Jalen Brunson vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Jalen Brunson, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.
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.
Jalen Brunson played 8 years in the NBA, 5 less than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Jalen Brunson had the first of his seasons in 2018-19, 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 |
| Jalen Brunson |
8 |
5 |
2018-19 to 2025-26 |
| Magic Johnson |
13 |
13 |
1979-80 to 1995-96 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
73 |
21.8 |
9.3 |
0.3 |
2.0 |
2.3 |
3.2 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
1.2 |
1.7 |
3.6 |
7.7 |
.467 |
0.9 |
2.5 |
.348 |
1.2 |
1.6 |
.725 |
| difference: | +4 | +14.5 | +8.7 | +1.9 | +3.6 | +5.4 | +4.1 | +1.9 | +0.4 | -2.8 | -1.1 | +2.9 | +4.6 | +.063 | +0.8 | +2.1 | +.122 | +3.7 | +4.4 | +.085 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
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 |
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2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
57 |
17.9 |
8.2 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
2.4 |
3.3 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
3.2 |
6.8 |
.466 |
0.8 |
2.1 |
.358 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
.813 |
| difference: | +20 | +19.2 | +13.4 | +2.3 | +3.9 | +6.2 | +5.3 | +3.0 | +0.6 | -2.7 | -1.4 | +5.2 | +9.1 | +.066 | +0.7 | +1.6 | +.182 | +3.5 | +4.8 | +.053 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
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 |
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3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
68 |
25.0 |
12.6 |
0.4 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
1.6 |
4.8 |
9.2 |
.523 |
1.2 |
2.9 |
.405 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
.795 |
| difference: | +10 | +13.3 | +6.0 | +2.8 | +3.4 | +6.2 | +6.0 | +2.2 | +0.4 | -2.5 | -1.3 | +2.3 | +4.1 | +.014 | +1.1 | +2.5 | +.198 | +2.4 | +3.4 | +.035 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
7 |
16.3 |
8.0 |
0.9 |
1.7 |
2.6 |
1.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
2.9 |
6.3 |
.455 |
0.9 |
1.9 |
.462 |
1.4 |
1.9 |
.769 |
| difference: | +7 | +23.8 | +9.4 | +3.0 | +5.7 | +8.7 | +7.9 | +2.9 | +0.2 | -2.5 | -2.7 | +3.0 | +4.9 | +.074 | +0.9 | +1.6 | +.462 | +4.1 | +4.7 | +.059 |
| 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 |
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4th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
79 |
31.9 |
16.3 |
0.5 |
3.4 |
3.9 |
4.8 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
1.6 |
1.9 |
6.4 |
12.8 |
.502 |
1.2 |
3.2 |
.373 |
2.3 |
2.7 |
.840 |
| difference: | | +4.9 | +0.5 | +2.2 | +2.5 | +4.7 | +5.7 | +1.4 | +0.6 | -2.2 | -0.6 | +0.1 | +1.0 | +.046 | +1.2 | +2.9 | +.373 | +1.5 | +2.1 | +.040 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
18 |
34.9 |
21.6 |
0.8 |
3.8 |
4.6 |
3.7 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
2.1 |
8.1 |
17.3 |
.466 |
1.4 |
4.2 |
.347 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
.800 |
| difference: | +3 | +8.0 | +3.7 | +2.6 | +1.3 | +3.9 | +9.1 | +1.5 | +0.7 | -3.2 | -1.2 | +1.4 | +3.6 | +.019 | +1.4 | +3.5 | +.347 | +0.5 | +0.4 | +.040 |
| 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 |
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5th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
68 |
35.0 |
24.0 |
0.6 |
3.0 |
3.5 |
6.2 |
0.9 |
0.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
8.6 |
17.6 |
.491 |
2.0 |
4.7 |
.416 |
4.8 |
5.8 |
.829 |
| difference: | +1 | +3.3 | +6.4 | +0.9 | +2.9 | +3.8 | +6.9 | +1.3 | +0.5 | -2.5 | -0.3 | +2.0 | +6.0 | +.074 | +1.9 | +4.3 | +.209 | +0.5 | +0.5 | +.019 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
11 |
40.3 |
27.8 |
0.8 |
4.1 |
4.9 |
5.6 |
1.5 |
0.1 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
9.9 |
20.9 |
.474 |
2.4 |
7.3 |
.325 |
5.6 |
6.2 |
.912 |
| difference: | +10 | +0.4 | +9.6 | +0.4 | +1.3 | +1.7 | +7.9 | +0.5 | +0.9 | -1.7 | -1.0 | +2.7 | +7.9 | +.077 | +2.4 | +7.0 | +.325 | +1.8 | +1.4 | +.112 |
| 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 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
77 |
35.4 |
28.7 |
0.6 |
3.1 |
3.6 |
6.7 |
0.9 |
0.2 |
2.4 |
1.9 |
10.3 |
21.4 |
.479 |
2.7 |
6.8 |
.401 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
.847 |
| difference: | | +0.7 | +10.4 | +0.6 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +5.9 | +0.6 | +0.1 | -1.6 | -0.1 | +3.8 | +9.7 | +.082 | +2.6 | +6.3 | +.212 | +0.4 | +0.5 | +.004 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
13 |
39.8 |
32.4 |
0.6 |
2.7 |
3.3 |
7.5 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
2.7 |
2.0 |
11.6 |
26.2 |
.444 |
2.0 |
6.5 |
.310 |
7.2 |
9.2 |
.775 |
| difference: | +6 | +3.6 | +14.9 | +0.4 | +3.4 | +3.8 | +7.7 | +0.9 | | -1.3 | -0.5 | +5.5 | +14.3 | +.069 | +1.9 | +6.1 | +.167 | +1.9 | +3.0 | +.072 |
| 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 |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
65 |
35.4 |
26.0 |
0.4 |
2.5 |
2.9 |
7.3 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
9.0 |
18.5 |
.488 |
2.3 |
6.1 |
.383 |
5.7 |
6.9 |
.821 |
| difference: | +7 | +0.4 | +7.2 | +0.8 | +2.2 | +3.0 | +5.3 | +0.7 | +0.1 | -1.3 | -0.3 | +2.3 | +5.7 | +.038 | +2.2 | +5.5 | +.150 | +0.4 | +0.9 | +.050 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
18 |
37.8 |
29.4 |
0.7 |
2.8 |
3.4 |
7.0 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
10.1 |
21.8 |
.461 |
2.7 |
7.4 |
.358 |
6.7 |
7.8 |
.851 |
| difference: | +4 | +0.8 | +7.8 | +0.8 | +2.8 | +3.7 | +8.1 | +1.5 | +0.2 | -0.1 | -0.2 | +2.2 | +7.2 | +.076 | +2.7 | +6.6 | +.358 | +0.8 | +0.2 | +.085 |
| 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 |
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
24 |
35.0 |
28.7 |
0.6 |
2.7 |
3.3 |
6.4 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
10.2 |
21.1 |
.484 |
2.8 |
7.4 |
.376 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
.834 |
| difference: | +56 | +1.3 | +4.8 | +0.9 | +2.1 | +3.0 | +5.8 | +0.9 | +0.4 | -1.5 | -0.3 | +1.7 | +4.7 | +.038 | +2.7 | +6.9 | +.171 | +1.2 | +1.4 | +.014 |
| 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 | % |
| Jalen Brunson |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
|
Additional Years |
* Magic Johnson played 5 seasons more than Jalen Brunson in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 13, from 1988 to 1996—Magic Johnson played in 5 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those 5 extra years over Jalen Brunson, Magic Johnson got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards |  2 Season MVP
4 All-NBA First Team
4 All-Star Game
1 All-Star Game MVP
|
NBA Champion