Magic Johnson vs. Enes Kanter Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Enes Kanter 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, 2 more than Enes Kanter, who played 11. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Enes Kanter had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Enes Kanter 11 6 2011-12 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz 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
Enes Kanter 66 13.2 4.6 1.6 2.6 4.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.3 1.8 3.6 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .667
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
Enes Kanter 4 10.8 3.5 2.0 2.0 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.8 1.8 4.0 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 2

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
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
Enes Kanter 70 15.4 7.2 1.9 2.4 4.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 1.4 1.7 2.9 5.4 .544 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.3 1.7 .795
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
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
Enes Kanter 80 26.7 12.3 2.8 4.7 7.5 0.9 0.4 0.5 1.8 2.9 5.2 10.7 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.6 .730
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder
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 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
Enes Kanter 75 28.5 15.5 3.7 5.3 8.9 0.7 0.5 0.4 1.9 2.5 6.4 12.4 .519 0.2 0.6 .356 2.4 3.1 .782
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1983-842015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 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
Enes Kanter 82 21.0 12.7 3.0 5.1 8.1 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.4 2.0 5.0 8.8 .576 0.1 0.3 .476 2.4 3.1 .797
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
Enes Kanter 18 17.9 9.4 2.6 3.6 6.2 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.9 2.2 3.6 6.6 .551 0.1 0.8 .143 2.1 2.5 .844

Season 6

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1984-852016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder 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
Enes Kanter 72 21.3 14.3 2.7 4.0 6.7 0.9 0.4 0.5 1.7 2.1 5.6 10.2 .545 0.1 0.5 .132 3.1 4.0 .786
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
Enes Kanter 5 9.0 4.8 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 5.2 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 7

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1985-862017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
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
Enes Kanter 71 25.8 14.1 3.8 7.1 11.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.7 2.6 5.9 10.0 .592 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 2.6 .848
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1986-872018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Enes Kanter 67 24.5 13.7 3.8 6.0 9.8 1.7 0.5 0.4 1.8 2.5 5.6 10.2 .549 0.1 0.5 .294 2.3 2.9 .787
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
Enes Kanter 16 28.8 11.4 3.3 6.4 9.6 1.2 0.7 0.6 1.6 2.3 4.7 9.1 .514 0.1 0.3 .250 1.9 2.6 .756

Season 9

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1987-882019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 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
Enes Kanter 58 16.9 8.1 2.8 4.6 7.4 1.0 0.4 0.7 1.0 1.7 3.4 6.0 .572 0.0 0.1 .143 1.2 1.7 .707
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
Enes Kanter 11 9.3 4.5 1.7 2.2 3.9 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.7 2.0 3.8 .524 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.5 0.9 .500

Season 10

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1988-892020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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
Enes Kanter 72 24.4 11.2 3.9 7.1 11.0 1.2 0.5 0.7 1.1 2.3 4.7 7.8 .604 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.3 .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
Enes Kanter 5 11.2 2.0 1.2 1.4 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.6 1.8 0.8 1.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 11

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1989-902021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Enes Kanter 35 11.7 3.7 1.7 2.8 4.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.8 .526 0.1 0.1 .400 0.7 0.8 .857
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1990-91-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Enes Kanter
Season 1995-96-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------
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
Enes Kanter ------- --- ----------