Magic Johnson vs. Dolph Schayes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dolph Schayes 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

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 less than Dolph Schayes, who played 15. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dolph Schayes had his rookie season in 1949-50. 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
Dolph Schayes 15 14 1949-50 to 1963-64

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1979-801949-50
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost NBA Finals
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:+13+1.2+3.3-0.7+1.1+1.8+.145+1.0+1.6+.036
Dolph Schayes 64 - 16.8 - - - 4.0 - - - 3.5 5.4 14.1 .385 - - - 5.9 7.6 .774
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
difference:+5+1.2+6.9-1.0+1.2+1.1+.133+1.4+2.6+.069
Dolph Schayes 11 - 17.1 - - - 2.5 - - - 3.9 5.2 13.5 .385 - - - 6.7 9.2 .733

Season 2

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1980-811950-51
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNationals Lost East Div 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:+29+4.6+7.8+4.8-1.4+3.4+1.8+.175+2.3+3.1+.008
Dolph Schayes 66 - 17.0 - - 16.4 3.8 - - - 4.1 5.0 14.1 .357 - - - 6.9 9.2 .752
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:+4+3.4+0.9+4.1-0.7+0.4+1.3+.060+2.7+2.4+.116
Dolph Schayes 7 - 20.4 - - 14.6 2.9 - - - 4.0 6.7 15.0 .448 - - - 7.0 9.1 .766

Season 3

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1981-821951-52
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div Finals
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:+15+6.5+4.8+2.7+6.6-0.5+2.9+1.6+.182+1.2+1.1+.047
Dolph Schayes 63 31.8 13.8 - - 12.3 2.9 - - - 3.4 4.2 11.7 .355 - - - 5.4 6.7 .807
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:+7+4.7+2.9+1.6+7.2-1.3+1.8+.078+3.1+4.5+.059
Dolph Schayes 7 35.4 20.3 - - 12.9 2.1 - - - 4.9 5.9 13.0 .451 - - - 8.6 11.1 .769

Season 4

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1982-831952-53
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals Lost East Div 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:+8+0.8+1.0+4.4+7.3-1.3+1.2+2.3+.174+3.4+3.9+.027
Dolph Schayes 71 37.6 17.8 - - 13.0 3.2 - - - 3.8 5.3 14.1 .374 - - - 7.2 8.7 .827
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:+13+13.9+8.9+12.3-0.2+4.7+5.7+.235+0.5+1.1+.071
Dolph Schayes 2 29.0 9.0 - - 8.5 0.5 - - - 3.5 2.0 8.0 .250 - - - 5.0 6.5 .769

Season 5

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1983-841953-54
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals Lost NBA Finals
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:+5+1.4+0.5+4.8+10.1-0.7+1.5+1.9+.185+2.5+2.9+.017
Dolph Schayes 72 36.9 17.1 - - 12.1 3.0 - - - 3.2 5.1 13.5 .380 - - - 6.8 8.2 .827
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:+8+11.1+2.2+3.9+11.7-0.3+2.3+2.2+.094+2.4+3.5+.059
Dolph Schayes 13 28.8 16.0 - - 10.5 1.8 - - - 3.1 4.9 10.8 .457 - - - 6.2 8.3 .741

Season 6

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1984-851954-55
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+5+1.0+0.2+6.1+9.6-1.4+0.6+3.6+.178+1.7+2.2+.010
Dolph Schayes 72 35.1 18.5 - - 12.3 3.0 - - - 3.4 5.9 15.3 .383 - - - 6.8 8.2 .833
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:+8+3.2+1.5+5.7+11.6-1.9+0.6+3.3+.154+2.8+3.4+.007
Dolph Schayes 11 33.0 19.0 - - 12.8 3.6 - - - 4.4 5.5 15.2 .359 - - - 8.1 9.6 .840

Season 7

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1985-861955-56
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
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 FinalsNationals Lost East Div 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:+0.8+1.6+6.5+9.8-1.7+0.2+3.9+.139+2.2+2.8+.013
Dolph Schayes 72 35.0 20.4 - - 12.4 2.8 - - - 3.5 6.5 16.7 .387 - - - 7.5 8.8 .858
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:+6+0.2+0.5+6.8+11.7-0.3+1.4+3.2+.171+3.2+2.8+.114
Dolph Schayes 8 38.8 22.1 - - 13.9 3.4 - - - 3.4 6.5 17.8 .366 - - - 9.1 10.4 .880

Season 8

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1986-871956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div Finals
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:+8+3.3+1.4+7.7+9.0-0.9+1.6+1.8+.143+2.0+1.7+.056
Dolph Schayes 72 39.6 22.5 - - 14.0 3.2 - - - 3.0 6.9 18.2 .379 - - - 8.7 9.6 .904
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:+13+6.0+0.4+10.3+9.4-1.5+2.3+3.9+.234+4.4+4.4+.060
Dolph Schayes 5 43.0 21.4 - - 18.0 2.8 - - - 3.6 5.8 19.0 .305 - - - 9.8 11.0 .891

Season 9

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1987-881957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div 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:+3.9+5.3+8.0+8.8-1.4+1.3+6.5+.094+2.9+2.9+.051
Dolph Schayes 72 40.5 24.9 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.4 8.1 20.3 .398 - - - 8.7 9.7 .904
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:+21+3.5+6.8+9.6+10.6-0.8+1.3+7.6+.123+4.5+5.5+.019
Dolph Schayes 3 43.7 26.7 - - 15.0 2.0 - - - 3.3 8.3 21.3 .391 - - - 10.0 12.0 .833

Season 10

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1988-891958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals Lost East Div Finals
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:+5+0.8+1.2+5.5+10.3-1.7+0.5+3.3+.122+0.6+1.2+.047
Dolph Schayes 72 36.7 21.3 - - 13.4 2.5 - - - 3.9 7.0 18.1 .387 - - - 7.3 8.5 .864
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:+5+2.0+9.8+7.1+7.2-1.9+2.6+9.3+.089+5.3+5.8+.009
Dolph Schayes 9 39.0 28.2 - - 13.0 4.6 - - - 4.0 8.7 21.7 .400 - - - 10.9 11.9 .916

Season 11

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1989-901959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNationals Lost East Div Semis
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:+4+0.7+0.2+6.2+8.1-1.4+0.8+4.8+.079+0.1+0.1+.003
Dolph Schayes 75 36.5 22.5 - - 12.8 3.4 - - - 3.5 7.7 19.2 .401 - - - 7.1 8.0 .893
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+0.2+4.1+9.7+10.1-0.2+1.6+4.8+.035+1.5+1.2+.047
Dolph Schayes 3 42.0 29.3 - - 16.0 2.7 - - - 3.3 10.0 22.0 .455 - - - 9.3 10.0 .933

Season 12

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1990-911960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals Lost East Div 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:+1.0+4.2+5.2+8.8-1.8+1.6+7.8+.105+2.0+2.6+.038
Dolph Schayes 79 38.1 23.6 - - 12.2 3.7 - - - 3.7 7.5 20.2 .372 - - - 8.6 9.9 .868
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:+11+4.8+1.2+3.3+10.0-1.7+0.2+4.9+.104+0.4+0.6+.018
Dolph Schayes 8 38.5 20.6 - - 11.4 2.6 - - - 4.0 6.4 19.0 .336 - - - 7.9 8.8 .900

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Dolph Schayes
Season 1995-961961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNationals Lost East Div Semis
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:+24+3.5+0.1+2.1+4.8-1.5+0.5+4.2+.109+0.3+0.6+.041
Dolph Schayes 56 26.4 14.7 - - 7.8 2.1 - - - 3.0 4.8 13.4 .357 - - - 5.1 5.7 .897
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+14.8+3.9+1.5+5.5-3.4+1.0+3.4+.021+5.2+5.7+.156
Dolph Schayes 5 19.0 11.4 - - 7.0 1.0 - - - 4.2 4.8 13.2 .364 - - - 1.8 2.6 .692

Additional Years

* Dolph Schayes played 2 seasons more than Magic Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 15, from 1963 to 1964—Dolph Schayes played in one postseason.