Magic Johnson vs. Anthony Mason Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Anthony Mason and Magic Johnson, 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.

Magic Johnson and Anthony Mason both played 13 years in the NBA. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Anthony Mason had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96
Anthony Mason 13 10 1989-90 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 21 5.1 1.8 0.5 1.1 1.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.0 0.7 1.9 .350 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 3 7.0 3.3 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
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
Anthony Mason 82 26.8 7.0 2.6 4.4 7.0 1.3 0.6 0.2 1.2 2.8 2.5 4.9 .509 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 12 24.0 5.0 2.3 4.0 6.3 0.8 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.8 1.6 3.6 .442 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .786

Season 4
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 %
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
Anthony Mason 81 30.6 10.3 2.9 5.0 7.9 2.1 0.5 0.2 1.7 3.0 3.9 7.8 .502 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.6 .682
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 15 34.0 12.5 3.7 3.6 7.3 2.7 0.7 0.4 1.5 3.3 4.8 8.1 .590 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.5 .632

Season 5
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 73 26.1 7.2 2.2 3.7 5.8 2.1 0.4 0.1 1.5 2.6 2.8 5.9 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.2 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 25 26.4 7.6 2.1 3.7 5.8 1.8 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.6 2.7 5.5 .489 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.1 .714

Season 6
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
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
Anthony Mason 77 32.4 9.9 2.4 6.1 8.4 3.1 0.9 0.3 1.6 3.3 3.7 6.6 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.9 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 11 32.0 9.5 2.1 4.1 6.2 2.2 0.5 0.5 2.4 2.5 2.8 4.6 .608 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 6.3 .623

Season 7
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsKnicks 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 %
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
Anthony Mason 82 42.2 14.6 2.7 6.6 9.3 4.4 0.8 0.4 2.6 3.0 5.5 9.7 .563 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.0 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 8 43.8 12.6 2.1 5.6 7.8 3.3 0.5 0.1 2.5 2.5 5.1 9.8 .526 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.5 .679

Season 8
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 73 43.1 16.2 2.5 8.8 11.4 5.7 1.0 0.5 2.3 2.8 5.9 11.3 .525 0.0 0.0 .333 4.4 5.9 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 3 44.0 13.0 2.7 9.3 12.0 3.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 2.0 5.3 12.7 .421 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 4.3 .538

Season 9
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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 %
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
Anthony Mason 81 38.9 12.8 2.2 8.0 10.2 4.2 0.8 0.2 1.8 2.2 4.8 9.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 5.0 .649
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 9 40.8 15.4 1.9 6.0 7.9 3.4 0.9 0.0 2.4 1.9 6.3 11.0 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 4.7 .595

Note: Anthony Mason didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 10
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1988-891999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHornets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 82 38.2 11.6 1.8 6.8 8.5 4.5 0.9 0.4 2.0 2.7 3.9 8.1 .480 0.0 0.0 .000 3.8 5.1 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 4 44.8 12.5 4.0 5.8 9.8 5.5 1.0 0.0 3.3 3.3 4.5 9.5 .474 0.0 0.3 .000 3.5 5.0 .700

Season 11
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1989-902000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisHeat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 80 40.7 16.1 2.1 7.5 9.6 3.1 1.0 0.3 2.2 2.9 5.8 11.9 .482 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.9 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 3 33.0 5.3 0.3 2.7 3.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.0 1.7 4.3 .385 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 12
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1990-912001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 82 38.3 9.6 1.5 6.4 7.9 4.2 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 3.9 7.6 .505 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.9 2.7 .697
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------

Note: Magic Johnson didn't play in 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Season 13
Magic Johnson Anthony Mason
Season 1995-962002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 65 32.6 7.2 1.4 5.0 6.4 3.2 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.3 2.9 6.0 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.8 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anthony Mason 6 26.2 3.8 0.7 2.7 3.3 0.2 0.5 0.2 1.3 2.8 1.2 2.8 .412 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.2 .692
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