Shane Battier vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Shane Battier, 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.

Shane Battier and Magic Johnson both played 13 years in the NBA. Shane Battier had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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
Shane Battier 13 10 2001-02 to 2013-14
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

Rookie Season
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2001-021979-80
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Shane Battier 78 39.7 14.4 2.3 3.1 5.4 2.8 1.6 1.0 2.0 2.8 5.3 12.3 .429 1.3 3.5 .373 2.5 3.6 .700
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 %
Shane Battier ------- --- ----------
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2002-031980-81
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos 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 %
Shane Battier 78 30.6 9.7 1.6 2.8 4.4 1.3 1.3 1.1 0.9 2.7 3.5 7.3 .483 1.1 2.8 .398 1.5 1.9 .828
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 %
Shane Battier ------- --- ----------
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2003-041981-82
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shane Battier 79 24.6 8.5 1.3 2.5 3.8 1.3 1.3 0.7 0.7 2.4 3.1 6.9 .446 0.8 2.4 .349 1.5 2.1 .732
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 %
Shane Battier 4 18.0 4.8 1.5 1.5 3.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 4.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.8 1.8 .429 1.0 1.5 .667
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2004-051982-83
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West 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 %
Shane Battier 80 31.5 9.9 2.0 3.2 5.2 1.6 1.1 1.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.7 .442 0.9 2.2 .395 2.3 2.9 .789
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 %
Shane Battier 4 29.5 7.3 2.5 4.3 6.8 1.5 0.5 1.0 1.0 3.5 3.3 7.8 .419 0.3 1.8 .143 0.5 1.3 .400
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2005-061983-84
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West 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 %
Shane Battier 81 35.0 10.1 2.0 3.3 5.3 1.7 1.1 1.4 1.1 2.8 3.7 7.7 .488 0.8 2.0 .394 1.8 2.6 .707
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 %
Shane Battier 4 32.3 6.0 1.8 4.0 5.8 0.5 1.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 2.5 5.0 .500 0.5 1.8 .286 0.5 1.5 .333
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2006-071984-85
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shane Battier 82 36.4 10.1 0.8 3.3 4.1 2.1 1.0 0.7 0.9 2.3 3.6 8.0 .446 1.9 4.5 .421 1.1 1.4 .779
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 %
Shane Battier 7 38.9 10.3 0.4 2.1 2.6 2.1 1.7 1.0 1.1 2.9 3.3 7.3 .451 2.7 6.1 .442 1.0 1.1 .875
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2007-081985-86
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Shane Battier 80 36.3 9.3 1.6 3.5 5.1 1.9 1.0 1.1 1.0 2.5 3.3 7.7 .428 1.7 4.6 .377 0.9 1.3 .743
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 %
Shane Battier 6 41.0 10.0 1.2 2.7 3.8 0.5 1.0 0.8 1.3 3.2 3.3 7.5 .444 2.0 4.2 .480 1.3 1.8 .727
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2008-091986-87
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shane Battier 60 33.9 7.3 0.9 3.9 4.8 2.3 0.8 0.9 0.8 1.9 2.4 5.9 .410 1.5 4.0 .384 0.9 1.1 .821
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 %
Shane Battier 13 38.2 8.1 1.6 3.3 4.9 2.4 1.1 0.7 1.2 2.5 2.5 6.2 .407 1.3 4.2 .315 1.7 1.8 .957
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2009-101987-88
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA 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 %
Shane Battier 67 32.4 8.0 1.1 3.6 4.7 2.4 0.8 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.7 6.7 .398 1.5 4.2 .362 1.1 1.6 .726
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 %
Shane Battier ------- --- ----------
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2010-111988-89
Team Houston Rockets, Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shane Battier 82 29.0 7.6 1.1 3.5 4.5 2.3 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.9 2.8 6.2 .450 1.2 3.3 .382 0.8 1.1 .688
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 %
Shane Battier 13 26.1 5.5 1.3 2.7 4.0 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.1 2.2 5.1 .439 0.6 2.2 .276 0.5 0.7 .667
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2011-121989-90
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 %
Shane Battier 65 23.1 4.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 1.3 1.0 0.5 0.6 1.6 1.7 4.5 .387 1.0 2.8 .339 0.4 0.6 .622
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 %
Shane Battier 23 33.4 7.0 0.7 2.6 3.2 1.2 1.0 0.6 0.7 3.0 2.3 6.1 .379 1.8 4.8 .382 0.6 0.7 .813
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2012-131990-91
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-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 %
Shane Battier 72 24.8 6.6 0.5 1.8 2.3 1.0 0.6 0.8 0.5 2.1 2.1 5.0 .420 1.9 4.4 .430 0.4 0.5 .842
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 %
Shane Battier 22 17.8 4.7 0.4 1.3 1.7 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.2 2.2 1.2 4.2 .290 1.2 4.0 .295 1.0 1.3 .821
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
Shane Battier Magic Johnson
Season 2013-141995-96
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 %
Shane Battier 73 20.1 4.1 0.5 1.4 1.9 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 1.7 1.4 3.8 .382 1.0 2.9 .348 0.2 0.3 .652
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 %
Shane Battier 16 12.6 2.3 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.4 0.8 1.6 .462 0.6 1.3 .450 0.3 0.3 .800
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
Share: