Magic Johnson vs. Calvin Natt Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Calvin Natt 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, 2 more than Calvin Natt, who played 11. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Calvin Natt 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 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
Calvin Natt 11 7 1979-80 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1979-801979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail 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 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
Calvin Natt 78 36.6 19.9 3.1 5.8 8.9 2.2 1.3 0.4 2.5 2.6 8.0 16.6 .479 0.0 0.1 .333 3.9 5.4 .730
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
Calvin Natt 3 41.7 16.0 3.0 5.0 8.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 3.3 2.3 7.0 16.0 .438 0.0 0.7 .000 2.0 3.3 .600

Season 2

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1980-811980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
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 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
Calvin Natt 74 28.5 13.4 2.0 3.8 5.8 2.1 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.5 5.3 10.7 .497 0.1 0.1 .500 2.7 3.8 .707
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
Calvin Natt 3 31.7 10.7 2.0 4.7 6.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 2.3 1.3 4.7 10.3 .452 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.7 .500

Season 3

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals 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 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
Calvin Natt 75 34.7 17.7 2.6 5.6 8.2 2.0 0.8 0.5 1.9 2.3 6.9 11.9 .576 0.0 0.1 .250 3.9 5.2 .750
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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Calvin Natt 80 36.0 20.4 2.7 4.8 7.5 2.1 0.8 0.4 2.5 2.3 8.1 14.8 .543 0.0 0.3 .150 4.2 5.4 .792
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
Calvin Natt 7 39.1 18.9 3.1 6.0 9.1 1.6 1.1 0.1 1.3 2.0 7.1 14.6 .490 0.1 0.3 .500 4.4 6.9 .646

Season 5

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Calvin Natt 79 33.4 16.2 2.1 3.9 6.0 2.3 0.9 0.3 2.1 2.8 6.3 10.8 .583 0.0 0.2 .118 3.5 4.4 .797
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
Calvin Natt 5 39.0 19.8 2.2 5.4 7.6 1.8 1.2 0.2 2.0 2.0 7.4 14.4 .514 0.0 0.6 .000 5.0 7.2 .694

Season 6

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 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
Calvin Natt 78 34.1 23.3 2.7 5.1 7.8 3.1 1.0 0.4 2.4 2.3 8.8 16.1 .546 0.0 0.0 .000 5.7 7.2 .793
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
Calvin Natt 15 33.9 22.3 2.1 4.5 6.6 3.8 0.5 0.3 2.1 2.3 8.7 15.9 .550 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 5.9 .809

Season 7

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsNuggets 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
Calvin Natt 69 29.1 17.7 1.8 4.5 6.3 2.4 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.1 6.8 13.5 .504 0.0 0.1 .333 4.0 5.0 .801
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
Calvin Natt 10 29.3 17.9 1.7 6.2 7.9 2.8 0.2 0.3 2.2 2.5 6.6 14.2 .465 0.1 0.2 .500 4.6 5.9 .780

Season 8

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
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
Calvin Natt 1 20.0 10.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 4.0 10.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1987-881987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
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
Calvin Natt 27 19.7 9.6 1.3 2.3 3.6 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.1 1.6 3.8 7.7 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.7 .740
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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs
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
Calvin Natt 24 14.7 6.3 1.2 2.1 3.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 1.3 1.3 2.0 4.8 .405 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .722
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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1989-901989-90
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 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
Calvin Natt 14 11.7 4.1 0.7 1.8 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.2 .645 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .773
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
Calvin Natt 2 7.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1990-91-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 37.1 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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------
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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Calvin Natt
Season 1995-96-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------
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
Calvin Natt ------- --- ----------