Paul George vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Paul George, 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.

Paul George played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Paul George had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, 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
Paul George 14 11 2010-11 to 2023-24
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2010-111979-80
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Paul George 61 20.7 7.8 0.6 3.1 3.7 1.1 1.0 0.4 1.1 2.1 2.9 6.5 .453 0.7 2.3 .297 1.3 1.7 .762
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 %
Paul George 5 26.6 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 1.4 2.0 1.4 2.2 2.0 6.6 .303 0.6 2.6 .231 1.4 1.6 .875
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2011-121980-81
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Paul George 66 29.7 12.1 0.8 4.8 5.6 2.4 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.9 4.3 9.7 .440 1.4 3.5 .385 2.2 2.8 .802
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 %
Paul George 11 33.7 9.7 1.4 5.3 6.6 2.4 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.9 3.4 8.6 .389 1.0 3.7 .268 2.0 2.5 .786
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2012-131981-82
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Paul George 79 37.6 17.4 1.1 6.5 7.6 4.1 1.8 0.6 2.9 2.9 6.2 14.9 .419 2.2 5.9 .362 2.8 3.5 .807
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 %
Paul George 19 41.1 19.2 0.8 6.6 7.4 5.1 1.3 0.5 3.9 3.8 6.3 14.6 .430 1.8 5.5 .327 4.9 6.7 .727
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2013-141982-83
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Paul George 80 36.2 21.7 0.8 6.0 6.8 3.5 1.9 0.3 2.8 2.5 7.2 17.0 .424 2.3 6.3 .364 5.0 5.8 .864
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 %
Paul George 19 41.1 22.6 0.7 6.9 7.6 3.8 2.2 0.4 2.6 2.9 7.3 16.6 .438 2.7 6.8 .403 5.3 6.7 .789
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2014-151983-84
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement 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 %
Paul George 6 15.2 8.8 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.0 0.8 0.2 2.0 1.8 3.0 8.2 .367 1.5 3.7 .409 1.3 1.8 .727
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 %
Paul George ------- --- ----------
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2015-161984-85
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Paul George 81 34.8 23.1 1.0 6.0 7.0 4.1 1.9 0.4 3.3 2.8 7.5 17.9 .418 2.6 7.0 .371 5.6 6.5 .860
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 %
Paul George 7 39.3 27.3 1.3 6.3 7.6 4.3 2.0 0.7 3.3 3.4 8.0 17.6 .455 2.6 6.1 .419 8.7 9.1 .953
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2016-171985-86
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Paul George 75 35.9 23.7 0.8 5.8 6.6 3.3 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.7 8.3 18.0 .461 2.6 6.6 .393 4.5 5.0 .898
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 %
Paul George 4 43.0 28.0 1.3 7.5 8.8 7.3 1.8 0.5 3.3 3.3 8.5 22.0 .386 4.5 10.5 .429 6.5 7.5 .867
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2017-181986-87
Team Oklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Paul George 79 36.6 21.9 0.9 4.7 5.7 3.3 2.0 0.5 2.7 2.9 7.3 17.0 .430 3.1 7.7 .401 4.3 5.2 .822
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 %
Paul George 6 41.8 24.7 0.7 5.3 6.0 2.7 1.3 0.7 4.0 2.8 8.2 20.0 .408 3.2 8.7 .365 5.2 6.0 .861
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2018-191987-88
Team Oklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Paul George 77 36.9 28.0 1.4 6.8 8.2 4.1 2.2 0.4 2.7 2.8 9.2 21.0 .438 3.8 9.8 .386 5.9 7.0 .839
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 %
Paul George 5 40.8 28.6 1.2 7.4 8.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 4.2 4.2 8.8 20.2 .436 3.0 9.4 .319 8.0 9.8 .816
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2019-201988-89
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West 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 %
Paul George 48 29.6 21.5 0.5 5.2 5.7 3.9 1.4 0.4 2.6 2.4 7.1 16.3 .439 3.3 7.9 .412 4.0 4.5 .876
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 %
Paul George 13 36.8 20.2 1.1 5.0 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 3.1 3.8 6.8 17.0 .398 2.8 8.5 .333 3.8 4.2 .909
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2020-211989-90
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Paul George 54 33.7 23.3 0.8 5.8 6.6 5.2 1.1 0.4 3.3 2.4 8.2 17.6 .467 3.2 7.7 .411 3.7 4.2 .868
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 %
Paul George 19 40.8 26.9 0.9 8.7 9.6 5.4 1.0 0.5 3.5 3.1 8.7 19.7 .441 2.7 8.0 .336 6.8 8.1 .844
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2021-221990-91
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement 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 %
Paul George 31 34.7 24.3 0.4 6.5 6.9 5.7 2.2 0.4 4.1 2.4 8.6 20.5 .421 2.9 8.3 .354 4.1 4.8 .858
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 %
Paul George ------- --- ----------
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2022-231995-96
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Paul George 56 34.6 23.8 0.8 5.3 6.1 5.1 1.5 0.4 3.1 2.8 8.2 17.9 .457 2.8 7.6 .371 4.6 5.3 .871
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 %
Paul George ------- --- ----------
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
Paul George Magic Johnson
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Paul George 74 33.8 22.6 0.5 4.7 5.2 3.5 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.7 7.9 16.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .413 3.6 3.9 .907
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul George 6 37.0 19.5 0.5 6.3 6.8 4.8 1.2 0.5 2.3 3.7 6.5 15.8 .411 3.0 8.2 .367 3.5 4.2 .840
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Share: