Bruce Bowen vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Bruce Bowen, 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

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.

Bruce Bowen and Magic Johnson both played 13 years in the NBA. Bruce Bowen had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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 achivements, 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
Bruce Bowen 13 10 1996-97 to 2008-09
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 1996-971979-80
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 1997-981980-81
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 61 21.4 5.6 1.3 1.6 2.9 1.3 1.4 0.5 0.9 2.9 2.0 4.9 .409 0.3 1.0 .339 1.2 2.0 .623
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 1998-991981-82
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 30 16.5 2.3 0.5 1.2 1.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 1.7 0.9 3.1 .280 0.2 0.9 .269 0.4 0.8 .458
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001982-83
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 69 12.7 2.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 1.7 1.0 2.8 .371 0.4 0.8 .466 0.4 0.6 .581
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 15.8 3.5 0.1 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.6 2.7 1.0 2.7 .370 0.5 2.2 .227 1.0 1.6 .625
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2000-011983-84
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.7 7.6 0.5 2.4 3.0 1.6 1.0 0.6 0.9 3.3 2.6 7.1 .363 1.3 3.7 .336 1.2 2.0 .609
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 3 19.3 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.0 -
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2001-021984-85
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 59 28.8 7.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 1.5 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 2.6 6.7 .389 0.9 2.5 .378 0.8 1.6 .479
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 34.5 6.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.7 2.8 2.5 6.1 .410 1.1 2.5 .440 0.7 1.4 .500
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2002-031985-86
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 31.3 7.1 0.7 2.2 2.9 1.4 0.8 0.5 0.9 2.4 2.7 5.8 .466 1.2 2.8 .441 0.4 1.1 .404
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 24 31.2 6.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.3 6.0 .372 1.5 3.3 .438 1.0 1.8 .548
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2003-041986-87
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.0 6.9 0.5 2.5 3.1 1.4 1.0 0.4 1.1 2.0 2.6 6.1 .420 0.9 2.6 .363 0.8 1.4 .579
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 29.9 6.0 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.4 0.3 0.4 2.4 2.3 6.3 .365 1.1 2.9 .379 0.3 1.3 .231
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2004-051987-88
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.0 8.2 0.6 2.9 3.5 1.5 0.7 0.5 0.7 2.1 3.1 7.3 .420 1.2 3.1 .403 0.9 1.4 .634
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 23 35.4 5.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 3.3 2.0 5.6 .359 1.3 2.9 .433 0.5 0.7 .647
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2005-061988-89
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 33.6 7.5 0.4 3.5 3.9 1.5 1.0 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.8 6.5 .433 1.3 3.0 .424 0.6 1.0 .607
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 13 34.0 6.2 0.5 1.7 2.2 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.7 3.2 2.5 4.7 .525 1.2 2.3 .500 0.1 0.2 .500
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2006-071989-90
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 30.0 6.2 0.3 2.4 2.7 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.1 2.3 5.7 .405 1.1 2.8 .384 0.5 0.9 .589
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 20 34.5 6.5 0.6 3.5 4.1 1.3 1.4 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 6.0 .395 1.7 3.7 .446 0.2 0.3 .500
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2007-081990-91
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 81 30.2 6.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.2 2.1 5.3 .407 1.1 2.7 .419 0.6 0.9 .652
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 17 29.9 6.1 0.1 1.8 1.9 1.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 2.4 2.2 5.5 .398 1.3 3.2 .407 0.5 0.6 .727
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

Bruce Bowen Magic Johnson
Season 2008-091995-96
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 80 18.8 2.7 0.2 1.6 1.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.3 1.5 1.0 2.3 .422 0.5 1.2 .429 0.2 0.3 .538
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 5 26.0 4.2 0.0 3.0 3.0 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.6 2.0 1.4 2.6 .538 1.0 1.8 .556 0.4 0.4 1.000
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