Magic Johnson vs. Glen Rice Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Glen Rice 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 less than Glen Rice, who played 15. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Glen Rice had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Glen Rice 15 7 1989-90 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Glen Rice 77 30.0 13.6 1.3 3.3 4.6 1.8 0.9 0.4 1.5 2.6 6.1 13.9 .439 0.2 0.9 .246 1.2 1.6 .734
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Glen Rice 77 34.4 17.4 1.1 3.8 4.9 2.5 1.3 0.3 2.2 2.8 7.1 15.5 .461 0.9 2.4 .386 2.2 2.7 .818
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 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
Glen Rice 79 38.1 22.3 1.1 3.9 5.0 2.3 1.1 0.4 1.8 2.2 8.5 18.1 .469 2.0 5.0 .391 3.4 4.0 .836
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
Glen Rice 3 39.7 19.0 1.0 2.3 3.3 1.7 0.7 0.0 2.0 2.3 8.0 21.3 .375 1.0 4.0 .250 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 4
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid 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 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
Glen Rice 82 37.6 19.0 1.1 4.0 5.2 2.2 1.1 0.3 1.9 2.5 7.1 16.1 .440 1.8 4.7 .383 3.0 3.6 .820
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Glen Rice 81 37.0 21.1 0.9 4.4 5.4 2.3 1.4 0.4 1.6 2.3 8.2 17.5 .467 1.6 4.3 .382 3.1 3.5 .880
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
Glen Rice 5 39.0 13.0 1.2 6.0 7.2 2.0 2.2 0.4 2.8 2.8 5.2 13.6 .382 1.4 4.6 .304 1.2 1.6 .750

Season 6
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 36.1 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
Glen Rice 82 36.8 22.3 1.2 3.4 4.6 2.3 1.4 0.2 1.9 2.5 8.1 17.1 .475 2.3 5.5 .410 3.8 4.5 .855
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
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 >>
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
Glen Rice 79 39.8 21.6 1.1 3.7 4.8 2.9 1.2 0.2 2.1 2.7 7.7 16.4 .471 2.2 5.1 .424 4.0 4.8 .837
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
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
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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
Glen Rice 79 42.6 26.8 0.8 3.2 4.0 2.0 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 9.1 19.2 .477 2.6 5.6 .470 5.9 6.8 .867
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
Glen Rice 3 45.7 27.7 0.3 3.3 3.7 3.7 1.3 0.3 1.3 3.7 9.3 19.0 .491 2.0 5.3 .375 7.0 7.7 .913

Season 9
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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 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
Glen Rice 82 40.2 22.3 1.1 3.2 4.3 2.2 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 7.7 16.9 .457 1.6 3.7 .433 5.2 6.1 .849
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
Glen Rice 9 41.0 22.8 1.2 4.4 5.7 1.4 0.6 0.3 1.4 2.9 9.1 19.2 .474 1.2 4.0 .306 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 10
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 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
Glen Rice 27 36.5 17.5 0.3 3.3 3.7 2.6 0.6 0.2 1.7 2.5 6.3 14.7 .432 2.0 5.0 .393 2.9 3.3 .856
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
Glen Rice 7 43.7 18.3 0.6 3.3 3.9 1.6 0.7 0.1 1.3 2.1 6.4 14.4 .446 1.4 4.0 .357 4.0 4.1 .966

Season 11
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA 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 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
Glen Rice 80 31.6 15.9 0.7 3.4 4.1 2.2 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.2 5.3 12.3 .430 1.1 2.9 .367 4.3 5.0 .874
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
Glen Rice 23 33.3 12.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.1 0.7 0.2 1.6 2.2 4.0 9.9 .408 1.2 2.9 .418 3.1 3.9 .798

Season 12
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1990-912000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 37.1 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
Glen Rice 75 29.5 12.0 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.2 0.5 0.2 1.3 2.4 4.4 10.0 .440 1.1 2.8 .389 2.1 2.4 .852
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
Glen Rice 5 28.8 12.2 0.6 3.8 4.4 0.6 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.0 4.8 10.4 .462 1.2 2.8 .429 1.4 1.6 .875

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season 1995-962001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Glen Rice 20 30.3 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 1.6 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.7 3.3 8.4 .389 0.9 3.2 .281 1.2 1.5 .800
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season -2002-03
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice 62 24.7 9.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.2 7.4 .429 1.6 4.1 .398 1.0 1.3 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Magic Johnson Glen Rice
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
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 ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice 18 14.6 3.7 0.5 1.8 2.3 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.2 1.2 4.2 .289 0.3 1.6 .179 0.9 0.9 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------
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