Magic Johnson vs. Damian Lillard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Damian Lillard 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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 and Damian Lillard both played 13 years in the NBA. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Damian Lillard had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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 achievements, 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
Damian Lillard 13 10 2012-13 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1979-802012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+2.3+1.0+1.7+3.0+4.6+0.8+1.5+0.3-1.0-0.7+0.2+3.4+.101+2.2+5.7+.142+1.6+2.1+.034
Damian Lillard 82 38.6 19.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 6.5 0.9 0.2 3.0 2.1 6.7 15.7 .429 2.3 6.1 .368 3.3 3.9 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Damian Lillard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1980-812013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+45+1.3+0.9+2.3+2.8+5.1+3.0+2.6+0.4-1.5-0.3+1.7+.108+2.6+6.3+.218+0.1+0.9+.111
Damian Lillard 82 35.8 20.7 0.4 3.1 3.5 5.6 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.4 6.7 15.9 .424 2.7 6.8 .394 4.5 5.2 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+0.1+5.9+1.6+7.0+8.6+0.5+1.7+0.9-1.0-2.1+1.2+0.9+.051+2.5+6.4+1.1+0.7+.244
Damian Lillard 11 42.4 22.9 1.1 4.0 5.1 6.5 1.0 0.1 2.7 2.6 7.5 17.2 .439 2.5 6.4 .386 5.4 6.0 .894

Season 3

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1981-822014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+2.6+2.4+2.6+2.4+5.0+3.3+1.5+0.1-1.0-0.9+0.1+3.3+.103+2.3+6.6+.136+0.7+.104
Damian Lillard 82 35.7 21.0 0.6 4.0 4.6 6.2 1.2 0.3 2.7 2.0 7.2 16.6 .434 2.4 7.0 .343 4.2 4.9 .864
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+9+0.1+4.2+3.5+3.8+7.3+4.7+2.5+0.4-0.7-0.6+1.9+8.0+.123+1.0+5.9+.161+0.5+0.2+.047
Damian Lillard 5 40.2 21.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.6 0.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 7.8 19.2 .406 1.0 6.2 .161 5.0 6.4 .781

Season 4

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1982-832015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+1.1+8.3+2.1+2.5+4.6+3.7+1.3+0.2-0.6-0.3+1.7+7.9+.129+3.1+7.8+.375+1.7+1.4+.092
Damian Lillard 75 35.7 25.1 0.6 3.4 4.0 6.8 0.9 0.4 3.2 2.2 8.2 19.7 .419 3.1 8.1 .375 5.5 6.2 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+3.2+8.6+2.3+1.9+4.2+6.5+1.0+0.5-1.3-1.2+1.4+8.3+.117+3.8+9.0+.393+2.0+1.7+.070
Damian Lillard 11 39.7 26.5 1.1 3.2 4.3 6.3 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 8.1 22.0 .368 3.8 9.7 .393 6.5 7.1 .910

Season 5

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1983-842016-17
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 >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+2.4+9.4+0.9+1.6+2.4+7.2+1.3+0.4-2.0-0.5+2.2+8.2+.121+2.8+7.3+.163+2.2+2.0+.085
Damian Lillard 75 35.9 27.0 0.6 4.3 4.9 5.9 0.9 0.3 2.6 2.0 8.8 19.8 .444 2.9 7.7 .370 6.5 7.3 .895
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+17+2.1+9.6+0.2+1.9+2.1+10.2+0.7+0.5-0.5-0.6+2.6+9.5+.118+2.3+7.7+.281+2.2+1.5+.160
Damian Lillard 4 37.8 27.8 1.0 3.5 4.5 3.3 1.3 0.5 3.3 2.8 9.8 22.5 .433 2.3 8.0 .281 6.0 6.3 .960

Season 6

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1984-852017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+0.5+8.6+0.4+1.4+1.7+6.0+0.4+0.1-1.2-0.4+2.0+7.7+.122+3.0+8.1+.172+1.7+1.4+.073
Damian Lillard 73 36.6 26.9 0.8 3.6 4.5 6.6 1.1 0.4 2.8 1.6 8.5 19.4 .439 3.1 8.6 .361 6.8 7.4 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+15+4.3+1.0+0.2+2.3+2.6+10.4+0.4+0.2-0.5+0.2+5.9+.161+2.2+7.1+.157+1.5+1.9+.035
Damian Lillard 4 40.5 18.5 0.8 3.8 4.5 4.8 1.3 0.0 4.0 2.0 6.3 17.8 .352 2.3 7.5 .300 3.8 4.3 .882

Season 7

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1985-862018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+0.3+7.0+0.3+0.9+1.3+5.7+0.5+0.2-1.1-0.1+1.8+6.4+.082+2.9+7.4+.136+0.6+0.4+.041
Damian Lillard 80 35.5 25.8 0.9 3.8 4.6 6.9 1.1 0.4 2.7 1.9 8.5 19.2 .444 3.0 8.0 .369 5.9 6.4 .912
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+2.0+5.3+1.0+1.3+2.3+8.5+0.2+0.2-0.6-0.6+0.7+6.0+.119+3.7+9.1+.373+0.5+.067
Damian Lillard 16 40.6 26.9 0.5 4.3 4.8 6.6 1.7 0.3 3.8 2.5 8.6 20.6 .418 3.7 9.9 .373 5.9 7.1 .833

Season 8

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1986-872019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+14+1.2+6.1+1.0+1.0+2.0+4.2+0.6+0.2-0.9-0.4+1.0+4.0+.059+4.0+9.7+.196+0.3+0.1+.040
Damian Lillard 66 37.5 30.0 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.0 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.7 9.5 20.4 .463 4.1 10.2 .401 7.0 7.8 .888
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+14+1.2+2.5+1.3+2.9+4.2+7.9+1.2+0.1-0.7-1.1+1.6+0.9+.133+3.2+7.7+.194+2.6+1.7+.139
Damian Lillard 4 35.8 24.3 0.3 3.3 3.5 4.3 0.5 0.3 3.5 1.0 6.5 16.0 .406 3.3 8.3 .394 8.0 8.3 .970

Season 9

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1987-882020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+0.8+9.2+0.7+1.3+2.0+4.4+0.7+0.1-0.7-0.5+2.2+6.1+.041+3.9+9.7+.195+0.9+0.4+.075
Damian Lillard 67 35.8 28.8 0.5 3.7 4.2 7.5 0.9 0.3 3.0 1.5 9.0 19.9 .451 4.1 10.5 .391 6.7 7.2 .928
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+18+1.1+14.4+1.1+0.1+1.1+2.4+0.4+0.5-1.3-1.0+3.3+8.6+.051+5.5+12.4+.051+2.3+1.8+.088
Damian Lillard 6 41.3 34.3 0.2 4.2 4.3 10.2 1.0 0.7 2.2 1.5 10.3 22.3 .463 5.8 13.0 .449 7.8 8.3 .940

Season 10

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1988-892021-22
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 >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+48+1.1+1.5+1.0+2.7+3.8+5.5+1.2+0.1-1.2-0.9+0.2+4.2+.107+2.4+7.4+.010+1.2+1.1+.033
Damian Lillard 29 36.4 24.0 0.4 3.7 4.1 7.3 0.6 0.4 2.9 1.3 7.7 19.0 .402 3.2 9.8 .324 5.5 6.2 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Damian Lillard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1989-902022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+21+0.9+9.9+0.8+1.0+1.8+4.2+0.8+0.1-0.4-0.2+2.7+6.3+.017+2.9+7.8+.013+1.6+1.5+.024
Damian Lillard 58 36.3 32.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 7.3 0.9 0.3 3.3 1.9 9.6 20.7 .463 4.2 11.3 .371 8.8 9.6 .914
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Damian Lillard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1990-912023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+6+1.8+4.9+0.8+1.7+2.6+5.5+0.3-1.4-0.1+1.5+5.1+.053+2.0+5.3+.034+0.1+0.3+.014
Damian Lillard 73 35.3 24.3 0.5 3.9 4.4 7.0 1.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 7.4 17.5 .424 3.0 8.5 .354 6.5 7.0 .920
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+15+4.3+9.5+0.7+4.1+4.8+7.6+0.2-1.8-0.3+2.3+6.2+.020+3.9+8.3+.121+1.0+0.1+.092
Damian Lillard 4 39.0 31.3 0.5 2.8 3.3 5.0 1.0 0.0 2.3 2.0 8.5 20.3 .420 5.0 12.0 .417 9.3 9.5 .974

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Damian Lillard
Season 1995-962024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
Others -NBA Cup NBA Cup Champion
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+26+6.2+10.3+0.8+0.3+1.0+0.2+0.4+0.2-0.4-0.2+3.4+7.9+.018+2.7+7.2+.003+0.8+0.5+.065
Damian Lillard 58 36.1 24.9 0.5 4.2 4.7 7.1 1.2 0.2 2.8 1.7 7.7 17.1 .448 3.4 9.0 .376 6.2 6.8 .921
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+8.8+8.3+1.7+4.2+5.8+1.8+0.7+0.7-2.0-1.9+1.8+0.8+.163+0.2+3.0+.145+5.0+6.0+.009
Damian Lillard 3 25.0 7.0 0.3 2.3 2.7 4.7 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.7 2.0 9.0 .222 1.0 5.3 .188 2.0 2.3 .857