Magic Johnson vs. Cazzie Russell Comparison

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

Player Comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

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

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Magic Johnson:
1979-80 to 1995-96
Cazzie Russell:
1966-67 to 1977-78

NBA Championships and Seasons

Magic Johnson5
Cazzie Russell1
Magic Johnson13
Cazzie Russell12
Magic Johnson13
Cazzie Russell8
Magic Johnson12
Cazzie Russell1

Honors and Awards

Magic Johnson3
Cazzie Russell0
Magic Johnson3
Cazzie Russell0
*
Magic Johnson9
Cazzie Russell0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Magic Johnson10
Cazzie Russell0
Magic Johnson4
Cazzie Russell0
Magic Johnson2
Cazzie Russell0
*
* 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

Magic Johnson 19.5
Cazzie Russell 15.1

Magic Johnson 7.2
Cazzie Russell 3.8

Magic Johnson 11.2
Cazzie Russell 2.2

Magic Johnson 1.9
Cazzie Russell 0.8

*
Magic Johnson 0.4
Cazzie Russell 0.1

*

Totals Stats

Magic Johnson 17,707
Cazzie Russell 12,377

Magic Johnson 6,559
Cazzie Russell 3,068

Magic Johnson 10,141
Cazzie Russell 1,838

Magic Johnson 1,724
Cazzie Russell 239

*
Magic Johnson 374
Cazzie Russell 33

*
Magic Johnson 906
Cazzie Russell 817

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson .520
Cazzie Russell .464

3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson .303
Cazzie Russell -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson .848
Cazzie Russell .827

Best Season (no game minimum)

Magic Johnson 23.9
(1987)
Cazzie Russell 21.4
(1972)

Magic Johnson 9.6
(1982)
Cazzie Russell 5.4
(1972)

Magic Johnson 13.1
(1984)
Cazzie Russell 3.1
(1972)

Magic Johnson 3.4
(1981)
Cazzie Russell 1.0
(1977)

*
Magic Johnson 0.7
(1984)
Cazzie Russell 0.2
(1974)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Magic Johnson 19.5
Cazzie Russell 11.8

Magic Johnson 7.7
Cazzie Russell 3.1

Magic Johnson 12.3
Cazzie Russell 1.3

Magic Johnson 1.9
Cazzie Russell 1.5

*
Magic Johnson 0.3
Cazzie Russell 0.1

*

Totals Stats

Magic Johnson 3,701
Cazzie Russell 852

Magic Johnson 1,465
Cazzie Russell 222

Magic Johnson 2,346
Cazzie Russell 97

Magic Johnson 358
Cazzie Russell 16

*
Magic Johnson 64
Cazzie Russell 1

*
Magic Johnson 190
Cazzie Russell 72

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson .506
Cazzie Russell .460

3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson .241
Cazzie Russell -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson .838
Cazzie Russell .870

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Magic Johnson 25.2
(1990)
Cazzie Russell 21.7
(1968)

Magic Johnson 13.7
(1981)
Cazzie Russell 4.8
(1967)

Magic Johnson 15.2
(1985)
Cazzie Russell 2.8
(1967)

Magic Johnson 3.1
(1980)
Cazzie Russell 1.5
(1977)

*
Magic Johnson 1.0
(1981)
Cazzie Russell 0.1
(1977)

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