Magic Johnson vs. Herb Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Herb 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 / 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, 5 less than Herb Williams, who played 18. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Herb Williams had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Herb Williams 18 8 1981-82 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1979-801981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie 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 36.3 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
Herb Williams 82 27.8 11.5 2.1 5.2 7.4 1.7 0.6 2.2 1.7 2.4 5.0 10.4 .477 0.0 0.1 .286 1.5 2.3 .670
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1980-811982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
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
Herb Williams 78 32.2 16.9 1.9 5.5 7.5 3.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.9 7.4 14.9 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.8 .705
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1981-821983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
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 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
Herb Williams 69 33.0 14.9 2.2 5.8 8.0 3.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 2.8 6.0 12.5 .478 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .702
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1982-831984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
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
Herb Williams 75 34.1 18.3 2.1 6.4 8.5 3.4 0.7 1.8 3.5 2.9 7.7 16.1 .475 0.0 0.1 .111 3.0 4.5 .657
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1983-841985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
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 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
Herb Williams 78 35.5 19.9 2.2 6.9 9.1 2.2 0.6 2.4 2.7 3.1 8.0 16.3 .492 0.0 0.2 .083 3.8 5.2 .730
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1984-851986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Herb Williams 74 34.1 14.9 1.9 5.4 7.3 2.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 3.4 6.1 12.7 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .740
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
Herb Williams 4 33.5 11.8 0.8 4.3 5.0 1.8 0.0 0.3 2.8 3.0 5.0 8.5 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .538

Season 7

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1985-861987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement 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
Herb Williams 75 26.2 10.0 1.5 4.7 6.3 1.3 0.5 1.9 1.6 3.3 4.1 9.8 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.3 .737
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1986-871988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 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
Herb Williams 76 32.5 10.2 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.1 4.2 9.7 .436 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1987-881989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 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
Herb Williams 81 27.1 8.6 0.9 3.9 4.8 1.5 0.6 1.3 1.3 3.0 3.6 8.2 .444 0.0 0.1 .222 1.3 2.0 .679
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
Herb Williams 3 27.0 13.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 5.3 4.7 7.7 .609 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.3 .813

Season 10

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 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
Herb Williams 60 30.5 12.5 1.4 4.5 6.0 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.9 3.3 5.5 10.9 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.2 .638
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Herb Williams 75 27.2 11.5 1.4 4.6 6.1 1.3 0.5 1.3 1.5 2.5 4.9 11.3 .431 0.0 0.1 .167 1.7 2.3 .725
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1990-911992-93
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 Finals
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
Herb Williams 55 10.4 2.9 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.3 3.2 .411 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667
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
Herb Williams 7 9.9 2.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.9 0.7 2.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season 1995-961993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 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
Herb Williams 70 11.1 3.3 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.5 3.3 .442 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .643
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
Herb Williams 19 6.7 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .667

Season 14

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season -1994-95
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 56 13.3 3.3 0.4 1.9 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.9 1.5 3.2 .456 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .622
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 8 6.9 1.0 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.6 0.4 1.6 .231 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 15

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 44 13.0 3.1 0.3 1.7 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.4 3.5 .408 0.0 0.1 .250 0.3 0.5 .650
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 5 6.6 1.8 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.6 1.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 16

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 21 8.8 1.9 0.4 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.9 2.2 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 3 7.3 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 27 6.6 1.4 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.3 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .125
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Magic Johnson Herb Williams
Season -1998-99
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 6 5.7 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 8 1.9 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.6 .200 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -