Magic Johnson vs. Brian Shaw Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Brian Shaw 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Brian Shaw, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Brian Shaw had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Brian Shaw 14 11 1988-89 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 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
Brian Shaw 82 28.1 8.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.8 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.6 8.4 .433 0.0 0.2 .000 1.3 1.6 .826
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
Brian Shaw 3 41.3 17.0 0.7 5.0 5.7 6.3 1.0 0.0 2.0 3.7 7.3 14.3 .512 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.0 .778

Note: Brian Shaw didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 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
Brian Shaw 79 35.1 13.8 1.3 3.4 4.7 7.6 1.3 0.4 2.8 2.6 5.6 11.9 .469 0.0 0.3 .111 2.6 3.2 .819
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
Brian Shaw 11 28.7 11.0 0.7 2.7 3.5 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.3 3.1 4.3 9.1 .470 0.1 0.3 .333 2.4 2.7 .867

Season 3
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 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
Brian Shaw 63 22.6 7.9 0.8 2.4 3.2 4.0 0.9 0.3 1.6 1.8 3.3 8.1 .407 0.1 0.4 .217 1.1 1.4 .791
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
Brian Shaw 3 28.3 12.0 0.7 3.7 4.3 4.0 0.7 0.0 2.3 4.3 4.7 10.0 .467 1.0 1.7 .600 1.7 2.7 .625

Season 4
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Brian Shaw 68 23.6 7.3 1.0 2.8 3.8 3.5 0.7 0.3 1.4 2.4 2.9 7.4 .393 0.6 1.9 .331 0.9 1.1 .782
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
Brian Shaw ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHeat 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 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
Brian Shaw 77 26.5 9.0 1.4 3.2 4.5 5.0 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.6 8.7 .417 0.9 2.8 .338 0.8 1.2 .719
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
Brian Shaw 5 22.4 7.8 0.6 3.4 4.0 1.8 0.8 0.2 2.6 1.6 3.2 8.2 .390 0.0 2.6 .000 1.4 2.4 .583

Season 6
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMagic 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 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
Brian Shaw 78 23.5 6.4 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 0.9 0.2 2.4 2.4 2.5 6.3 .389 0.6 2.4 .261 0.9 1.2 .737
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
Brian Shaw 21 16.9 6.6 0.8 2.1 3.0 3.1 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.3 2.3 5.9 .390 1.0 2.7 .386 1.0 1.5 .625

Season 7
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsMagic 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 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
Brian Shaw 75 22.4 6.6 0.8 2.2 3.0 4.5 0.8 0.1 2.3 2.1 2.4 6.5 .374 0.5 1.9 .285 1.2 1.5 .798
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
Brian Shaw 10 21.7 4.7 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.6 0.5 0.0 1.9 2.7 1.8 5.2 .346 0.8 2.2 .364 0.3 0.4 .750

Season 8
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMagic 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
Brian Shaw 77 24.2 7.2 0.6 1.9 2.5 4.1 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.6 2.5 6.7 .366 0.8 2.5 .325 1.4 1.8 .793
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
Brian Shaw 5 16.2 2.0 0.2 1.6 1.8 1.6 0.2 0.2 1.6 1.0 0.6 3.8 .158 0.4 1.2 .333 0.4 0.8 .500

Season 9
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Brian Shaw 59 25.9 6.3 0.6 3.0 3.6 4.4 0.8 0.3 1.7 2.5 2.6 7.6 .345 0.5 1.6 .295 0.6 0.9 .692
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
Brian Shaw ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Brian Shaw 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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
Brian Shaw ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Brian Shaw 74 16.9 4.1 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.7 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.4 1.7 4.4 .382 0.2 0.8 .310 0.6 0.7 .759
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
Brian Shaw 22 18.4 5.4 0.3 2.0 2.3 3.0 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.1 2.0 4.9 .421 0.7 2.2 .333 0.6 0.7 .813

Season 12
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1990-912000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Brian Shaw 80 22.9 5.3 0.6 3.2 3.8 3.2 0.6 0.3 1.2 2.0 2.1 5.1 .399 0.5 1.7 .311 0.6 0.8 .797
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
Brian Shaw 16 18.1 4.4 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 1.0 2.3 1.7 4.5 .375 0.6 1.8 .345 0.4 0.6 .667

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season 1995-962001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
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
Brian Shaw 58 10.9 2.9 0.3 1.6 1.9 1.5 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.0 .353 0.5 1.5 .330 0.3 0.4 .692
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
Brian Shaw 19 12.5 2.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.1 3.3 .333 0.5 1.7 .281 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 14
Magic Johnson Brian Shaw
Season -2002-03
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Brian Shaw 72 12.5 3.5 0.3 1.4 1.7 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.9 1.4 3.6 .387 0.5 1.5 .349 0.1 0.2 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Brian Shaw 12 18.0 3.2 0.1 3.1 3.2 2.0 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.5 1.3 4.1 .306 0.5 2.2 .231 0.2 0.3 .667
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