Anthony Davis vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Anthony Davis, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Anthony Davis and Magic Johnson both played 13 years in the NBA. Anthony Davis had the first of his seasons in 2012-13, 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 achievements, 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
Anthony Davis 13 6 2012-13 to 2024-25
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2012-131979-80
Team New Orleans HornetsLos 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 >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 64 28.8 13.5 2.6 5.6 8.2 1.0 1.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 5.5 10.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .751
difference:+13+7.5+4.5+0.4+0.5+6.3+1.2+1.3-2.6-0.3+1.0+1.7+.014+0.1+0.3+.226+2.3+2.5+.059
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2013-141980-81
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 67 35.2 20.8 3.1 7.0 10.0 1.6 1.3 2.8 1.6 3.0 7.8 15.0 .519 0.0 0.1 .222 5.2 6.6 .791
difference:+30+1.9+0.8+0.4+1.1+1.4+7.0+2.1+2.1-2.3-0.3+0.6+0.9+.013+0.1+0.4+.046+0.6+0.5+.031
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2014-151981-82
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 68 36.1 24.4 2.5 7.7 10.2 2.2 1.5 2.9 1.4 2.1 9.4 17.6 .535 0.0 0.2 .083 5.5 6.8 .805
difference:+10+2.2+5.8+0.7+1.3+0.6+7.3+1.2+2.5-2.3-0.8+2.3+4.3+.002+0.1+0.2+.124+1.3+1.2+.045
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 4 43.0 31.5 2.3 8.8 11.0 2.0 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.0 11.8 21.8 .540 0.0 0.5 .000 8.0 9.0 .889
difference:+10+2.9+14.1+1.6+1.4+0.3+7.3+1.6+2.8-0.2-0.6+5.9+10.6+.011+0.2+2.5+2.4+.061
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2015-161982-83
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 61 35.5 24.3 2.1 8.1 10.3 1.9 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.4 9.2 18.6 .493 0.6 1.8 .324 5.3 7.0 .758
difference:+18+1.3+7.5+0.6+2.2+1.7+8.6+0.9+1.4-1.8-0.1+2.7+6.8+.055+0.6+1.5+.324+1.5+2.2+.042
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2016-171983-84
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 75 36.1 28.0 2.3 9.5 11.8 2.1 1.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 10.3 20.3 .505 0.5 1.8 .299 6.9 8.6 .802
difference:+8+2.2+10.4+0.8+3.6+4.5+11.0+0.9+1.5-2.2-0.3+3.7+8.7+.060+0.4+1.4+.092+2.6+3.3+.008
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2017-181984-85
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 75 36.4 28.1 2.5 8.6 11.1 2.3 1.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 10.4 19.5 .534 0.7 2.2 .340 6.6 8.0 .828
difference:+2+0.3+9.8+1.3+3.6+4.9+10.3+2.3-1.8-0.1+3.9+7.8+.027+0.6+1.7+.151+1.5+2.0+.015
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 9 39.8 30.1 2.7 10.8 13.4 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.6 3.3 11.8 22.7 .520 0.7 2.4 .273 5.9 7.1 .828
difference:+10+3.6+12.6+1.7+4.7+6.3+13.5+0.3+2.1-1.4-0.8+5.7+10.8+.007+0.6+2.0+.130+0.6+0.9+.019
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2018-191985-86
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 56 33.0 25.9 3.1 8.9 12.0 3.9 1.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 9.5 18.3 .517 0.9 2.6 .331 6.1 7.7 .794
difference:+16+2.8+7.1+1.9+4.2+6.1+8.7+2.2-1.8-0.6+2.8+5.5+.009+0.8+2.0+.098+0.8+1.7+.077
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2019-201986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 62 34.4 26.1 2.3 7.0 9.3 3.2 1.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 8.9 17.7 .503 1.2 3.5 .330 7.2 8.5 .846
difference:+18+1.9+2.2+0.8+2.2+3.0+9.0+0.2+1.8-1.3-0.4+0.4+1.3+.019+1.1+3.0+.125+0.5+0.6+.002
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 21 36.6 27.7 2.6 7.1 9.7 3.5 1.2 1.4 2.5 2.7 9.8 17.1 .571 1.1 2.9 .383 7.1 8.5 .832
difference:+3+0.4+5.9+1.0+0.9+2.0+8.7+0.5+1.0-0.3-0.6+1.7+2.0+.032+1.0+2.3+.183+1.7+1.9+.001
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2020-211987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 36 32.3 21.8 1.7 6.2 7.9 3.1 1.3 1.6 2.1 1.7 8.4 17.0 .491 0.7 2.8 .260 4.4 5.9 .738
difference:+36+4.3+2.2+0.5+1.2+1.7+8.8+0.3+1.4-1.6-0.3+1.6+3.2+.001+0.5+2.0+.064+1.4+0.9+.115
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 28.8 17.4 1.4 5.2 6.6 2.6 0.6 1.6 1.2 1.8 5.0 12.4 .403 0.4 2.2 .182 7.0 8.4 .833
difference:+19+11.4+2.5+0.1+1.1+1.2+10.0+0.8+1.4-2.3-0.7+2.0+1.3+.111+0.1+1.6+.318+1.5+1.9+.019
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2021-221988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 40 35.1 23.2 2.7 7.2 9.9 3.1 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.4 9.3 17.4 .532 0.3 1.8 .186 4.4 6.1 .713
difference:+37+2.4+0.7+1.3+0.8+2.0+9.7+0.6+2.0-2.0-0.2+1.8+2.6+.023+0.5+0.6+.128+2.3+1.2+.198
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2022-231989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 56 34.0 25.9 3.5 9.1 12.5 2.6 1.1 2.0 2.2 2.6 9.7 17.2 .563 0.3 1.3 .257 6.2 7.9 .784
difference:+23+3.2+3.6+1.9+4.1+5.9+8.9+0.6+1.6-1.5-0.5+2.8+2.8+.083+1.0+2.2+.127+1.0+0.2+.106
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 16 38.0 22.6 2.4 11.7 14.1 2.6 1.4 3.1 2.1 2.9 8.3 15.9 .520 0.3 0.9 .333 5.8 6.8 .852
difference:+7+3.8+2.6+1.1+6.7+7.8+10.2+0.2+3.0-1.9-0.2+0.1+1.3+.030+0.3+1.9+.133+2.0+2.0+.034
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2023-241990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
Others NBA Cup NBA Cup Champion-
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 76 35.5 24.7 3.1 9.5 12.6 3.5 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 9.4 16.9 .556 0.4 1.4 .271 5.5 6.8 .816
difference:+3+1.6+5.3+1.8+3.9+5.6+9.0+0.1+2.1-1.9-0.4+3.5+4.5+.079+0.6+1.8+.049+1.1+0.5+.090
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 41.6 27.8 3.0 12.6 15.6 4.0 0.4 1.6 2.2 3.8 11.8 18.6 .634 0.0 1.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .808
difference:+14+1.7+6.0+1.8+5.7+7.5+8.6+0.8+1.6-1.9-1.5+5.6+4.5+.194+1.1+2.7+.296+4.1+4.2+.074
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

Anthony Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2024-251995-96
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 51 33.5 24.7 2.6 8.9 11.6 3.5 1.2 2.2 2.2 1.9 9.2 17.8 .516 0.7 2.4 .282 5.6 7.2 .775
difference:+19+3.6+10.1+1.3+4.4+5.9+3.4+0.4+1.8-1.0-0.4+4.9+8.6+.050+0.6+.097+0.2+0.9+.081
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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