Magic Johnson vs. Kurt Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kurt Thomas 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, 5 less than Kurt Thomas, who played 18. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kurt Thomas had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Kurt Thomas 18 11 1995-96 to 2012-13

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

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1979-801995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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
Kurt Thomas 74 22.4 9.0 1.6 4.3 5.9 0.6 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.7 3.7 7.4 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .663
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
Kurt Thomas 3 20.0 4.0 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 1.7 4.3 1.3 3.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.3 1.000

Season 2

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1980-811996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Kurt Thomas 18 20.8 6.3 1.7 4.2 5.9 0.5 0.7 0.5 1.4 3.7 2.2 5.8 .371 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .761
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
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1981-821997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
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
Kurt Thomas 5 14.6 7.4 1.6 3.2 4.8 0.6 0.2 0.0 2.0 3.8 3.4 9.0 .378 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000
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
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 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
Kurt Thomas 50 23.6 8.1 1.6 4.1 5.7 1.1 0.9 0.3 1.5 3.2 3.4 7.4 .462 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.2 .611
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
Kurt Thomas 20 21.1 5.3 1.9 3.6 5.5 0.4 0.8 0.6 1.0 3.8 2.3 5.9 .381 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .696

Season 5

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1983-841999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 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
Kurt Thomas 80 24.6 8.0 1.8 4.5 6.3 1.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.5 3.4 6.7 .505 0.0 0.0 .333 1.3 1.6 .781
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
Kurt Thomas 16 15.7 4.3 1.1 2.0 3.1 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.8 1.9 3.8 .508 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .700

Season 6

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1984-852000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 36.1 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
Kurt Thomas 77 27.6 10.4 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.3 3.7 4.1 8.0 .511 0.0 0.0 .333 2.2 2.7 .814
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
Kurt Thomas 5 37.2 14.4 3.4 7.8 11.2 1.8 0.4 1.0 1.8 5.2 5.0 9.4 .532 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.2 .710

Season 7

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1985-862001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Kurt Thomas 82 33.8 13.9 2.6 6.5 9.1 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.9 4.2 5.6 11.4 .494 0.0 0.1 .167 2.6 3.2 .815
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
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1986-872002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists 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 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
Kurt Thomas 81 31.8 14.0 2.0 5.9 7.9 2.0 1.0 1.2 1.7 4.2 6.1 12.7 .483 0.0 0.0 .667 1.7 2.3 .750
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
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1987-882003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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
Kurt Thomas 80 31.9 11.1 1.8 6.5 8.3 1.9 0.7 1.0 1.7 3.7 4.9 10.4 .473 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.6 .835
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
Kurt Thomas 4 35.3 12.8 2.3 9.3 11.5 1.5 1.8 0.8 2.5 4.3 5.3 12.3 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 10

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1988-892004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Kurt Thomas 80 35.7 11.5 2.1 8.3 10.4 2.0 0.9 1.0 1.2 3.9 5.3 11.3 .471 0.0 0.1 .500 0.8 1.1 .786
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
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1989-902005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 37.2 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
Kurt Thomas 53 26.6 8.6 1.9 5.9 7.8 1.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.7 .815
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
Kurt Thomas 1 6.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 12

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1990-912006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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 37.1 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
Kurt Thomas 67 18.0 4.6 1.3 4.4 5.7 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 2.3 1.9 3.9 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.1 .789
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
Kurt Thomas 11 19.3 7.5 1.0 3.9 4.9 1.1 0.5 0.8 0.8 2.3 3.1 5.9 .523 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.5 .882

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season 1995-962007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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
Kurt Thomas 70 22.6 6.3 1.9 5.4 7.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.7 2.7 2.8 5.7 .492 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.1 .663
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
Kurt Thomas 17 15.8 4.1 1.5 3.4 4.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.8 2.7 1.9 4.1 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .714

Season 14

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season -2008-09
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 79 17.8 4.3 1.7 3.4 5.1 0.8 0.4 0.7 0.5 2.2 1.9 3.8 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 5 16.0 2.6 0.8 3.8 4.6 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 2.6 1.0 2.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 15

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season -2009-10
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 70 15.0 3.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.7 2.3 1.4 3.0 .476 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 7 28.4 5.4 1.7 6.1 7.9 1.6 0.4 0.6 1.1 3.7 2.4 5.0 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.7 .800

Season 16

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season -2010-11
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 52 22.7 4.1 1.4 4.3 5.8 1.2 0.6 0.8 0.8 3.2 1.8 3.6 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.4 0.6 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 7 10.6 2.9 1.3 1.4 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.7 1.4 2.6 .556 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season -2011-12
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
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 ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 53 15.2 3.0 0.7 2.8 3.5 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.6 2.3 1.4 3.0 .465 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Magic Johnson Kurt Thomas
Season -2012-13
Team -New York Knicks
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 ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 39 10.1 2.5 0.6 1.7 2.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.2 2.1 .542 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.2 0.3 .462
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------