Billy Ray Bates vs. Magic Johnson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Magic Johnson and Billy Ray Bates that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Billy Ray Bates

vs.

Magic Johnson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Billy Ray Bates: 1979-80 to 1982-83
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 5

NBA Seasons Billy Ray Bates 4 Magic Johnson 13

Playoffs Played Billy Ray Bates 2 Magic Johnson 13

All-Star Games Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 10

Assists Leader Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 4

Steals Leader Billy Ray Bates 0 Magic Johnson 2

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 11.7 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.9 Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.8 Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.1 Magic Johnson 0.4

Totals Stats

Total Points Billy Ray Bates 2,197 Magic Johnson 17,707

Total Rebounds Billy Ray Bates 313 Magic Johnson 6,559

Total Assists Billy Ray Bates 352 Magic Johnson 10,141

Total Steals Billy Ray Bates 151 Magic Johnson 1,724

Total Blocks Billy Ray Bates 16 Magic Johnson 374

Total Games Billy Ray Bates 187 Magic Johnson 906

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Billy Ray Bates .474 Magic Johnson .520

3-Point Percentage Billy Ray Bates .303 Magic Johnson .303

Free Throw Percentage Billy Ray Bates .796 Magic Johnson .848

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 13.8 (1981) Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987)

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.0 (1981) Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982)

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.5 (1981) Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984)

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.1 (1981) Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981)

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.2 (1983) Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 26.7 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.8 Magic Johnson 7.7

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 4.2 Magic Johnson 12.3

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.3 Magic Johnson 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Billy Ray Bates 160 Magic Johnson 3,701

Total Rebounds Billy Ray Bates 17 Magic Johnson 1,465

Total Assists Billy Ray Bates 25 Magic Johnson 2,346

Total Steals Billy Ray Bates 10 Magic Johnson 358

Total Blocks Billy Ray Bates 2 Magic Johnson 64

Total Games Billy Ray Bates 6 Magic Johnson 190

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Billy Ray Bates .545 Magic Johnson .506

3-Point Percentage Billy Ray Bates .375 Magic Johnson .241

Free Throw Percentage Billy Ray Bates .806 Magic Johnson .838

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 28.3 (1981) Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 3.3 (1980) Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981)

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 4.3 (1981) Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985)

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 (1981) Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980)

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.3 (1981) Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981)