Magic Johnson vs. Deron Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Deron Williams 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 1 more than Deron Williams, who played 12. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Deron Williams had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Deron Williams 12 9 2005-06 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1979-802005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
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:+3+7.5+7.2+1.8+3.6+5.3+2.8+1.6+0.3-2.2-0.1+2.3+2.2+.109+1.0+2.3+.190+3.7+4.3+.106
Deron Williams 80 28.8 10.8 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.5 0.8 0.2 1.8 2.9 4.2 10.1 .421 1.1 2.7 .416 1.2 1.7 .704
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
Deron Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1980-812006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf Finals
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:+43+0.2+5.4+2.2+3.1+5.3+0.7+2.4+0.5-0.8-0.5+2.2+2.4+.076+0.9+2.7+.146+1.8+2.4+.007
Deron Williams 80 36.9 16.2 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.3 1.0 0.2 3.1 3.2 6.2 13.5 .456 1.0 3.2 .322 2.8 3.7 .767
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:+14+3.7+2.2+2.2+7.2+9.4+1.6+1.2+0.8-0.3-1.8+0.9+0.4+.064+1.1+3.4+0.5+1.9+.140
Deron Williams 17 38.6 19.2 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.6 1.5 0.2 4.0 2.9 7.2 15.9 .452 1.1 3.4 .333 3.8 4.8 .790

Season 3

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1981-822007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz Lost West Conf Semis
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+1.0+0.2+2.8+3.9+6.6+1.0+1.6+0.1-0.3-0.5+0.2+0.3+.030+0.9+2.2+.188+0.2+0.6+.043
Deron Williams 82 37.3 18.8 0.4 2.5 3.0 10.5 1.1 0.3 3.4 2.4 6.9 13.6 .507 1.0 2.6 .395 4.0 5.0 .803
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:+2+2.7+4.2+2.6+5.1+7.7+0.7+2.3+0.1-0.7+1.6+4.1+.037+2.3+4.4+.500+1.2+1.1+.055
Deron Williams 12 42.8 21.6 1.3 2.3 3.6 10.0 0.6 0.3 3.1 2.9 7.5 15.3 .492 2.3 4.7 .500 4.3 5.5 .773

Season 4

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1982-832008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+11+2.6+2.3+3.4+5.7+0.2+1.1+0.3-0.4-0.5+0.3+2.7+.077+1.0+3.0+.310+1.0+0.8+.049
Deron Williams 68 36.8 19.4 0.4 2.5 2.9 10.7 1.1 0.3 3.4 2.0 6.8 14.5 .471 1.0 3.3 .310 4.8 5.6 .849
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:+10+0.7+2.3+2.6+2.1+4.7+2.0+0.5+0.4-0.1-0.1+0.9+0.3+.071+1.8+4.3+.360+2.3+2.8+.011
Deron Williams 5 42.2 20.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 10.8 1.8 0.4 4.2 3.4 5.8 14.0 .414 1.8 5.0 .360 6.8 8.2 .829

Season 5

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1983-842009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
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 NBA FinalsJazz Lost West Conf Semis
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:+9+1.4+1.1+0.8+2.6+3.3+2.6+0.9+0.5-1.3-0.2+0.1+2.3+.096+1.2+3.0+.164+0.1+0.2+.009
Deron Williams 76 36.9 18.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 10.5 1.3 0.2 3.3 2.7 6.5 13.9 .469 1.3 3.4 .371 4.4 5.5 .801
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:+11+0.1+6.1+0.8+3.1+3.9+3.3+1.0+0.6-0.8-0.3+0.5+1.9+.101+2.0+4.8+.392+5.1+6.3+.002
Deron Williams 10 39.8 24.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 10.2 1.0 0.4 3.0 3.7 6.7 14.9 .450 2.0 5.1 .392 8.9 11.1 .802

Season 6

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1984-852010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+12+1.8+1.8+0.6+1.6+2.2+2.3+0.3+0.1-0.5-0.9+0.1+3.3+.122+1.5+4.4+.142+0.3+0.3+.002
Deron Williams 65 37.9 20.1 0.6 3.4 4.0 10.3 1.2 0.2 3.5 2.9 6.6 15.0 .439 1.6 4.9 .331 5.4 6.3 .845
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
Deron Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1985-862011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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:+17+0.5+2.2+0.8+1.8+2.6+3.9+0.4+0.2-0.2-0.4+0.4+4.7+.119+2.0+5.6+.103+0.6+0.5+.028
Deron Williams 55 36.3 21.0 0.4 2.9 3.3 8.7 1.2 0.4 4.0 2.2 7.1 17.5 .407 2.1 6.2 .336 4.7 5.5 .843
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
Deron Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1986-872012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East 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:+2+0.1+5.0+1.1+2.2+3.3+4.5+0.7+0.1-1.0-0.4+2.2+2.0+.082+2.1+5.2+.173+2.6+3.2+.011
Deron Williams 78 36.4 18.9 0.4 2.6 3.0 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.8 2.5 6.3 14.4 .440 2.2 5.7 .378 4.1 4.7 .859
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:+11+4.7+1.2+1.5+3.2+4.6+3.8+0.7+0.2-0.2-0.3+1.7+.114+2.3+5.5+.195+0.1+0.2+.009
Deron Williams 7 41.7 20.6 0.1 3.0 3.1 8.4 1.0 0.6 3.0 2.4 6.4 15.1 .425 2.4 6.1 .395 5.3 6.4 .822

Season 9

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1987-882013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf Semis
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:+8+4.4+5.3+1.0+2.6+3.6+5.8+0.1-1.5-0.3+1.8+2.6+.042+1.3+3.4+.170+3.1+3.4+.052
Deron Williams 64 32.2 14.3 0.2 2.4 2.6 6.1 1.5 0.2 2.2 2.3 5.0 11.2 .450 1.5 4.2 .366 2.7 3.4 .801
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:+12+4.5+5.4+0.7+1.5+2.2+6.8+0.3-1.2-0.1+2.0+1.0+.119+1.2+3.8+.160+2.5+2.7+.052
Deron Williams 12 35.7 14.5 0.6 2.6 3.2 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.6 5.0 12.7 .395 1.5 4.4 .340 3.0 3.8 .800

Season 10

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1988-892014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+9+6.4+9.5+1.0+3.3+4.4+6.2+0.9-1.8-0.1+3.1+3.5+.122+0.5+1.1+.053+3.7+3.8+.077
Deron Williams 68 31.1 13.0 0.4 3.1 3.5 6.6 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.3 4.4 11.3 .387 1.3 3.5 .367 3.0 3.5 .834
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
difference:+8+5.0+6.6+0.6+0.8+0.3+6.3+0.6+0.2-1.1-0.9+1.6+0.9+.098+1.1+1.8+.137+4.6+4.9+.050
Deron Williams 6 32.0 11.8 0.5 5.7 6.2 5.5 1.3 0.0 2.7 3.0 4.5 11.5 .391 1.8 4.3 .423 1.0 1.2 .857

Season 11

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1989-902015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+14+4.8+8.2+1.3+2.4+3.7+5.7+0.8+0.2-1.4-0.3+2.0+2.5+.066+0.2+0.8+.040+4.4+4.9+.021
Deron Williams 65 32.4 14.1 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.8 0.9 0.2 2.3 2.4 4.9 11.9 .414 1.5 4.3 .344 2.8 3.2 .869
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
difference:+6+25.5+20.2+1.3+4.3+5.6+10.1+0.9+0.1-1.7-1.1+6.4+11.2+.157+0.4+0.5+.229+7.8+8.8
Deron Williams 3 16.3 5.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 2.7 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.0 2.0 6.0 .333 1.0 2.3 .429 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Magic Johnson Deron Williams
Season 1990-912016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+15+11.2+8.4+1.1+3.5+4.7+6.9+0.8+0.1-1.8-0.3+1.8+3.0+.039+0.3+0.5+.043+5.2+5.6+.080
Deron Williams 64 25.9 11.0 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.6 0.5 0.1 2.2 2.2 4.1 9.4 .438 1.3 3.7 .363 1.4 1.7 .826
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:+1+28.7+17.5+1.0+5.8+6.8+10.5+0.6+0.1-3.2-0.7+4.6+10.5+.002+0.4+2.0+.091+7.7+8.8+.027
Deron Williams 18 14.6 4.3 0.2 1.1 1.3 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.9 1.6 1.6 3.6 .438 0.7 1.7 .387 0.6 0.6 .909

Additional Years

* Magic Johnson played 1 season more than Deron Williams in the NBA.

In that period—his season 13 in 1996—Magic Johnson played in the Playoffs.