Magic Johnson vs. Cliff Levingston Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cliff Levingston 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 Cliff Levingston, who played 11. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Cliff Levingston had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Cliff Levingston 11 8 1982-83 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
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
Cliff Levingston 62 14.2 5.6 1.7 2.1 3.7 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.2 2.0 2.1 4.4 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.4 .571
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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
Cliff Levingston 80 21.8 7.3 2.9 3.9 6.8 1.4 0.6 1.0 1.0 3.5 2.9 5.5 .525 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.3 .672
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
Cliff Levingston 5 20.2 8.0 2.2 2.6 4.8 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 3.0 3.0 3.8 .789 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .625

Season 3

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
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
Cliff Levingston 74 27.3 9.8 3.1 4.5 7.6 1.4 0.9 0.9 1.8 3.1 3.9 7.5 .527 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 3.0 .653
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 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
Cliff Levingston 81 24.0 9.3 2.4 4.2 6.6 0.9 0.9 0.5 1.4 3.2 3.6 6.8 .534 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 3.0 .678
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
Cliff Levingston 9 20.0 5.8 1.7 2.9 4.6 0.3 0.4 1.0 1.0 2.6 2.4 4.1 .595 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.8 1.0 .778

Season 5

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 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
Cliff Levingston 82 22.5 8.0 2.7 3.8 6.5 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.9 3.2 3.1 6.0 .506 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.6 .731
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
Cliff Levingston 9 12.0 3.1 1.3 2.4 3.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.4 2.3 0.8 2.0 .389 0.0 0.1 .000 1.6 2.0 .778

Season 6

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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
Cliff Levingston 82 26.0 10.0 2.8 3.4 6.1 0.9 0.6 1.0 1.1 3.5 3.8 6.9 .557 0.0 0.0 .500 2.3 3.0 .772
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
Cliff Levingston 12 13.6 5.0 1.2 1.0 2.2 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 2.1 2.0 4.2 .480 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 7

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsHawks 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 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
Cliff Levingston 80 27.3 9.2 2.4 3.8 6.2 0.9 1.2 0.9 1.3 3.4 3.8 7.1 .528 0.0 0.1 .200 1.7 2.4 .696
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
Cliff Levingston 5 15.4 3.2 1.2 2.2 3.4 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.6 3.0 0.6 2.2 .273 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.8 2.0 .900

Season 8

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
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
Cliff Levingston 75 22.7 6.9 1.5 2.7 4.3 1.1 0.7 0.5 0.7 2.9 2.9 5.7 .509 0.0 0.1 .200 1.1 1.6 .680
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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 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
Cliff Levingston 78 13.0 4.0 1.3 1.6 2.9 0.7 0.4 0.6 0.6 1.8 1.6 3.6 .450 0.0 0.1 .250 0.8 1.2 .648
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
Cliff Levingston 17 11.3 2.6 1.3 1.1 2.4 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.1 1.6 1.2 2.4 .512 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 10

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1988-891991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Cliff Levingston 79 12.9 3.9 1.4 1.5 2.9 0.8 0.3 0.6 0.5 1.7 1.6 3.2 .498 0.0 0.1 .167 0.8 1.2 .625
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
Cliff Levingston 22 8.7 2.9 0.8 1.1 1.9 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.4 1.1 2.6 .439 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.3 .500

Note: Cliff Levingston didn't play in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

Season 11

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNuggets 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 37.2 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
Cliff Levingston 57 8.2 2.3 0.9 1.3 2.2 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.3 .423 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.8 .422
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
Cliff Levingston 3 11.7 2.3 2.0 1.0 3.0 0.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 12

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Cliff Levingston
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------
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
Cliff Levingston ------- --- ----------