Hal Greer vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Hal Greer, 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.

Hal Greer played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Hal Greer had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, 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
Hal Greer 15 13 1958-59 to 1972-73
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1958-591979-80
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 68 23.9 11.1 - - 2.9 1.5 - - - 2.8 4.5 10.0 .454 - - - 2.0 2.6 .778
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 %
Hal Greer 9 30.8 11.6 - - 5.2 2.2 - - - 3.9 4.3 10.3 .419 - - - 2.9 3.6 .813
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1959-601980-81
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 70 28.3 13.2 - - 4.3 2.7 - - - 3.0 5.5 11.6 .476 - - - 2.1 2.7 .783
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 %
Hal Greer 3 28.0 15.7 - - 4.7 3.3 - - - 1.7 7.3 14.3 .512 - - - 1.0 1.3 .750
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1960-611981-82
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 79 35.0 19.6 - - 5.8 3.8 - - - 3.1 7.9 17.5 .451 - - - 3.9 5.0 .774
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 %
Hal Greer 8 29.0 14.4 - - 4.1 2.4 - - - 4.0 5.1 13.3 .387 - - - 4.1 5.0 .825
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1961-621982-83
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 71 38.1 22.8 - - 7.4 4.4 - - - 3.5 9.1 20.3 .447 - - - 4.7 5.7 .819
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 %
Hal Greer 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1962-631983-84
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 32.9 19.5 - - 5.7 3.4 - - - 3.6 7.5 16.2 .464 - - - 4.5 5.4 .834
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 %
Hal Greer 5 42.8 23.4 - - 5.4 4.2 - - - 4.2 8.8 17.4 .506 - - - 5.8 7.0 .829
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1963-641984-85
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 39.5 23.3 - - 6.1 4.7 - - - 3.6 8.9 20.1 .444 - - - 5.4 6.6 .829
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 %
Hal Greer 5 42.2 21.4 - - 5.6 6.0 - - - 3.8 7.4 19.0 .389 - - - 6.6 7.8 .846
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1964-651985-86
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 70 37.1 20.2 - - 5.1 4.5 - - - 3.6 7.7 17.8 .433 - - - 4.8 5.9 .811
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 %
Hal Greer 11 45.9 24.6 - - 7.4 5.0 - - - 4.1 9.2 20.2 .455 - - - 6.3 7.9 .793
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1965-661986-87
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 41.6 22.7 - - 5.9 4.8 - - - 3.9 8.8 19.8 .445 - - - 5.2 6.4 .804
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 %
Hal Greer 5 45.2 16.4 - - 7.2 4.2 - - - 4.2 6.4 18.2 .352 - - - 3.6 4.6 .783
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1966-671987-88
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer 80 38.6 22.1 - - 5.3 3.8 - - - 3.8 8.7 19.1 .459 - - - 4.6 5.8 .788
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 %
Hal Greer 15 45.9 27.7 - - 5.9 5.3 - - - 3.7 10.7 25.0 .429 - - - 6.3 7.9 .797
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1967-681988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 82 39.8 24.1 - - 5.4 4.5 - - - 3.5 9.5 19.8 .478 - - - 5.1 6.7 .769
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 %
Hal Greer 13 42.5 25.8 - - 6.1 4.2 - - - 3.8 9.2 21.4 .432 - - - 7.3 8.5 .856
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1968-691989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisLakers 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 %
Hal Greer 82 40.4 23.1 - - 5.3 5.0 - - - 3.6 8.9 19.5 .459 - - - 5.3 6.6 .796
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 %
Hal Greer 5 40.8 16.0 - - 6.0 4.6 - - - 4.6 5.2 16.2 .321 - - - 5.6 7.2 .778
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1969-701990-91
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 37.8 22.0 - - 4.7 5.1 - - - 3.8 8.8 19.4 .455 - - - 4.4 5.4 .815
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 %
Hal Greer 5 35.6 15.4 - - 3.4 5.4 - - - 3.2 6.6 14.8 .446 - - - 2.2 2.6 .846
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1970-711995-96
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Hal Greer 81 37.8 18.6 - - 4.5 4.6 - - - 3.6 7.3 16.9 .431 - - - 4.0 5.0 .805
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 %
Hal Greer 7 37.9 17.9 - - 3.6 4.7 - - - 5.0 7.0 16.0 .438 - - - 3.9 5.1 .750
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

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1971-72-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
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 %
Hal Greer 81 29.8 11.8 - - 3.3 3.9 - - - 3.3 4.8 10.7 .449 - - - 2.2 2.9 .774
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Hal Greer Magic Johnson
Season 1972-73-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
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 %
Hal Greer 38 22.3 5.6 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.0 2.4 6.1 .392 - - - 0.8 1.0 .821
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------