Richard Hamilton vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Richard Hamilton, 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.

Richard Hamilton played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Richard Hamilton had the first of his seasons in 1999-00, while Magic Johnson had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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
Richard Hamilton 14 9 1999-00 to 2012-13
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001979-80
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 71 19.3 9.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.2 2.0 3.6 8.5 .420 0.4 1.1 .364 1.5 1.9 .774
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Season 2

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2000-011980-81
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Richard Hamilton 78 32.3 18.1 1.0 2.1 3.1 2.9 1.0 0.1 2.6 2.6 7.0 16.0 .438 0.5 1.9 .274 3.6 4.1 .868
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2001-021981-82
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 63 35.0 20.0 1.2 2.3 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.2 2.1 2.2 7.5 17.2 .435 0.3 0.7 .381 4.8 5.3 .890
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Season 4

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2002-031982-83
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 82 32.2 19.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 0.8 0.2 2.4 3.0 7.0 15.7 .443 0.4 1.5 .269 5.4 6.4 .833
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 17 38.7 22.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 3.4 3.0 7.9 17.8 .442 0.5 1.6 .333 6.2 6.9 .906
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

Season 5

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2003-041983-84
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 78 35.5 17.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.0 1.3 0.2 2.7 2.8 6.8 14.9 .455 0.2 0.9 .265 3.8 4.4 .868
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 23 40.6 21.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 4.2 1.2 0.0 3.1 3.1 7.9 17.6 .447 0.7 1.7 .385 5.1 6.0 .848
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

Season 6

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2004-051984-85
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 76 38.5 18.7 1.0 2.9 3.9 4.9 1.0 0.2 2.9 3.1 6.7 15.3 .440 0.5 1.6 .305 4.8 5.6 .858
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 25 43.2 20.0 1.2 3.1 4.3 4.3 0.8 0.1 3.1 3.2 7.9 17.5 .453 0.4 1.4 .294 3.8 4.8 .798
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

Season 7

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2005-061985-86
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Richard Hamilton 80 35.3 20.1 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.4 0.7 0.2 2.2 2.6 8.1 16.5 .491 0.7 1.5 .458 3.2 3.8 .845
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 18 38.3 20.4 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.7 0.9 0.3 2.2 3.3 7.1 17.2 .413 0.8 2.2 .350 5.4 6.3 .851
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

Season 8

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2006-071986-87
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 75 36.8 19.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.1 3.1 7.3 15.6 .468 0.6 1.7 .341 4.6 5.4 .861
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 16 39.9 18.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.8 0.9 0.1 1.9 3.8 6.8 15.8 .429 0.5 1.3 .400 4.8 5.6 .865
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

Season 9

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2007-081987-88
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 72 33.7 17.3 1.0 2.2 3.3 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.8 2.4 6.9 14.3 .484 0.9 2.0 .440 2.6 3.1 .833
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 17 38.6 21.6 1.1 3.1 4.2 3.9 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.8 .470 0.5 1.5 .308 5.4 5.9 .911
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

Season 10

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2008-091988-89
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 67 34.0 18.3 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.4 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.6 7.0 15.6 .447 1.0 2.8 .368 3.3 3.9 .848
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 4 38.5 13.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.5 3.0 5.3 14.8 .356 0.5 2.5 .200 2.3 2.5 .900
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

Season 11

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2009-101989-90
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Richard Hamilton 46 33.7 18.1 0.7 2.0 2.7 4.4 0.7 0.1 2.5 2.5 6.4 15.6 .409 0.9 3.0 .297 4.4 5.2 .846
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2010-111990-91
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 55 27.2 14.1 0.4 1.9 2.3 3.1 0.7 0.1 1.6 1.7 5.2 12.2 .429 1.0 2.6 .382 2.7 3.1 .849
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

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

Season 13

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2011-121995-96
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Richard Hamilton 28 24.9 11.6 0.7 1.6 2.4 3.0 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.0 5.0 11.1 .452 0.6 1.6 .370 1.0 1.3 .784
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 6 28.5 13.0 1.3 1.8 3.2 3.0 0.2 0.0 1.3 2.5 4.8 11.7 .414 0.3 1.0 .333 3.0 3.7 .818
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

Season 14

Richard Hamilton Magic Johnson
Season 2012-13-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Richard Hamilton 50 21.8 9.8 0.3 1.3 1.7 2.4 0.5 0.1 1.7 1.9 4.1 9.5 .429 0.3 1.0 .308 1.3 1.5 .857
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 4 17.0 6.5 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 1.3 2.5 6.8 .370 0.8 1.8 .429 0.8 1.0 .750
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------