Elgin Baylor vs. Magic Johnson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Magic Johnson and Elgin Baylor 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

Elgin Baylor

vs.

Magic Johnson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Elgin Baylor: 1958-59 to 1971-72
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Elgin Baylor 0 Magic Johnson 5

NBA Seasons Elgin Baylor 14 Magic Johnson 13

Playoffs Played Elgin Baylor 12 Magic Johnson 13

All-Star Games Elgin Baylor 11 Magic Johnson 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Elgin Baylor 0 Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP Elgin Baylor 0 * Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team Elgin Baylor 10 Magic Johnson 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Elgin Baylor 10 Magic Johnson 10

Assists Leader Elgin Baylor 0 Magic Johnson 4

Steals Leader Elgin Baylor 0 * Magic Johnson 2

Rookie of The Year Elgin Baylor 1 Magic Johnson 0

* Notes: 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 Elgin Baylor 27.4 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Elgin Baylor 13.5 Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game Elgin Baylor 4.3 Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.4

Totals Stats

Total Points Elgin Baylor 23,149 Magic Johnson 17,707

Total Rebounds Elgin Baylor 11,463 Magic Johnson 6,559

Total Assists Elgin Baylor 3,650 Magic Johnson 10,141

Total Steals Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1,724

Total Blocks Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 374

Total Games Elgin Baylor 846 Magic Johnson 906

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elgin Baylor .431 Magic Johnson .520

3-Point Percentage Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson .303

Free Throw Percentage Elgin Baylor .780 Magic Johnson .848

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elgin Baylor 38.3 (1962) Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987)

Rebounds Per Game Elgin Baylor 19.8 (1961) Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982)

Assists Per Game Elgin Baylor 5.4 (1970) Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984)

Steals Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981)

Blocks Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elgin Baylor 27.0 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Elgin Baylor 12.9 Magic Johnson 7.7

Assists Per Game Elgin Baylor 4.0 Magic Johnson 12.3

Steals Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Elgin Baylor 3,623 Magic Johnson 3,701

Total Rebounds Elgin Baylor 1,724 Magic Johnson 1,465

Total Assists Elgin Baylor 541 Magic Johnson 2,346

Total Steals Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 358

Total Blocks Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 64

Total Games Elgin Baylor 134 Magic Johnson 190

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elgin Baylor .439 Magic Johnson .506

3-Point Percentage Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson .241

Free Throw Percentage Elgin Baylor .769 Magic Johnson .838

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elgin Baylor 38.6 (1962) Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Elgin Baylor 17.7 (1962) Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981)

Assists Per Game Elgin Baylor 5.6 (1964) Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985)

Steals Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980)

Blocks Per Game Elgin Baylor - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.0 (1981)

Notes: ** 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.