Dale Davis vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Dale 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 / Games against each other

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.

Dale Davis played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Dale Davis had the first of his seasons in 1991-92, 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
Dale Davis 16 14 1991-92 to 2006-07
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1991-921979-80
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 64 20.3 6.2 2.5 3.9 6.4 0.5 0.4 1.2 0.8 3.0 2.4 4.4 .552 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.4 .572
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 %
Dale Davis 3 23.0 2.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 0.7 0.0 1.7 0.3 2.7 1.3 3.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1992-931980-81
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Dale Davis 82 27.6 8.9 3.5 5.3 8.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.0 3.3 3.7 6.5 .568 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.7 .529
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 %
Dale Davis 4 29.3 4.3 1.0 7.0 8.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 3.8 2.0 3.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .250
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1993-941981-82
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 66 34.7 11.7 4.2 6.6 10.9 1.5 0.7 1.6 1.5 3.2 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 4.5 .527
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 %
Dale Davis 16 36.1 7.7 3.9 6.0 9.9 0.7 1.1 1.1 1.9 3.3 3.5 6.6 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 2.3 .306
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1994-951982-83
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Dale Davis 74 31.7 10.6 3.5 5.9 9.4 0.8 1.0 1.6 1.7 3.0 4.4 7.8 .563 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.5 .533
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 %
Dale Davis 17 28.8 7.9 3.1 4.9 8.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.3 3.3 3.3 6.2 .533 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.8 .489
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1995-961983-84
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Dale Davis 78 33.6 10.3 3.2 5.9 9.1 1.0 0.7 1.4 1.5 3.1 4.3 7.7 .558 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.7 .467
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 %
Dale Davis 5 36.8 7.2 4.0 7.2 11.2 0.8 0.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 3.2 6.2 .516 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.2 .364
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1996-971984-85
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA 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 %
Dale Davis 80 32.4 10.4 3.8 5.9 9.7 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.4 2.9 4.6 8.6 .538 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.7 .428
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 %
Dale Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1997-981985-86
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Dale Davis 78 27.9 8.0 3.0 4.8 7.8 0.9 0.7 1.1 0.9 2.7 3.5 6.4 .548 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.2 .465
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 %
Dale Davis 16 29.2 8.8 2.8 4.8 7.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 1.3 2.6 3.5 5.4 .651 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 4.0 .453
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1998-991986-87
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 50 27.5 8.0 3.1 5.2 8.3 0.4 0.4 1.1 0.9 2.3 3.2 6.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .618
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 %
Dale Davis 13 30.3 9.1 3.5 6.7 10.2 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.6 3.2 3.5 5.9 .584 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.8 .560
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001987-88
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 74 28.7 10.0 3.5 6.4 9.9 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.2 2.7 4.1 8.1 .502 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.7 .685
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 %
Dale Davis 23 31.1 8.3 3.6 7.8 11.4 0.7 0.5 1.3 0.8 3.6 3.4 6.6 .523 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.6 .542
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2000-011988-89
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Dale Davis 81 26.7 7.2 2.9 4.6 7.5 1.3 0.5 0.9 0.8 2.5 3.0 6.0 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .632
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 %
Dale Davis 2 10.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 3.5 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.0 .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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2001-021989-90
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Dale Davis 78 31.4 9.5 3.4 5.5 8.8 1.2 0.8 1.1 0.8 2.5 3.8 7.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.7 .708
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 %
Dale Davis 3 23.7 2.3 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.3 1.3 1.0 0.7 5.3 1.0 3.7 .273 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2002-031990-91
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Dale Davis 78 29.3 7.4 3.0 4.2 7.2 1.2 0.7 0.9 0.9 2.4 3.0 5.6 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.1 .633
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 %
Dale Davis 6 26.8 7.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 1.5 0.8 0.3 1.7 1.8 2.3 4.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.3 .654
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

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2003-041995-96
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dale Davis 76 22.1 4.4 2.1 3.2 5.2 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.5 2.0 1.8 3.7 .473 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .613
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 %
Dale Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Season 14

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2004-05-
Team Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 61 21.4 4.7 2.5 3.7 6.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 0.7 2.7 1.8 3.8 .479 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .606
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 13 24.2 5.3 2.8 3.4 6.2 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.7 2.7 2.0 4.5 .448 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .680
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2005-06-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 28 6.4 0.9 0.8 1.1 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.3 0.9 .375 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .533
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 8 4.5 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.4 0.0 0.8 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dale Davis Magic Johnson
Season 2006-07-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 46 10.1 1.8 1.3 1.7 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.6 .446 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .654
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Davis 8 6.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 1.5 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.8 0.4 1.0 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------