Magic Johnson vs. Tayshaun Prince Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tayshaun Prince 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 less than Tayshaun Prince, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Tayshaun Prince had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Tayshaun Prince 14 9 2002-03 to 2015-16

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1979-802002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 36.3 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
Tayshaun Prince 42 10.4 3.3 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.6 1.3 2.8 .449 0.5 1.1 .426 0.3 0.4 .647
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
Tayshaun Prince 15 25.4 9.4 0.7 3.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 0.9 1.1 1.3 3.3 7.7 .426 0.9 3.2 .292 1.9 2.5 .763

Season 2

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1980-812003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 32.9 10.3 1.1 3.6 4.8 2.3 0.8 0.8 1.5 1.8 4.1 8.8 .467 0.7 1.9 .363 1.3 1.7 .766
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
Tayshaun Prince 23 34.8 9.9 1.8 4.2 6.0 2.3 1.1 1.3 0.8 2.7 3.8 9.2 .410 0.6 2.1 .265 1.8 2.4 .745

Season 3

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1981-822004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Steals 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 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 37.1 14.7 1.6 3.7 5.3 3.0 0.7 0.9 1.6 2.0 5.7 11.7 .487 0.6 1.7 .341 2.7 3.3 .807
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
Tayshaun Prince 25 40.8 13.4 2.2 4.1 6.3 3.3 1.0 0.4 1.5 2.0 5.3 12.3 .433 0.9 2.4 .367 1.9 2.4 .800

Season 4

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1982-832005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 35.3 14.1 1.3 3.0 4.2 2.3 0.8 0.5 1.1 1.2 5.5 12.2 .455 0.8 2.2 .350 2.2 2.9 .765
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
Tayshaun Prince 18 41.4 16.4 2.4 3.3 5.7 3.0 0.7 0.8 1.7 1.3 5.9 12.8 .459 1.2 2.6 .457 3.5 4.2 .829

Season 5

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1983-842006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 36.6 14.3 1.8 3.5 5.2 2.8 0.6 0.7 1.2 1.4 5.6 12.2 .460 1.0 2.6 .386 2.1 2.7 .768
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
Tayshaun Prince 16 41.6 14.1 1.7 4.8 6.4 3.8 0.9 0.3 1.9 1.9 5.2 12.5 .415 1.1 2.8 .409 2.6 3.4 .759

Season 6

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1984-852007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 32.9 13.2 1.3 3.5 4.9 3.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 1.1 5.1 11.5 .448 0.6 1.8 .363 2.3 2.9 .768
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
Tayshaun Prince 17 39.5 13.8 1.9 3.6 5.5 3.2 0.8 0.5 1.9 1.8 5.9 12.2 .481 0.5 1.5 .320 1.6 2.0 .794

Season 7

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1985-862008-09
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 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 37.3 14.2 1.6 4.2 5.8 3.1 0.5 0.6 1.2 1.3 5.6 12.4 .450 0.7 1.7 .397 2.3 3.0 .778
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
Tayshaun Prince 4 32.3 3.8 0.3 3.3 3.5 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 1.0 1.8 6.8 .259 0.3 1.3 .200 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1986-872009-10
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 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
Tayshaun Prince 49 34.0 13.5 1.4 3.6 5.1 3.3 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.6 5.8 11.8 .486 0.6 1.5 .370 1.4 2.0 .714
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
Tayshaun Prince ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1987-882010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Tayshaun Prince 78 32.8 14.1 1.0 3.2 4.2 2.8 0.4 0.5 1.1 1.2 6.1 12.8 .473 0.4 1.3 .347 1.5 2.2 .702
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
Tayshaun Prince ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1988-892011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Tayshaun Prince 63 33.1 12.7 1.1 3.3 4.5 2.4 0.4 0.5 1.2 1.2 5.3 12.7 .421 0.6 1.7 .356 1.4 1.8 .774
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
Tayshaun Prince ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1989-902012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisGrizzlies 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 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
Tayshaun Prince 82 32.1 10.4 0.9 3.6 4.4 2.4 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.0 4.4 10.0 .438 0.5 1.1 .404 1.2 1.6 .738
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
Tayshaun Prince 15 30.3 7.0 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.9 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.2 2.9 8.1 .355 0.3 1.3 .263 0.9 1.5 .609

Season 12

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1990-912013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsGrizzlies 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
Tayshaun Prince 76 25.6 6.0 0.4 2.7 3.1 1.6 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.8 2.6 6.5 .407 0.3 0.9 .290 0.4 0.8 .567
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
Tayshaun Prince 7 16.1 3.0 0.6 0.9 1.4 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 1.1 1.4 3.7 .385 0.1 0.6 .250 0.0 0.0 -

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season 1995-962014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
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 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
Tayshaun Prince 58 24.1 7.5 0.9 2.7 3.6 1.6 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.9 3.1 6.9 .440 0.5 1.2 .463 0.8 1.1 .754
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
Tayshaun Prince ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Magic Johnson Tayshaun Prince
Season -2015-16
Team -Minnesota Timberwolves
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 ------- --- ----------
Tayshaun Prince 77 19.0 2.9 0.4 1.5 1.9 1.0 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.3 3.0 .445 0.1 0.3 .174 0.2 0.2 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Tayshaun Prince ------- --- ----------