Magic Johnson vs. Dominique Wilkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dominique Wilkins 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 / Games against each other

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 played 13 years in the NBA, 2 less than Dominique Wilkins, who played 15. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dominique Wilkins had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Dominique Wilkins 15 10 1982-83 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 82 32.9 17.5 2.8 3.1 5.8 1.6 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.6 7.3 14.9 .493 0.0 0.1 .182 2.8 4.1 .682
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
Dominique Wilkins 3 36.3 15.7 2.7 2.3 5.0 0.3 0.7 0.3 3.3 3.0 5.7 14.0 .405 0.3 0.3 1.000 4.0 4.7 .857

Season 2
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 81 36.6 21.6 3.1 4.0 7.2 1.6 1.4 1.1 2.7 2.4 8.4 17.6 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.1 .770
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
Dominique Wilkins 5 39.4 19.2 4.2 4.0 8.2 2.2 2.4 0.2 3.0 2.6 7.0 16.8 .417 0.0 0.2 .000 5.2 6.2 .839

Season 3
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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
Dominique Wilkins 81 37.3 27.4 2.8 4.1 6.9 2.5 1.7 0.7 2.8 2.1 10.5 23.3 .451 0.3 1.0 .309 6.0 7.4 .806
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
Dominique Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 78 39.1 30.3 3.3 4.6 7.9 2.6 1.8 0.6 3.2 2.2 11.4 24.3 .468 0.2 0.9 .186 7.4 9.0 .818
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
Dominique Wilkins 9 40.0 28.6 2.2 3.8 6.0 2.8 1.0 0.2 3.3 2.7 10.4 24.1 .433 0.1 0.6 .200 7.6 8.8 .861

Season 5
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 79 37.6 29.0 2.7 3.6 6.3 3.3 1.5 0.6 2.7 1.9 10.5 22.6 .463 0.4 1.3 .292 7.7 9.4 .818
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
Dominique Wilkins 9 40.0 26.8 3.0 4.8 7.8 2.8 1.8 0.9 2.9 2.8 9.6 23.3 .410 0.3 1.1 .300 7.3 8.2 .892

Season 6
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 78 37.8 30.7 2.7 3.7 6.4 2.9 1.3 0.6 2.8 2.1 11.7 25.1 .464 0.5 1.7 .295 6.9 8.4 .826
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
Dominique Wilkins 12 39.4 31.2 3.1 3.3 6.4 2.8 1.3 0.5 2.5 2.0 11.4 25.0 .457 0.3 1.5 .222 8.0 10.4 .768

Season 7
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 80 37.5 26.2 3.2 3.7 6.9 2.6 1.5 0.7 2.3 1.7 10.2 22.0 .464 0.4 1.3 .276 5.5 6.6 .844
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
Dominique Wilkins 5 42.4 27.2 2.0 3.4 5.4 3.4 0.8 1.6 2.4 1.0 10.4 23.2 .448 1.0 3.4 .294 5.4 7.6 .711

Season 8
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
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 ChampionDid Not Play
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
Dominique Wilkins 80 36.1 26.7 2.7 3.8 6.5 2.5 1.6 0.6 2.2 1.8 10.1 20.9 .484 0.7 2.3 .322 5.7 7.1 .807
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
Dominique Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 81 38.0 25.9 3.2 5.8 9.0 3.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 1.9 9.5 20.2 .470 1.0 3.1 .341 5.9 7.1 .829
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
Dominique Wilkins 5 39.0 20.8 1.2 5.2 6.4 2.6 1.8 1.0 2.2 1.6 7.0 18.8 .372 0.4 3.0 .133 6.4 7.0 .914

Season 10
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1988-891991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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
Dominique Wilkins 42 38.1 28.1 2.5 4.6 7.0 3.8 1.2 0.6 2.9 1.8 10.1 21.8 .464 0.9 3.0 .289 7.0 8.4 .835
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
Dominique Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1989-901992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
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 Lakers Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 71 37.3 29.9 2.6 4.2 6.8 3.2 1.0 0.4 2.6 1.6 10.4 22.3 .468 1.7 4.5 .380 7.3 8.8 .828
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
Dominique Wilkins 3 37.7 30.0 4.0 1.3 5.3 3.0 1.0 0.3 3.3 2.7 10.7 25.0 .427 1.0 4.0 .250 7.7 10.0 .767

Season 12
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1990-911993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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
Dominique Wilkins 74 35.6 26.0 2.5 4.0 6.5 2.3 1.2 0.4 2.3 1.7 9.4 21.5 .440 1.1 4.0 .288 6.0 7.1 .847
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
Dominique Wilkins ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season 1995-961994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
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
Dominique Wilkins 77 31.5 17.8 2.0 3.2 5.2 2.2 0.8 0.2 2.2 1.7 6.4 15.2 .424 1.5 3.8 .388 3.5 4.4 .782
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
Dominique Wilkins 4 37.5 19.0 4.3 6.5 10.8 2.0 0.5 0.8 2.3 1.8 6.5 15.3 .426 2.0 4.3 .471 4.0 4.5 .889

Note: Dominique Wilkins didn't play in 1995-96.

Season 14
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season -1996-97
Team -San Antonio Spurs
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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Dominique Wilkins 63 30.9 18.2 2.7 3.7 6.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.1 1.6 6.3 15.1 .417 1.1 3.8 .293 4.5 5.6 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Dominique Wilkins ------- --- ----------

Note: Dominique Wilkins didn't play in 1997-98.

Season 15
Magic Johnson Dominique Wilkins
Season -1998-99
Team -Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Magic 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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Dominique Wilkins 27 9.3 5.0 1.1 1.5 2.6 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.9 0.7 1.9 4.9 .379 0.2 0.7 .263 1.1 1.6 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Dominique Wilkins 1 3.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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