Maurice Cheeks vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Maurice Cheeks, 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.

Maurice Cheeks played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Maurice Cheeks had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Magic Johnson had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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
Maurice Cheeks 15 13 1978-79 to 1992-93
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1978-791979-80
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 82 29.4 8.4 0.8 2.3 3.1 5.3 2.1 0.1 2.4 2.4 3.6 7.0 .510 - - - 1.2 1.7 .721
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 9 36.7 18.8 1.4 2.4 3.9 7.0 4.1 0.4 3.2 3.2 7.3 13.4 .545 - - - 4.1 6.2 .661
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

Season 2

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1979-801980-81
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 33.2 11.4 0.9 2.5 3.5 7.0 2.3 0.4 2.7 2.5 4.5 8.4 .540 0.1 0.1 .444 2.3 2.9 .779
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 18 37.5 11.6 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.2 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.4 4.9 9.7 .511 0.1 0.3 .200 1.6 2.3 .707
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

Season 3

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1980-811981-82
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 81 29.8 9.4 0.8 2.2 3.0 6.9 2.4 0.5 2.1 2.9 3.8 7.2 .534 0.0 0.1 .375 1.7 2.2 .787
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 16 32.1 10.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 2.5 0.8 2.3 3.4 4.3 7.8 .544 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 2.6 .762
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

Season 4

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1981-821982-83
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.6 11.2 0.6 2.5 3.1 8.4 2.6 0.4 2.3 3.1 4.5 8.6 .521 0.1 0.3 .273 2.2 2.8 .777
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 21 36.4 14.3 0.7 2.2 3.0 8.2 2.3 0.3 2.3 2.8 6.0 12.6 .472 0.0 0.4 .111 2.4 3.1 .769
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

Season 5

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1982-831983-84
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.2 12.5 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.9 2.3 0.4 2.3 2.3 5.1 9.4 .542 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 3.0 .754
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 16.3 0.8 2.2 3.0 7.0 2.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 6.4 12.7 .503 0.1 0.2 .500 3.5 4.9 .703
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

Season 6

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1983-841984-85
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 75 33.3 12.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 6.4 2.3 0.3 2.4 2.6 5.1 9.4 .550 0.1 0.3 .400 2.3 3.1 .733
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 34.2 16.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.8 2.6 0.0 2.0 3.6 7.0 13.4 .522 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.0 .867
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

Season 7

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 78 33.5 13.1 0.7 2.1 2.8 6.4 2.2 0.3 2.0 2.4 5.4 9.5 .570 0.1 0.3 .231 2.2 2.6 .879
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 15.2 0.9 2.6 3.5 5.2 2.4 0.4 2.6 2.2 6.2 11.8 .529 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.2 .857
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

Season 8

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 82 39.9 15.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 9.2 2.5 0.3 2.9 2.0 6.0 11.1 .537 0.0 0.2 .235 3.4 4.1 .842
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 12 43.3 20.8 1.1 3.6 4.7 7.1 1.1 0.3 2.7 1.5 7.8 15.2 .516 0.0 0.6 .000 5.2 6.1 .849
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

Season 9

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 68 38.6 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.9 2.6 0.2 2.5 1.6 6.1 11.6 .527 0.1 0.3 .235 3.3 4.3 .777
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 42.0 17.6 0.2 2.4 2.6 8.8 1.8 0.8 2.4 2.8 7.0 13.2 .530 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.2 .857
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

Season 10

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 79 36.3 13.7 0.7 2.5 3.2 8.0 2.1 0.3 2.0 1.5 5.4 10.9 .495 0.0 0.3 .136 2.9 3.5 .825
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------
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

Season 11

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 71 32.4 11.6 0.5 2.0 2.6 7.8 1.5 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.7 9.8 .483 0.0 0.2 .077 2.1 2.7 .774
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 3 42.7 17.7 1.0 2.7 3.7 13.0 2.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 7.0 13.7 .512 0.0 0.3 .000 3.7 4.3 .846
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

Season 12

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1989-901990-91
Team San Antonio Spurs, New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 81 31.1 9.7 0.6 2.3 3.0 5.6 1.5 0.1 1.5 1.0 3.8 7.5 .504 0.0 0.2 .250 2.1 2.5 .847
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 10 38.8 12.8 1.2 2.7 3.9 8.5 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 10.4 .481 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.1 .903
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

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

Season 13

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1990-911995-96
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 76 28.3 7.8 0.3 2.0 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.2 6.4 .499 0.1 0.3 .250 1.4 1.7 .814
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 3 33.7 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 4.7 7.7 .609 0.3 1.0 .333 0.3 0.7 .500
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

Season 14

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1991-92-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 56 19.4 4.6 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.3 1.5 0.0 0.6 1.3 2.1 4.4 .462 0.1 0.1 .500 0.5 0.8 .605
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Maurice Cheeks Magic Johnson
Season 1992-93-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 35 14.6 3.6 0.1 1.1 1.2 3.1 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 0.8 .889
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 16.4 4.4 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.8 1.2 0.2 1.4 0.6 2.2 4.6 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------