Joe Johnson vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Joe 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.

Joe Johnson played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Joe Johnson had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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
Joe Johnson 18 13 2001-02 to 2021-22
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2001-021979-80
Team Boston Celtics, Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 77 24.9 7.5 1.0 2.4 3.3 2.3 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.5 3.3 7.6 .430 0.5 1.7 .292 0.5 0.7 .774
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 %
Joe Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2002-031980-81
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Joe Johnson 82 27.5 9.8 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.3 1.7 3.9 9.7 .397 0.9 2.5 .366 1.2 1.5 .774
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 %
Joe Johnson 6 27.3 5.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.3 0.7 0.3 2.0 2.5 2.3 8.5 .275 0.3 2.2 .154 0.3 0.8 .400
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2003-041981-82
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 82 40.6 16.7 1.0 3.7 4.7 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.2 6.8 15.7 .430 1.0 3.3 .305 2.1 2.8 .750
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 %
Joe Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2004-051982-83
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Joe Johnson 82 39.5 17.1 1.5 3.7 5.1 3.5 1.0 0.3 1.8 2.0 6.6 14.4 .461 2.2 4.5 .478 1.6 2.2 .750
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 %
Joe Johnson 9 39.3 18.8 0.8 3.6 4.3 3.3 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 7.0 13.9 .504 2.2 4.0 .556 2.6 3.7 .697
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2005-061983-84
Team Atlanta HawksLos 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 %
Joe Johnson 82 40.7 20.2 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.5 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.3 7.7 17.0 .453 1.6 4.4 .356 3.2 4.0 .791
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 %
Joe Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2006-071984-85
Team Atlanta HawksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 57 41.4 25.0 0.9 3.3 4.2 4.4 1.1 0.2 3.1 2.0 9.4 20.0 .471 2.1 5.5 .381 4.1 5.5 .748
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 %
Joe Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2007-081985-86
Team Atlanta HawksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Joe Johnson 82 40.8 21.7 1.0 3.5 4.5 5.8 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.0 7.9 18.3 .432 2.1 5.4 .381 3.9 4.6 .834
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 %
Joe Johnson 7 39.3 20.0 1.3 2.6 3.9 4.0 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 6.7 16.4 .409 2.3 5.1 .444 4.3 4.7 .909
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2008-091986-87
Team Atlanta HawksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 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 %
Joe Johnson 79 39.5 21.4 0.8 3.6 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.5 2.2 7.8 18.0 .437 1.9 5.2 .360 3.8 4.6 .826
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 %
Joe Johnson 11 39.0 16.4 1.5 2.9 4.5 3.5 1.3 0.0 2.9 2.2 6.4 15.3 .417 1.1 3.2 .343 2.5 4.1 .622
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2009-101987-88
Team Atlanta HawksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 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 %
Joe Johnson 76 38.0 21.3 1.0 3.7 4.6 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.9 1.9 8.4 18.2 .458 1.7 4.6 .369 2.9 3.5 .818
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 %
Joe Johnson 11 40.0 17.9 1.8 3.3 5.1 5.0 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.0 18.1 .387 0.8 3.7 .220 3.1 3.8 .810
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2010-111988-89
Team Atlanta HawksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East 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 %
Joe Johnson 72 35.5 18.2 0.8 3.2 4.0 4.7 0.7 0.1 2.0 1.8 7.1 16.1 .443 1.2 4.2 .297 2.7 3.4 .802
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 %
Joe Johnson 12 41.4 18.8 1.5 3.1 4.6 3.3 1.1 0.1 2.6 1.6 7.3 16.5 .439 1.5 3.5 .429 2.8 3.5 .810
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2011-121989-90
Team Atlanta HawksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Joe Johnson 60 35.5 18.8 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.9 0.8 0.2 1.9 1.3 7.1 15.5 .454 2.1 5.4 .388 2.6 3.1 .849
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 %
Joe Johnson 6 40.5 17.2 1.0 2.5 3.5 3.5 1.3 0.2 2.7 1.8 6.3 17.0 .373 1.5 6.0 .250 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2012-131990-91
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 72 36.7 16.3 0.7 2.3 3.0 3.5 0.7 0.2 1.7 1.4 6.2 14.6 .423 2.1 5.5 .375 1.8 2.2 .820
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 %
Joe Johnson 7 38.7 14.9 0.6 2.6 3.1 2.7 1.1 0.0 1.7 1.9 6.1 14.7 .417 1.4 5.6 .256 1.1 1.3 .889
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2013-141995-96
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Joe Johnson 79 32.6 15.8 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.6 5.8 12.9 .454 2.1 5.1 .401 2.0 2.5 .815
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 %
Joe Johnson 12 39.1 21.2 0.8 3.1 3.8 2.9 0.5 0.3 1.6 1.7 8.2 15.3 .533 1.8 4.4 .415 3.0 3.6 .837
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

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2014-15-
Team Brooklyn Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 80 34.9 14.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 3.7 0.7 0.2 1.7 1.5 5.6 12.8 .435 1.5 4.2 .359 1.8 2.2 .801
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 6 41.5 16.5 0.8 6.8 7.7 4.8 1.2 0.0 0.8 2.7 5.7 15.7 .362 2.0 6.8 .293 3.2 4.0 .792
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2015-16-
Team Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 81 33.4 12.2 0.6 3.0 3.6 3.9 0.8 0.0 2.0 1.8 4.7 10.6 .439 1.5 3.9 .383 1.5 1.8 .831
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 14 35.1 12.1 0.5 4.2 4.7 2.5 0.6 0.2 1.3 1.9 4.9 11.3 .430 0.9 3.3 .283 1.5 1.7 .875
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2016-17-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Joe Johnson 78 23.6 9.2 0.4 2.7 3.1 1.8 0.5 0.2 0.9 1.2 3.5 8.0 .436 1.4 3.3 .411 0.8 1.0 .818
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 11 29.6 12.9 0.7 3.2 3.9 2.5 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.9 5.3 12.1 .436 1.4 4.1 .333 1.0 1.4 .733
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2017-18-
Team Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Joe Johnson 55 21.9 6.8 0.3 2.9 3.1 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.9 1.2 2.7 6.5 .406 0.7 2.6 .276 0.7 0.8 .889
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson 8 6.8 1.5 0.0 1.3 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 2.1 .353 0.0 0.4 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Note: Joe Johnson didn't play in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 18

Joe Johnson Magic Johnson
Season 2021-22-
Team Boston Celtics-
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 %
Joe Johnson 1 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Johnson ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------