Magic Johnson vs. Thabo Sefolosha Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Thabo Sefolosha 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, 1 less than Thabo Sefolosha, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Thabo Sefolosha had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Thabo Sefolosha 14 9 2006-07 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1979-802006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 36.3 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
Thabo Sefolosha 71 12.2 3.6 0.5 1.7 2.2 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.4 1.5 3.6 .426 0.2 0.6 .357 0.3 0.6 .511
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
Thabo Sefolosha 9 11.0 3.3 0.4 1.4 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.2 1.1 2.9 .385 0.3 0.9 .375 0.8 1.3 .583

Season 2

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1980-812007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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
Thabo Sefolosha 69 20.8 6.7 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.9 0.9 0.4 1.3 1.9 2.6 6.1 .428 0.4 1.3 .330 1.1 1.5 .721
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1981-822008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder
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
Thabo Sefolosha 66 22.0 5.9 0.8 2.8 3.7 1.7 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.6 2.3 5.4 .426 0.4 1.3 .276 0.9 1.1 .836
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1982-832009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 82 28.6 6.0 0.9 3.8 4.7 1.8 1.2 0.6 1.1 1.9 2.4 5.4 .440 0.5 1.6 .313 0.7 1.1 .674
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
Thabo Sefolosha 6 21.2 4.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.2 0.8 1.0 0.3 2.5 1.3 4.5 .296 0.5 2.2 .231 1.3 1.5 .889

Season 5

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1983-842010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 79 25.9 5.1 0.8 3.6 4.4 1.4 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.2 2.0 4.2 .471 0.4 1.3 .275 0.7 1.0 .747
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
Thabo Sefolosha 17 20.2 4.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.9 1.4 1.8 3.9 .463 0.2 1.5 .154 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 6

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1984-852011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 42 21.8 4.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 1.0 1.9 1.6 3.7 .432 0.7 1.7 .437 0.9 1.0 .884
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
Thabo Sefolosha 20 22.3 5.3 0.6 2.1 2.7 1.3 1.5 0.5 0.6 2.2 2.1 5.1 .402 0.8 2.5 .327 0.4 0.5 .889

Season 7

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1985-862012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 81 27.5 7.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.8 2.2 2.8 5.8 .481 1.3 3.2 .419 0.7 0.9 .826
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
Thabo Sefolosha 11 27.3 5.7 1.2 3.3 4.5 2.1 1.1 0.5 0.7 2.4 1.9 5.5 .344 1.1 3.5 .316 0.8 1.0 .818

Season 8

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1986-872013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 61 26.0 6.3 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.5 1.3 0.3 0.9 1.5 2.3 5.6 .415 0.8 2.5 .316 0.9 1.1 .768
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
Thabo Sefolosha 15 15.7 3.7 0.5 1.6 2.1 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.5 3.7 .418 0.4 1.5 .261 0.3 0.3 .800

Season 9

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1987-882014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 52 18.8 5.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.8 .418 0.5 1.5 .321 0.9 1.1 .776
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1988-892015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 75 23.4 6.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 1.4 1.1 0.5 0.9 1.5 2.5 4.9 .507 0.6 1.6 .341 0.8 1.3 .626
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
Thabo Sefolosha 10 20.3 5.9 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.7 1.0 0.6 1.0 1.7 2.2 4.6 .478 0.7 1.9 .368 0.8 1.5 .533

Season 11

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1989-902016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Thabo Sefolosha 62 25.7 7.2 0.9 3.5 4.4 1.7 1.5 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.8 6.4 .441 0.7 1.9 .342 0.9 1.2 .733
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
Thabo Sefolosha 4 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .250

Season 12

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1990-912017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 38 21.2 8.2 0.8 3.5 4.2 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.6 3.1 6.3 .492 0.8 2.2 .381 1.2 1.4 .815
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1995-962018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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
Thabo Sefolosha 50 12.2 3.8 0.2 2.3 2.5 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.5 0.8 1.4 3.0 .477 0.7 1.6 .436 0.3 0.4 .636
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
Thabo Sefolosha 4 10.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.8 0.5 3.5 .143 0.3 2.0 .125 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Magic Johnson Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2019-20
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 41 10.6 2.2 0.5 1.8 2.3 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.9 2.2 .407 0.4 1.3 .278 0.1 0.2 .375
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------