perkins 19 39.6 17.7 2.2 6.1 8.3 1.7 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.6 6.4 11.6 .548 0.6 1.6 .367 4.4 5.7 .761

Season 8
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists 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 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 Perkins 63 37.0 16.5 3.0 5.8 8.8 2.2 1.0 1.0 1.3 3.0 5.7 12.7 .450 0.2 1.1 .217 4.8 5.9 .817
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 Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1987-881992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics Lost West 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 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 Perkins 79 29.8 13.1 2.1 4.6 6.6 2.0 0.8 1.0 1.4 2.8 4.8 10.1 .477 0.3 0.9 .338 3.2 3.9 .820
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 Perkins 19 32.9 14.4 1.7 5.3 7.0 1.9 1.0 1.3 1.1 2.9 5.2 11.8 .436 1.6 4.2 .380 2.5 2.9 .873

Season 10
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1988-891993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 Perkins 81 26.8 12.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.4 0.8 0.4 1.3 2.4 4.2 9.6 .438 1.2 3.3 .367 2.7 3.4 .801
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 Perkins 5 28.2 9.8 1.2 6.0 7.2 0.8 0.8 0.4 1.2 3.0 2.8 8.4 .333 1.2 2.8 .429 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 11
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 Perkins 82 28.7 12.7 1.2 3.7 4.9 1.6 0.9 0.5 0.9 2.3 4.2 9.0 .466 1.7 4.2 .397 2.6 3.3 .799
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 Perkins 4 35.3 13.5 1.5 6.3 7.8 3.3 0.8 1.3 2.3 3.0 5.3 12.0 .438 2.5 5.5 .455 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 12
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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 Perkins 82 26.5 11.8 1.2 3.2 4.5 1.5 1.0 0.6 1.0 2.1 4.0 9.7 .408 1.6 4.4 .355 2.3 2.9 .793
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 Perkins 21 31.1 12.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.7 0.7 0.3 1.4 2.1 4.3 9.3 .459 1.5 4.1 .368 2.2 2.9 .754

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season 1995-961996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 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 Perkins 81 24.4 11.0 0.9 2.8 3.7 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.0 1.7 3.6 8.2 .439 1.5 3.8 .395 2.3 2.8 .817
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 Perkins 12 28.3 8.4 1.3 3.2 4.4 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.1 2.8 2.6 7.7 .337 1.2 3.8 .311 2.1 2.4 .862

Season 14
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season -1997-98
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 81 20.7 7.2 0.7 2.5 3.1 1.4 0.8 0.4 0.8 2.0 2.4 5.8 .416 1.1 2.7 .392 1.2 1.6 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 10 21.0 5.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.4 0.3 0.5 1.1 2.2 1.6 4.2 .381 1.0 2.4 .417 1.2 2.0 .600

Season 15
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season -1998-99
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 48 16.4 5.0 0.8 2.1 2.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.5 1.7 4.2 .400 0.7 1.9 .389 0.9 1.3 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 13 11.2 4.1 0.2 1.8 1.9 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.7 .514 0.8 1.8 .458 0.5 0.7 .667

Season 16
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season -1999-00
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 81 20.0 6.6 0.8 2.8 3.6 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.3 5.4 .417 1.1 2.7 .408 1.0 1.2 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 23 18.2 4.8 0.7 2.4 3.2 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 2.0 1.5 4.6 .324 1.0 2.9 .348 0.8 0.9 .905

Season 17
Magic Johnson Sam Perkins
Season -2000-01
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 64 15.6 3.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.5 .381 0.6 1.7 .345 0.5 0.6 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 3 6.7 1.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.7 2.7 .250 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 -
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