Magic Johnson vs. Jayson Tatum Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jayson Tatum 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 6 more than Jayson Tatum, who played 7. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Jayson Tatum had his rookie season in 2017-18. 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
Jayson Tatum 7 7 2017-18 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1979-802017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East 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 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
Jayson Tatum 80 30.5 13.9 0.6 4.4 5.0 1.6 1.0 0.7 1.4 2.1 5.0 10.4 .475 1.3 3.0 .434 2.7 3.2 .826
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
Jayson Tatum 19 35.9 18.5 0.5 3.8 4.4 2.7 1.2 0.5 2.2 2.6 6.5 13.7 .471 1.2 3.7 .324 4.3 5.1 .845

Season 2
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1980-812018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 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
Jayson Tatum 79 31.1 15.7 0.9 5.2 6.0 2.1 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.1 5.9 13.1 .450 1.5 3.9 .373 2.5 2.9 .855
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
Jayson Tatum 9 32.8 15.2 0.8 5.9 6.7 1.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.3 5.4 12.4 .438 1.1 3.4 .323 3.2 4.3 .744

Season 3
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1981-822019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East 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 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
Jayson Tatum 66 34.3 23.4 1.0 6.0 7.0 3.0 1.4 0.9 2.3 2.1 8.4 18.6 .450 2.9 7.1 .403 3.8 4.7 .812
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
Jayson Tatum 17 40.6 25.7 1.3 8.7 10.0 5.0 1.0 1.2 2.8 2.4 8.5 19.6 .434 2.8 7.4 .373 5.9 7.2 .813

Season 4
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1982-832020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 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
Jayson Tatum 64 35.8 26.4 0.8 6.6 7.4 4.3 1.2 0.5 2.7 1.9 9.5 20.6 .459 2.9 7.6 .386 4.6 5.3 .868
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
Jayson Tatum 5 37.0 30.6 0.6 5.2 5.8 4.6 1.2 1.6 2.6 3.0 9.4 22.2 .423 2.8 7.2 .389 9.0 9.8 .918

Season 5
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1983-842021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
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
Jayson Tatum 76 35.9 26.9 1.1 6.9 8.0 4.4 1.0 0.6 2.9 2.3 9.3 20.6 .453 3.0 8.6 .353 5.3 6.2 .853
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
Jayson Tatum 24 41.0 25.6 1.0 5.7 6.7 6.2 1.2 0.9 4.2 3.0 8.4 19.7 .426 3.2 8.2 .393 5.7 7.1 .800

Season 6
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1984-852022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East 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 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
Jayson Tatum 74 36.9 30.1 1.1 7.7 8.8 4.6 1.1 0.7 2.9 2.2 9.8 21.1 .466 3.2 9.3 .350 7.2 8.4 .854
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
Jayson Tatum 20 40.0 27.2 1.3 9.2 10.5 5.3 1.1 1.1 2.8 2.2 9.3 20.2 .458 2.7 8.2 .323 6.0 6.9 .876

Season 7
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1985-862023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics TBD
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
Jayson Tatum 74 35.7 26.9 0.9 7.2 8.1 4.9 1.0 0.6 2.5 2.0 9.1 19.3 .471 3.1 8.2 .376 5.6 6.7 .833
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
Jayson Tatum 9 38.7 24.2 0.7 9.8 10.4 5.4 0.7 0.9 2.2 2.8 7.6 18.1 .417 1.7 6.3 .263 7.4 8.7 .859

Season 8
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1986-87-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA 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 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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1987-88-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA 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 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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1988-89-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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 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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1989-90-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers 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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1990-91-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Jayson Tatum
Season 1995-96-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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
Jayson Tatum ------- --- ----------
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