Magic Johnson vs. Chet Walker Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Chet Walker 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 and Chet Walker both played 13 years in the NBA. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Chet Walker had his rookie season in 1962-63. 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
Chet Walker 13 13 1962-63 to 1974-75

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1979-801962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div Semis
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
Chet Walker 78 25.5 12.3 - - 7.2 1.1 - - - 2.8 4.5 9.6 .469 - - - 3.2 4.6 .699
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
Chet Walker 5 26.0 15.2 - - 9.4 1.8 - - - 1.6 5.4 10.6 .509 - - - 4.4 6.0 .733

Season 2

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1980-811963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Div Semis
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
Chet Walker 76 36.5 17.3 - - 10.3 1.6 - - - 3.1 6.5 14.7 .440 - - - 4.3 6.1 .711
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
Chet Walker 5 38.0 18.8 - - 10.4 2.6 - - - 3.0 6.0 15.4 .390 - - - 6.8 9.2 .739

Season 3

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1981-821964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Div Finals
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
Chet Walker 79 27.7 13.2 - - 6.7 1.7 - - - 2.5 4.8 11.8 .403 - - - 3.6 4.9 .742
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
Chet Walker 11 42.6 20.3 - - 7.2 1.6 - - - 3.5 7.5 15.7 .480 - - - 5.2 6.8 .760

Season 4

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1982-831965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East Div 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 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
Chet Walker 80 32.5 15.3 - - 8.0 2.5 - - - 3.0 5.5 12.3 .451 - - - 4.2 5.9 .716
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
Chet Walker 5 36.2 14.6 - - 7.4 3.0 - - - 3.6 4.8 12.8 .375 - - - 5.0 6.2 .806

Season 5

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1983-841966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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 %
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
Chet Walker 81 33.2 19.3 - - 8.1 2.3 - - - 2.9 6.9 14.2 .488 - - - 5.5 7.2 .766
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
Chet Walker 15 36.7 21.7 - - 7.6 2.1 - - - 2.9 7.7 16.4 .467 - - - 6.4 7.9 .807

Season 6

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1984-851967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Div Finals
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
Chet Walker 82 32.0 17.9 - - 7.4 1.9 - - - 3.1 6.6 14.3 .460 - - - 4.7 6.5 .726
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
Chet Walker 13 37.3 19.1 - - 7.4 1.8 - - - 3.4 6.6 16.2 .410 - - - 5.8 8.6 .679

Season 7

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1985-861968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Finals76ers Lost East Div Semis
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
Chet Walker 82 33.6 18.0 - - 7.8 1.8 - - - 3.0 6.8 14.0 .484 - - - 4.5 5.6 .804
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
Chet Walker 4 27.3 13.5 - - 5.8 2.0 - - - 1.3 5.8 10.8 .535 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 8

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1986-871969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls Lost West Div Semis
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
Chet Walker 78 34.9 21.5 - - 7.7 2.5 - - - 2.6 7.6 16.0 .477 - - - 6.2 7.3 .850
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
Chet Walker 5 35.6 19.4 - - 8.4 2.2 - - - 2.8 7.0 16.6 .422 - - - 5.4 6.6 .818

Season 9

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1987-881970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 %
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
Chet Walker 81 36.1 22.0 - - 7.3 2.2 - - - 2.3 8.0 17.3 .465 - - - 5.9 6.9 .859
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
Chet Walker 7 33.4 15.0 - - 7.1 3.1 - - - 2.9 6.3 14.3 .440 - - - 2.4 3.4 .708

Season 10

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1988-891971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 %
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
Chet Walker 78 33.2 22.0 - - 6.1 2.3 - - - 2.2 7.9 15.7 .505 - - - 6.2 7.3 .847
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
Chet Walker 4 24.3 11.3 - - 3.5 1.0 - - - 1.8 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 3.3 4.0 .813

Season 11

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1989-901972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
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
Chet Walker 79 31.1 19.9 - - 5.0 2.3 - - - 2.1 7.6 15.8 .478 - - - 4.8 5.7 .832
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
Chet Walker 7 32.7 16.7 - - 8.9 2.0 - - - 2.1 6.0 17.3 .347 - - - 4.7 5.3 .892

Season 12

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1990-911973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 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
Chet Walker 82 32.5 19.3 1.6 3.4 5.0 2.4 0.8 0.0 - 2.5 7.0 14.4 .486 - - - 5.4 6.1 .875
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
Chet Walker 11 36.6 20.9 2.4 3.2 5.5 1.6 0.9 0.1 - 2.4 7.4 14.5 .509 - - - 6.2 7.2 .861

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Chet Walker
Season 1995-961974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 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
Chet Walker 76 32.3 19.2 1.5 4.2 5.7 2.2 0.6 0.1 - 2.4 6.9 14.2 .487 - - - 5.4 6.3 .860
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
Chet Walker 13 33.2 17.5 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.8 1.0 0.1 - 2.5 6.2 12.6 .494 - - - 5.1 5.8 .880