Don Carlson vs. Magic Johnson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Magic Johnson and Don Carlson that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Don Carlson

vs.

Magic Johnson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Don Carlson: 1946-47 to 1950-51
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Don Carlson 2 Magic Johnson 5

NBA Seasons Don Carlson 4 Magic Johnson 13

Playoffs Played Don Carlson 3 Magic Johnson 13

All-Star Games Don Carlson 0 Magic Johnson 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Don Carlson 0 * Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP Don Carlson 0 * Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team Don Carlson 0 Magic Johnson 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Don Carlson 0 Magic Johnson 10

Assists Leader Don Carlson 0 Magic Johnson 4

Steals Leader Don Carlson 0 * Magic Johnson 2

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Carlson 8.0 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson 1.7 * Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 1.8 Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.4

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Carlson 1,447 Magic Johnson 17,707

Total Rebounds Don Carlson 15 * Magic Johnson 6,559

Total Assists Don Carlson 324 Magic Johnson 10,141

Total Steals Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1,724

Total Blocks Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 374

Total Games Don Carlson 180 Magic Johnson 906

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Carlson .330 Magic Johnson .520

3-Point Percentage Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson .303

Free Throw Percentage Don Carlson .623 Magic Johnson .848

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Carlson 10.7 (1947) Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987)

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson 1.7 (1951) * Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982)

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 3.1 (1949) Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984)

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981)

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Carlson 8.0 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson - * Magic Johnson 7.7

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 1.5 Magic Johnson 12.3

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Carlson 249 Magic Johnson 3,701

Total Rebounds Don Carlson 0 * Magic Johnson 1,465

Total Assists Don Carlson 45 Magic Johnson 2,346

Total Steals Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 358

Total Blocks Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 64

Total Games Don Carlson 31 Magic Johnson 190

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Carlson .295 Magic Johnson .506

3-Point Percentage Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson .241

Free Throw Percentage Don Carlson .631 Magic Johnson .838

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Carlson 12.3 (1947) Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson - * Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981)

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 2.8 (1949) Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985)

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980)

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981)

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.