Magic Johnson vs. Bud Palmer Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bud Palmer and Magic Johnson 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

Magic Johnson

vs.

Bud Palmer

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96
Bud Palmer: 1946-47 to 1948-49

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Magic Johnson 5 Bud Palmer 0

NBA Seasons Magic Johnson 13 Bud Palmer 3

Playoffs Played Magic Johnson 13 Bud Palmer 3

All-Star Games Magic Johnson 12 Bud Palmer 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Magic Johnson 3 Bud Palmer 0 *

Finals MVP Magic Johnson 3 Bud Palmer 0 *

All-NBA First Team Magic Johnson 9 Bud Palmer 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Magic Johnson 10 Bud Palmer 0

Assists Leader Magic Johnson 4 Bud Palmer 0

Steals Leader Magic Johnson 2 Bud Palmer 0 *

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 19.5 Bud Palmer 11.7

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.2 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 11.2 Bud Palmer 1.3

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.4 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 17,707 Bud Palmer 1,737

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 6,559 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Total Assists Magic Johnson 10,141 Bud Palmer 187

Total Steals Magic Johnson 1,724 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 374 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 906 Bud Palmer 148

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .520 Bud Palmer .326

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .303 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .848 Bud Palmer .739

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987) Bud Palmer 13.0 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982) Bud Palmer - n/a **

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984) Bud Palmer 1.9 (1949)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981) Bud Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984) Bud Palmer - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 19.5 Bud Palmer 14.4

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 7.7 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 12.3 Bud Palmer 1.0

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 1.9 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 0.3 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Magic Johnson 3,701 Bud Palmer 201

Total Rebounds Magic Johnson 1,465 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Total Assists Magic Johnson 2,346 Bud Palmer 14

Total Steals Magic Johnson 358 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Total Blocks Magic Johnson 64 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Total Games Magic Johnson 190 Bud Palmer 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Magic Johnson .506 Bud Palmer .388

3-Point Percentage Magic Johnson .241 Bud Palmer - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Magic Johnson .838 Bud Palmer .721

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990) Bud Palmer 15.6 (1947)

Rebounds Per Game Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981) Bud Palmer - n/a **

Assists Per Game Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985) Bud Palmer 1.7 (1949)

Steals Per Game Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980) Bud Palmer - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981) Bud Palmer - n/a **

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.