Magic Johnson vs. Xavier McDaniel Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Xavier McDaniel 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, 1 more than Xavier McDaniel, who played 12. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Xavier McDaniel had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Xavier McDaniel 12 7 1985-86 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 82 33.0 17.1 3.7 4.2 8.0 2.4 1.2 0.5 3.0 3.7 7.0 14.3 .490 0.0 0.1 .200 3.0 4.4 .687
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 82 37.0 23.0 4.1 4.5 8.6 2.5 1.4 0.6 2.9 3.7 9.8 19.3 .509 0.0 0.2 .214 3.4 4.8 .696
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
Xavier McDaniel 14 37.7 20.3 3.7 4.6 8.4 3.0 1.5 0.6 3.0 4.5 8.9 18.1 .488 0.1 0.7 .200 2.4 4.0 .607

Season 3
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 78 34.7 21.4 2.6 4.0 6.6 3.4 1.2 0.7 2.9 2.9 8.8 18.0 .488 0.2 0.6 .280 3.6 5.0 .715
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
Xavier McDaniel 5 36.0 21.2 2.8 6.8 9.6 5.0 0.6 0.2 2.2 3.0 9.0 16.2 .556 0.8 1.6 .500 2.4 4.8 .500

Season 4
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 82 29.1 20.5 2.2 3.1 5.3 1.6 1.0 0.5 2.6 2.8 8.3 16.9 .489 0.1 0.4 .306 3.8 5.2 .732
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
Xavier McDaniel 8 35.1 18.8 3.0 5.4 8.4 2.8 0.3 0.6 2.8 3.8 7.3 18.0 .403 0.4 1.1 .333 3.9 5.1 .756

Season 5
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Xavier McDaniel 69 35.2 21.3 2.4 4.1 6.5 2.5 1.1 0.5 2.7 3.3 8.9 17.9 .496 0.1 0.2 .294 3.5 4.8 .733
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 81 32.5 17.0 2.1 4.7 6.9 2.3 0.9 0.6 2.3 3.3 7.3 14.6 .497 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.3 .723
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
Xavier McDaniel 4 25.3 9.5 1.0 2.8 3.8 1.3 0.0 0.5 2.5 2.5 4.3 10.3 .415 0.0 0.3 .000 1.0 1.5 .667

Season 7
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1985-861991-92
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 FinalsKnicks 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 82 28.6 13.7 2.1 3.5 5.6 1.8 0.7 0.3 1.8 2.9 6.0 12.5 .478 0.1 0.5 .308 1.7 2.3 .714
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
Xavier McDaniel 12 38.2 18.8 3.6 3.6 7.2 1.9 0.8 0.2 2.3 2.8 7.8 16.4 .477 0.2 0.7 .250 3.0 4.1 .735

Season 8
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 82 27.0 13.5 2.0 3.9 6.0 2.0 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.0 5.6 11.3 .495 0.1 0.3 .273 2.3 2.9 .793
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
Xavier McDaniel 4 31.5 12.5 1.5 3.0 4.5 2.3 0.3 0.8 1.8 4.0 5.5 13.3 .415 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 2.3 .667

Season 9
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
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
Xavier McDaniel 82 24.0 11.3 1.7 3.1 4.9 1.5 0.6 0.5 1.4 2.4 4.7 10.2 .461 0.1 0.5 .244 1.8 2.6 .676
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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 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
Xavier McDaniel 68 21.0 8.6 1.4 3.0 4.4 1.6 0.4 0.3 1.3 2.1 3.6 8.0 .451 0.1 0.3 .286 1.3 1.8 .712
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
Xavier McDaniel 4 14.8 3.3 0.5 1.0 1.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 1.5 1.3 1.3 4.3 .294 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 1.0 .750

Note: Xavier McDaniel didn't play in 1995-96.

Season 11
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1989-901996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 37.2 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
Xavier McDaniel 62 18.9 5.6 2.0 3.1 5.1 1.0 0.6 0.3 1.1 2.3 2.2 5.7 .389 0.1 0.4 .200 1.0 1.4 .730
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
Season 1990-911997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
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
Xavier McDaniel 20 9.0 1.3 0.6 1.0 1.6 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.2 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .625
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Xavier McDaniel
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------
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
Xavier McDaniel ------- --- ----------
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