Magic Johnson vs. Dan Majerle Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dan Majerle 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 Dan Majerle, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dan Majerle had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Dan Majerle 14 13 1988-89 to 2001-02

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 Dan Majerle
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 36.3 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
Dan Majerle 54 25.1 8.6 1.1 2.7 3.9 2.4 1.2 0.3 0.9 2.6 3.4 8.0 .419 0.5 1.5 .329 1.4 2.4 .614
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
Dan Majerle 12 29.3 14.3 1.8 2.9 4.8 1.2 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.3 5.3 12.0 .438 0.7 2.3 .286 3.2 4.0 .792

Season 2
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 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
Dan Majerle 73 30.7 11.1 2.0 3.9 5.9 2.6 1.4 0.4 1.1 2.4 4.1 9.6 .424 0.3 1.1 .238 2.7 3.6 .762
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
Dan Majerle 16 29.9 12.6 1.9 3.2 5.1 2.1 1.3 0.1 1.1 2.1 4.6 9.4 .487 0.3 0.8 .333 3.2 4.1 .785

Season 3
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 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
Dan Majerle 77 29.6 13.6 2.2 3.2 5.4 2.8 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.1 5.2 10.7 .484 0.4 1.1 .349 2.9 3.9 .762
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
Dan Majerle 4 27.5 10.5 1.5 2.3 3.8 1.8 1.3 0.3 0.5 3.0 3.0 8.0 .375 1.0 2.8 .364 3.5 4.8 .737

Season 4
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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
Dan Majerle 82 34.8 17.3 1.8 4.1 5.9 3.3 1.6 0.5 1.2 1.9 6.7 14.1 .478 1.1 2.8 .382 2.8 3.7 .756
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
Dan Majerle 7 38.0 18.6 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.9 1.4 0.0 1.3 1.6 6.9 15.9 .432 1.3 4.7 .273 3.6 3.7 .962

Season 5
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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 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
Dan Majerle 82 39.0 16.9 1.5 3.2 4.7 3.8 1.7 0.4 1.6 2.2 6.2 13.4 .464 2.0 5.3 .381 2.5 3.2 .778
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
Dan Majerle 24 44.6 15.4 1.2 4.6 5.8 3.7 1.4 1.2 1.3 2.4 5.6 13.0 .431 2.3 5.7 .394 2.0 2.9 .696

Season 6
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 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
Dan Majerle 80 40.1 16.5 1.5 2.9 4.4 3.4 1.6 0.5 1.7 1.9 6.0 14.2 .418 2.4 6.3 .382 2.2 3.0 .739
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
Dan Majerle 10 41.0 12.3 1.5 2.8 4.3 2.4 1.1 0.4 1.0 2.3 4.6 12.7 .362 2.0 5.9 .339 1.1 1.6 .688

Season 7
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsSuns 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
Dan Majerle 82 37.7 15.6 1.3 3.3 4.6 4.1 1.2 0.5 1.3 1.9 5.3 12.6 .425 2.4 6.7 .363 2.5 3.4 .730
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
Dan Majerle 10 30.7 8.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 1.7 1.4 0.3 0.9 2.4 2.7 7.3 .370 1.6 4.4 .364 1.2 1.7 .706

Season 8
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 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
Dan Majerle 82 28.9 10.6 0.9 2.9 3.7 2.6 1.0 0.4 1.1 1.6 3.7 9.1 .405 1.8 5.0 .353 1.5 2.1 .710
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
Dan Majerle 3 30.3 16.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 3.0 1.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 5.3 12.0 .444 3.3 7.7 .435 2.7 3.0 .889

Season 9
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 36 35.1 10.8 1.3 3.3 4.5 3.2 1.5 0.4 1.4 2.1 3.9 9.6 .406 1.9 5.6 .338 1.1 1.6 .678
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
Dan Majerle 17 29.2 8.0 0.9 3.3 4.2 2.5 1.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 2.7 6.9 .393 1.5 4.4 .338 1.1 1.6 .679

Season 10
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 72 26.8 7.2 0.7 3.1 3.7 2.2 0.9 0.2 0.9 1.9 2.6 6.1 .419 1.5 4.1 .376 0.6 0.7 .784
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
Dan Majerle 2 31.0 4.5 0.5 2.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 1.0 3.0 .333 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 11
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisHeat 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
Dan Majerle 48 33.8 7.0 0.4 3.9 4.3 3.1 0.8 0.1 1.1 2.1 2.5 6.2 .396 1.4 4.2 .335 0.7 1.0 .717
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
Dan Majerle 5 30.2 4.0 0.6 5.2 5.8 1.2 1.0 0.4 0.6 3.0 1.0 5.2 .192 1.0 4.4 .227 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 12
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 69 33.4 7.3 0.4 4.4 4.8 3.0 1.3 0.2 0.9 2.3 2.5 6.1 .403 1.6 4.4 .362 0.8 1.0 .812
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
Dan Majerle 10 37.0 9.0 0.5 6.5 7.0 3.2 2.1 0.1 1.1 3.4 3.0 7.1 .423 2.0 5.0 .400 1.0 1.4 .714

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season 1995-962000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 53 24.6 5.0 0.4 2.8 3.1 1.7 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.8 1.6 4.9 .336 1.1 3.4 .315 0.7 0.8 .818
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
Dan Majerle 3 23.7 5.3 1.0 2.3 3.3 1.7 1.0 0.0 0.7 2.3 1.7 5.3 .313 1.3 4.7 .286 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 14
Magic Johnson Dan Majerle
Season -2001-02
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Dan Majerle 65 18.2 4.6 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.4 0.7 0.2 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.4 .343 1.2 3.6 .336 0.4 0.6 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Dan Majerle ------- --- ----------
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