Vern Gardner vs. Magic Johnson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Magic Johnson and Vern Gardner 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

Vern Gardner

vs.

Magic Johnson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Vern Gardner: 1949-50 to 1951-52
Magic Johnson: 1979-80 to 1995-96

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Vern Gardner 0 Magic Johnson 5

NBA Seasons Vern Gardner 3 Magic Johnson 13

Playoffs Played Vern Gardner 3 Magic Johnson 13

All-Star Games Vern Gardner 0 Magic Johnson 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Vern Gardner 0 * Magic Johnson 3

Finals MVP Vern Gardner 0 * Magic Johnson 3

All-NBA First Team Vern Gardner 0 Magic Johnson 9

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Vern Gardner 0 Magic Johnson 10

Assists Leader Vern Gardner 0 Magic Johnson 4

Steals Leader Vern Gardner 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 Vern Gardner 8.9 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.0 * Magic Johnson 7.2

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.6 Magic Johnson 11.2

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.4

Totals Stats

Total Points Vern Gardner 1,339 Magic Johnson 17,707

Total Rebounds Vern Gardner 349 * Magic Johnson 6,559

Total Assists Vern Gardner 245 Magic Johnson 10,141

Total Steals Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1,724

Total Blocks Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 374

Total Games Vern Gardner 151 Magic Johnson 906

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Vern Gardner .344 Magic Johnson .520

3-Point Percentage Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson .303

Free Throw Percentage Vern Gardner .748 Magic Johnson .848

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 13.5 (1950) Magic Johnson 23.9 (1987)

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.1 (1952) * Magic Johnson 9.6 (1982)

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.9 (1950) Magic Johnson 13.1 (1984)

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.4 (1981)

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.7 (1984)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 10.1 Magic Johnson 19.5

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 3.6 * Magic Johnson 7.7

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 0.7 Magic Johnson 12.3

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 1.9

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points Vern Gardner 71 Magic Johnson 3,701

Total Rebounds Vern Gardner 18 * Magic Johnson 1,465

Total Assists Vern Gardner 5 Magic Johnson 2,346

Total Steals Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 358

Total Blocks Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 64

Total Games Vern Gardner 7 Magic Johnson 190

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Vern Gardner .366 Magic Johnson .506

3-Point Percentage Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson .241

Free Throw Percentage Vern Gardner .826 Magic Johnson .838

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 18.0 (1950) Magic Johnson 25.2 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.7 (1952) * Magic Johnson 13.7 (1981)

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.0 (1952) Magic Johnson 15.2 (1985)

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Magic Johnson 3.1 (1980)

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - 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.