Magic Johnson vs. Buck Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Buck Williams 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, 4 less than Buck Williams, who played 17. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Buck Williams had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Buck Williams 17 14 1981-82 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1979-801981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets 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
Buck Williams 82 34.5 15.5 4.2 8.0 12.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 2.9 3.5 6.3 10.7 .582 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .624
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
Buck Williams 2 39.5 17.5 5.5 5.0 10.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 2.0 3.5 7.0 13.0 .538 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 7.5 .467

Season 2

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1980-811982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNets 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 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
Buck Williams 82 36.1 17.0 4.5 8.1 12.5 1.5 1.1 1.3 3.0 3.3 6.5 11.1 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 6.4 .620
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
Buck Williams 2 42.5 19.0 4.5 7.0 11.5 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 6.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 10.0 .800

Season 3

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1981-821983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets 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
Buck Williams 81 37.1 15.7 4.4 8.0 12.3 1.6 1.0 1.5 2.9 3.7 6.1 11.4 .535 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 6.1 .570
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
Buck Williams 11 43.0 15.5 5.2 8.9 14.1 1.5 1.4 1.5 2.6 4.0 5.7 11.8 .485 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 7.4 .556

Season 4

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1982-831984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNets 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 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
Buck Williams 82 38.8 18.2 3.9 8.3 12.3 2.0 0.8 1.3 2.9 3.6 7.0 13.3 .530 0.0 0.0 .250 4.1 6.6 .625
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
Buck Williams 3 41.0 24.7 4.7 6.0 10.7 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.0 4.0 8.7 13.3 .650 0.0 0.0 - 7.3 10.0 .733

Season 5

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1983-841985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNets 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
Buck Williams 82 37.4 15.9 4.0 8.0 12.0 1.6 0.9 1.2 3.0 3.6 6.1 11.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.4 .676
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
Buck Williams 3 42.0 20.7 4.0 6.3 10.3 0.7 2.0 0.3 2.0 5.0 7.0 9.7 .724 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 8.7 .769

Season 6

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1984-851986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
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 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
Buck Williams 82 36.3 18.0 3.9 8.5 12.5 1.6 1.0 1.1 3.4 3.8 6.4 11.4 .557 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 7.2 .731
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1985-861987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Buck Williams 70 37.7 18.3 4.3 7.7 11.9 1.6 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.8 6.7 11.9 .560 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 7.4 .668
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1986-871988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Buck Williams 74 33.1 13.0 3.4 6.0 9.4 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 9.5 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.3 .666
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1987-881989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Buck Williams 82 34.2 13.6 3.0 6.7 9.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 2.0 3.5 5.0 9.2 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 5.0 .706
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
Buck Williams 21 37.0 13.0 3.2 6.0 9.2 1.9 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.5 4.8 9.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .676

Season 10

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Buck Williams 80 32.3 11.7 2.8 6.6 9.4 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.7 3.1 4.5 7.4 .602 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.9 .705
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
Buck Williams 16 35.8 10.3 3.3 5.6 8.9 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.4 4.1 8.1 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 .603

Season 11

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 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
Buck Williams 80 31.5 11.3 3.3 5.6 8.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 1.6 3.1 4.3 7.0 .604 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.7 .754
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
Buck Williams 21 36.1 9.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 1.0 1.3 0.8 2.1 3.5 3.1 6.2 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.3 .758

Season 12

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 30.5 8.3 2.8 5.6 8.4 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.2 3.3 3.3 6.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.6 .645
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
Buck Williams 4 29.8 8.8 3.0 4.3 7.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.0 2.8 5.8 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.8 .684

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season 1995-961993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Buck Williams 81 32.5 9.7 3.9 6.5 10.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 1.4 3.0 3.6 6.5 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.7 .679
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
Buck Williams 4 31.3 12.8 3.5 5.3 8.8 0.5 1.0 0.5 2.0 2.8 4.8 7.0 .679 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 3.8 .867

Season 14

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season -1994-95
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 82 29.5 9.2 3.1 5.1 8.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.5 3.1 3.8 7.4 .512 0.0 0.0 .500 1.7 2.5 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 34.3 8.3 2.7 3.7 6.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 4.7 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636

Season 15

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 70 23.9 7.3 2.3 3.5 5.8 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.3 2.7 2.7 5.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .667 1.8 2.7 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 5 26.6 4.8 2.6 2.4 5.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.6 1.8 4.6 .391 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 16

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 74 20.2 6.3 2.2 3.1 5.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.8 2.4 4.4 .537 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 10 19.2 4.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.4 3.4 1.7 3.5 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.7 .529

Season 17

Magic Johnson Buck Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 41 18.0 4.9 1.9 2.6 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 2.3 1.8 3.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 15.0 4.7 2.3 3.0 5.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750