Magic Johnson vs. Byron Scott Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Byron Scott 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 Byron Scott, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Byron Scott had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Byron Scott 14 13 1983-84 to 1996-97

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 Byron Scott
Season 1979-801983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 36.3 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
Byron Scott 74 22.1 10.6 0.7 1.5 2.2 2.4 1.1 0.3 1.6 2.4 4.5 9.3 .484 0.1 0.5 .235 1.5 1.9 .806
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
Byron Scott 20 20.2 8.6 0.6 1.3 1.9 1.7 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.0 3.7 8.1 .460 0.1 0.5 .200 1.1 1.8 .600

Season 2
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
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 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
Byron Scott 81 28.5 16.0 0.7 1.9 2.6 3.0 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.4 6.7 12.4 .539 0.3 0.7 .433 2.3 2.8 .820
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
Byron Scott 19 30.8 16.9 0.8 1.9 2.7 2.6 2.2 0.2 1.3 2.5 7.3 14.1 .517 0.5 1.1 .476 1.8 2.3 .795

Season 3
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 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
Byron Scott 76 28.8 15.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 2.2 1.1 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.7 13.0 .513 0.3 0.8 .361 1.8 2.3 .784
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
Byron Scott 14 33.6 16.0 1.1 2.9 3.9 3.0 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.7 6.4 12.9 .497 0.4 1.2 .353 2.7 3.0 .905

Season 4
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Byron Scott 82 33.3 17.0 0.8 2.7 3.5 3.4 1.5 0.2 1.8 2.0 6.8 13.8 .489 0.8 1.8 .436 2.7 3.1 .892
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
Byron Scott 18 33.8 14.8 1.1 2.3 3.4 3.2 1.1 0.2 1.4 2.9 5.7 11.7 .490 0.4 1.9 .206 2.9 3.7 .791

Season 5
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Byron Scott 81 37.6 21.7 0.9 3.2 4.1 4.1 1.9 0.3 2.0 2.5 8.8 16.6 .527 0.8 2.2 .346 3.4 3.9 .858
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
Byron Scott 24 37.4 19.6 1.1 3.1 4.2 2.5 1.4 0.2 2.0 2.7 7.4 14.9 .499 1.0 2.3 .436 3.8 4.3 .865

Season 6
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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
Byron Scott 74 35.2 19.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 3.1 1.5 0.4 2.1 2.4 7.9 16.2 .491 1.0 2.6 .399 2.6 3.1 .863
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
Byron Scott 11 36.5 19.9 0.9 3.2 4.1 2.3 1.6 0.2 1.8 2.8 7.2 14.5 .494 1.4 3.5 .385 4.2 5.0 .836

Season 7
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers 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 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
Byron Scott 77 33.7 15.5 0.7 2.5 3.1 3.6 1.0 0.4 1.6 2.3 6.1 13.1 .470 1.2 2.9 .423 2.1 2.7 .766
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
Byron Scott 9 36.1 13.4 0.8 3.3 4.1 2.6 2.2 0.3 1.4 3.6 5.4 11.8 .462 1.4 3.8 .382 1.1 1.4 .769

Season 8
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 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
Byron Scott 82 32.1 14.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 2.2 1.2 0.3 1.0 1.8 6.1 12.8 .477 0.9 2.7 .324 1.4 1.8 .797
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
Byron Scott 18 37.7 13.2 0.7 2.4 3.2 1.6 1.3 0.2 0.9 2.9 5.3 10.3 .511 1.1 2.1 .526 1.5 1.9 .794

Season 9
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 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
Byron Scott 82 32.7 14.9 0.9 2.9 3.8 2.8 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.7 5.6 12.3 .458 0.7 1.9 .344 3.0 3.5 .838
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
Byron Scott 4 37.0 18.8 0.8 1.8 2.5 3.5 1.5 0.3 1.3 2.5 5.5 11.0 .500 1.8 3.0 .583 6.0 6.8 .889

Season 10
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 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
Byron Scott 58 28.9 13.7 0.5 1.8 2.3 2.7 0.9 0.2 1.2 1.7 5.1 11.4 .449 0.8 2.3 .326 2.7 3.2 .848
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
Byron Scott 5 35.4 13.6 0.0 2.2 2.2 1.8 1.0 0.0 0.8 2.2 4.2 8.4 .500 1.6 3.0 .533 3.6 4.6 .783

Season 11
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1989-901993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Byron Scott 67 17.9 10.4 0.3 1.4 1.6 2.0 0.9 0.1 1.5 1.2 3.8 8.2 .467 0.4 1.1 .365 2.3 2.9 .805
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
Byron Scott 16 14.9 7.8 0.6 1.4 2.1 1.3 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.4 2.4 6.0 .396 0.6 1.2 .474 2.5 3.2 .784

Season 12
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1990-911994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Byron Scott 80 19.1 10.0 0.2 1.7 1.9 1.4 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.5 3.3 7.3 .455 1.0 2.5 .389 2.4 2.8 .850
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
Byron Scott 17 17.5 6.1 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.9 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.8 1.9 5.5 .340 0.5 2.0 .265 1.8 2.0 .882

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season 1995-961995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersVancouver Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
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 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
Byron Scott 80 23.7 10.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 1.5 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.6 3.4 8.5 .401 0.9 2.8 .335 2.5 3.0 .835
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
Byron Scott ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Magic Johnson Byron Scott
Season -1996-97
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 ------- --- ----------
Byron Scott 79 18.2 6.7 0.3 1.2 1.5 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.1 4.8 .430 0.9 2.4 .388 1.6 1.9 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Byron Scott 8 16.6 6.4 0.0 1.5 1.5 1.4 0.1 0.0 1.0 1.9 1.9 4.1 .455 0.5 1.4 .364 2.1 2.4 .895
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