Magic Johnson vs. Jamaal Wilkes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jamaal Wilkes 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, 1 more than Jamaal Wilkes, who played 12. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Jamaal Wilkes had his rookie season in 1974-75. 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
Jamaal Wilkes 12 10 1974-75 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1979-801974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+5+5.6+3.8+0.3+0.1+0.5+5.1+1.1+0.2-0.1+0.4+1.5+.088+2.9+3.3+.076
Jamaal Wilkes 82 30.7 14.2 2.5 5.7 8.2 2.2 1.3 0.3 - 2.7 6.1 13.8 .442 - - - 2.0 2.7 .734
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:+1+11.5+3.3+1.5+2.1+3.5+7.8+1.6+0.4-0.2+0.1+2.2+.072+3.4+3.8+.100
Jamaal Wilkes 17 29.6 15.0 1.8 5.2 7.0 1.6 1.5 0.8 - 3.1 6.5 14.6 .446 - - - 1.9 2.8 .702

Season 2

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1980-811975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors 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:+45+4.0+3.8+0.3+0.5+0.2+6.6+2.2+0.3+0.9+0.4+.069+1.8+2.5+.012
Jamaal Wilkes 82 33.1 17.8 2.4 6.4 8.8 2.0 1.2 0.4 - 2.7 7.5 16.3 .463 - - - 2.8 3.6 .772
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:+10+7.7+1.1+0.8+5.0+5.8+4.8+1.8+0.4-2.2+0.3+0.9+.042+1.6+3.2+.128
Jamaal Wilkes 13 34.6 15.9 1.9 6.0 7.9 2.2 0.9 0.6 - 2.5 6.6 15.4 .430 - - - 2.7 3.5 .778

Season 3

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1981-821976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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:+2+4.4+0.9+1.2+0.8+2.0+6.7+1.0+0.2+0.1+1.8+.059+0.9+1.5+.037
Jamaal Wilkes 76 33.9 17.7 2.0 5.6 7.6 2.8 1.7 0.2 - 2.9 7.2 15.1 .478 - - - 3.3 4.1 .797
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:+4+5.5+1.9+2.1+1.2+3.3+7.7+1.3+0.4-1.3+0.7+4.2+.100+3.2+3.8+.007
Jamaal Wilkes 10 34.6 15.5 1.8 6.2 8.0 1.6 1.6 0.6 - 2.3 6.6 15.4 .429 - - - 2.3 2.8 .821

Season 4

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1982-831977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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:+28+7.6+3.9+0.5+0.7+1.1+6.9+0.7+0.2-1.7-0.7+1.1+0.6+.108+1.7+1.9+.084
Jamaal Wilkes 51 29.2 12.9 2.2 5.2 7.5 3.6 1.5 0.4 2.1 3.2 5.4 12.4 .440 - - - 2.1 2.9 .716
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:+12+6.9+5.9+0.4+0.6+0.2+10.1+1.3+0.5-0.6-1.4+1.7+3.0+.016+2.5+1.7+.295
Jamaal Wilkes 3 36.0 12.0 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.7 1.0 0.3 3.7 4.7 5.0 10.7 .469 - - - 2.0 3.7 .545

Season 5

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1983-841978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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:+15+2.8+1.0+0.5+0.5+0.1+10.3+0.6+0.4-1.9-0.9+1.0+3.5+.061+1.0+0.9+.059
Jamaal Wilkes 82 35.5 18.6 2.0 5.4 7.4 2.8 1.6 0.3 2.7 3.4 7.6 15.1 .504 - - - 3.3 4.4 .751
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:+13+1.5+0.2+1.3+0.6+1.9+11.5+0.1+0.7-1.9-0.8+0.4+3.0+.074+0.7+0.2+.124
Jamaal Wilkes 8 38.4 18.4 2.5 6.0 8.5 2.0 1.9 0.3 1.9 2.6 7.6 16.0 .477 - - - 3.1 4.6 .676

Season 6

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1984-851979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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+1.8+1.7+0.9+0.7+0.2+9.6+0.1-2.1-0.7+2.4+4.9+.026+0.1+0.3+.013+2.8+3.1+.035
Jamaal Wilkes 82 37.9 20.0 2.1 4.3 6.4 3.0 1.6 0.3 1.9 2.7 8.9 16.6 .535 0.0 0.2 .176 2.3 2.9 .808
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:+3+4.6+2.8+2.3+1.4+0.9+12.2+0.2+0.1-1.8-0.7+2.7+6.5+.037+0.1+0.3+.143+2.5+2.8+.032
Jamaal Wilkes 16 40.8 20.3 3.3 4.7 8.0 3.0 1.5 0.3 2.2 3.2 8.8 18.4 .476 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.4 .815

Season 7

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1985-861980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+9+1.6+3.8+0.6+1.1+0.5+9.7+0.1+0.2-1.2-1.0+3.0+5.7+0.1+0.4+.156+2.2+1.9+.113
Jamaal Wilkes 81 37.4 22.6 1.8 3.6 5.4 2.9 1.5 0.4 2.6 2.8 9.7 18.5 .526 0.0 0.2 .077 3.1 4.1 .758
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:+11+0.9+3.6+0.2+4.3+4.4+13.8+1.6+0.2-1.9-0.2+0.9+1.4+.099+0.5+1.9+1.6+.099
Jamaal Wilkes 3 37.7 18.0 1.3 1.3 2.7 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.3 3.3 7.0 16.0 .438 0.0 0.3 .000 4.0 6.0 .667

Season 8

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1986-871981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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+0.9+2.8+0.4+1.9+1.5+10.5+0.6+0.2-1.8-0.8+0.6+0.9+.003+0.1+0.5+3.7+3.8+.116
Jamaal Wilkes 82 35.4 21.1 1.9 2.9 4.8 1.7 1.1 0.3 2.0 2.9 9.1 17.3 .525 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.1 .732
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:+4+1.2+1.8+1.3+4.1+2.7+9.6+0.6+0.2-0.1-1.0+0.5+2.1+.037+0.1+0.5+.200+2.7+3.1+.055
Jamaal Wilkes 14 38.2 20.0 2.9 2.1 5.0 2.6 1.1 0.2 2.9 3.1 8.6 17.2 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .776

Season 9

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1987-881982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
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+4.7+0.6+2.5+1.9+9.6+0.8-1.8-0.8+1.8+2.3+.038+0.2+0.7+.196+3.3+3.4+.096
Jamaal Wilkes 80 31.9 19.6 1.8 2.5 4.3 2.3 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.8 8.6 16.1 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 3.4 .757
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:+9+0.9+1.5+0.9+0.6+9.2+0.1+0.5-1.3-0.9+2.1+4.5+.016+0.3+0.5+.500+3.7+3.6+.238
Jamaal Wilkes 15 39.3 19.9 2.8 3.2 6.0 3.4 1.3 0.7 2.2 3.4 9.1 18.2 .498 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.9 .614

Season 10

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1988-891983-84
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 NBA 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:+2+4.1+5.2+0.3+3.6+3.4+9.9+0.8+0.2-2.3-0.5+0.3+0.7+.005+0.8+2.3+.064+3.9+3.6+.168
Jamaal Wilkes 75 33.4 17.3 1.7 2.8 4.5 2.9 1.0 0.5 1.8 2.7 7.2 14.1 .514 0.0 0.1 .250 2.8 3.7 .743
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:+23.0+13.9+0.4+3.8+4.0+11.2+1.6+0.1-3.3-0.2+4.1+7.4+.089+0.7+2.4+.286+5.1+5.3+.271
Jamaal Wilkes 14 14.0 4.5 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.9 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.8 .636

Season 11

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1989-901984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+37+19.1+14.0+0.8+3.6+4.4+10.5+1.2+0.3-2.5-0.6+3.4+7.2+.008+1.3+3.5+6.0+6.5+.117
Jamaal Wilkes 42 18.1 8.3 0.8 1.4 2.2 1.0 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.5 3.5 7.2 .488 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .773
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
Jamaal Wilkes DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Jamaal Wilkes
Season 1990-911985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+66+22.1+13.6+0.3+4.4+4.8+11.3+0.8-2.8-0.4+3.9+7.4+.077+0.9+3.0+.013+4.9+5.2+.091
Jamaal Wilkes 13 15.0 5.8 1.0 1.2 2.2 1.2 0.5 0.2 1.2 1.5 2.0 5.0 .400 0.1 0.2 .333 1.7 2.1 .815
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
Jamaal Wilkes DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Magic Johnson played 1 season more than Jamaal Wilkes in the NBA.

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