Magic Johnson vs. Jalen Rose Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jalen Rose 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 and Jalen Rose both played 13 years in the NBA. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Jalen Rose had his rookie season in 1994-95. 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
Jalen Rose 13 6 1994-95 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1979-801994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 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
Jalen Rose 81 22.2 8.2 0.7 2.0 2.7 4.8 0.8 0.3 2.0 2.5 2.8 6.2 .454 0.4 1.4 .316 2.1 2.9 .739
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
Jalen Rose 3 33.0 10.0 1.3 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.0 0.7 3.0 3.0 4.3 9.3 .464 0.3 1.3 .250 1.0 1.7 .600

Season 2
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1980-811995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
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
Jalen Rose 80 26.7 10.0 0.6 2.7 3.3 6.2 0.7 0.5 2.9 2.9 3.6 7.6 .480 0.4 1.4 .296 2.4 3.5 .690
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1981-821996-97
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
Jalen Rose 66 18.0 7.3 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.3 0.9 0.3 1.6 2.1 2.6 5.7 .456 0.3 1.1 .292 1.8 2.4 .750
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1982-831997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Jalen Rose 82 20.8 9.4 0.3 2.0 2.4 1.9 0.7 0.2 1.6 2.1 3.5 7.4 .478 0.3 0.9 .342 2.0 2.8 .728
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
Jalen Rose 15 19.5 8.1 0.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.5 3.2 6.7 .480 0.4 1.1 .375 1.3 1.8 .741

Season 5
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1983-841998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Jalen Rose 49 25.3 11.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.5 2.6 4.1 10.1 .403 0.3 1.3 .262 2.6 3.2 .791
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
Jalen Rose 13 27.4 12.2 0.8 1.5 2.4 2.5 1.0 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.7 10.6 .442 0.6 1.8 .348 2.2 2.6 .824

Season 6
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1984-851999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Jalen Rose 80 37.2 18.2 0.5 4.3 4.8 4.0 1.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 7.0 15.0 .471 1.0 2.5 .393 3.2 3.8 .827
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
Jalen Rose 23 42.0 20.8 0.4 4.0 4.4 3.4 0.7 0.5 2.2 3.1 7.4 17.0 .437 1.3 3.0 .429 4.7 5.8 .805

Season 7
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1985-862000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsPacers 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 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
Jalen Rose 72 40.9 20.5 0.5 4.5 5.0 6.0 0.9 0.6 2.9 3.2 7.9 17.3 .457 0.8 2.4 .339 4.0 4.8 .828
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
Jalen Rose 4 41.3 18.0 0.8 3.8 4.5 2.8 1.5 0.3 2.3 4.5 7.5 19.8 .380 1.3 4.0 .313 1.8 1.8 1.000

Season 8
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1986-872001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
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
Jalen Rose 83 38.0 20.4 0.5 4.0 4.5 4.3 0.9 0.5 2.4 3.0 8.0 17.6 .455 1.1 3.0 .362 3.4 4.0 .839
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1987-882002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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 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
Jalen Rose 82 40.9 22.1 0.8 3.5 4.3 4.8 0.9 0.3 3.5 3.3 7.8 19.3 .406 1.6 4.4 .370 4.9 5.7 .854
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1988-892003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors
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
Jalen Rose 66 37.8 15.5 0.5 3.5 4.0 5.0 0.8 0.3 3.2 2.8 5.8 14.4 .402 1.0 3.1 .342 2.8 3.5 .810
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1989-902004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
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
Jalen Rose 81 33.5 18.5 0.5 2.9 3.4 2.6 0.8 0.1 2.2 2.3 6.5 14.3 .455 1.3 3.4 .394 4.1 4.8 .854
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1990-912005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards 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 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
Jalen Rose 72 27.5 12.3 0.4 2.5 2.9 2.5 0.4 0.2 1.6 2.2 4.0 9.5 .423 0.8 2.4 .343 3.4 4.4 .780
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
Jalen Rose ------- --- ----------

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

Season 13
Magic Johnson Jalen Rose
Season 1995-962006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 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
Jalen Rose 29 8.5 3.7 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.8 1.3 3.0 .442 0.7 1.6 .447 0.4 0.4 .917
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
Jalen Rose 1 9.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.0 4.0 .250 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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