Magic Johnson vs. Jerry West Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jerry West 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.

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 less than Jerry West, who played 14. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Jerry West had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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.

Rookie Season
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1979-80	1960-61
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	All-Rookie First Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost West Div Finals

more >>

Rookie Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+2	+0.9	+0.4				+3.1				-0.1	+0.2	+3.7	+.111				+0.7	+0.3	+.144
Jerry West	79	35.4	17.6	-	-	7.7	4.2	-	-	-	2.7	6.7	16.0	.419	-	-	-	4.2	6.3	.666
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
difference:	+4	+2.7	+4.6			+1.8	+4.1				-0.4	+1.9	+4.4	+.028				+1.1	+2.2	+.076
Jerry West	12	38.4	22.9	-	-	8.7	5.3	-	-	-	3.3	8.3	16.8	.490	-	-	-	6.4	8.8	.726

Season 2
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1980-81	1961-62
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	Steals Leader	-
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

2nd Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+38	+4.1	+9.2			+0.7	+3.2				-0.4	+2.3	+8.0	+.087				+4.9	+6.2	+.009
Jerry West	75	41.2	30.8	-	-	7.9	5.4	-	-	-	2.3	10.7	23.9	.445	-	-	-	9.5	12.3	.769
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
difference:	+10	+0.5	+14.5			+6.9	+2.6				-1.8	+4.8	+7.5	+.077				+5.0	+4.8	+.157
Jerry West	13	42.8	31.5	-	-	6.8	4.4	-	-	-	2.9	11.1	23.8	.465	-	-	-	9.3	11.5	.807

Season 3
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1981-82	1962-63
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	-	All-NBA First Team
	All-NBA Second Team	-
	Steals Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

3rd Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+23	+1.0	+8.5			+2.6	+3.9				-0.2	+3.1	+8.8	+.076				+2.5	+3.1	+.018
Jerry West	55	39.3	27.1	-	-	7.0	5.6	-	-	-	2.7	10.2	22.1	.461	-	-	-	6.7	8.7	.778
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
difference:	+1	+1.3	+10.4			+3.1	+4.6				-1.0	+5.2	+10.8	+.026				+0.2	+1.1	+.088
Jerry West	13	41.4	27.8	-	-	8.2	4.7	-	-	-	2.6	11.1	22.0	.503	-	-	-	5.7	7.7	.740

Season 4
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1982-83	1963-64
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	Assists Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Lakers Lost NBA Finals	Lakers Lost West Div Semis

more >>

4th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+7	+3.6	+11.9			+2.6	+4.9				-0.3	+3.8	+9.4	+.064				+4.3	+5.0	+.032
Jerry West	72	40.4	28.7	-	-	6.0	5.6	-	-	-	2.8	10.3	21.2	.484	-	-	-	8.1	9.8	.832
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
difference:	+10	+1.7	+13.3			+1.3	+9.4				-0.7	+4.7	+9.3	+.011				+3.9	+5.2	+.048
Jerry West	5	41.2	31.2	-	-	7.2	3.4	-	-	-	4.0	11.4	23.0	.496	-	-	-	8.4	10.6	.792

Season 5
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1983-84	1964-65
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	Assists Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Lakers Lost NBA Finals	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

5th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+7	+3.1	+13.4			+1.3	+8.2				-0.5	+4.5	+10.8	+.068				+4.5	+5.4	+.011
Jerry West	74	41.4	31.0	-	-	6.0	4.9	-	-	-	3.0	11.1	22.4	.497	-	-	-	8.8	10.7	.821
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
difference:	+10	+2.8	+22.4			+0.9	+8.2					+6.9	+18.9	+.109				+8.7	+9.2	+.090
Jerry West	11	42.7	40.6	-	-	5.7	5.3	-	-	-	3.4	14.1	31.9	.442	-	-	-	12.5	14.0	.890

Season 6
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1984-85	1965-66
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

6th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+2	+4.6	+13.0			+0.9	+6.5				-1.1	+3.9	+10.2	+.088				+5.5	+6.4	+.017
Jerry West	79	40.7	31.3	-	-	7.1	6.1	-	-	-	3.1	10.4	21.9	.473	-	-	-	10.6	12.4	.860
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
difference:	+5	+8.0	+16.7			+0.8	+9.6				-0.4	+7.1	+13.6	+.005				+2.5	+2.7	+.025
Jerry West	14	44.2	34.2	-	-	6.3	5.6	-	-	-	2.9	13.2	25.5	.518	-	-	-	7.8	8.9	.872

Season 7
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1985-86	1966-67
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	Assists Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Lakers Lost West Conf Finals	Lakers Lost West Div Semis

more >>

7th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+6	+4.7	+9.9				+5.8				-0.6	+3.1	+8.2	+.062				+3.8	+4.4	+.007
Jerry West	66	40.5	28.7	-	-	5.9	6.8	-	-	-	2.4	9.8	21.0	.464	-	-	-	9.1	10.4	.878
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
difference:	+13	+37.6	+21.6			+6.1	+15.1				-3.1	+7.9	+14.6					+5.9	+7.6
Jerry West	1	1.0	0.0	-	-	1.0	0.0	-	-	-	0.0	0.0	0.0	-	-	-	-	0.0	0.0	-

Season 8
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1986-87	1967-68
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	-	All-NBA Second Team
	Assists Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

8th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+29	+1.3	+2.4			+0.5	+6.1				-0.9	+0.8	+1.8	+.008				+1.0	+1.6	+.037
Jerry West	51	37.6	26.3	-	-	5.8	6.1	-	-	-	3.0	9.3	18.2	.514	-	-	-	7.7	9.5	.811
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
difference:	+3	+4.5	+9.0			+2.3	+6.7				-1.0	+2.9	+5.8	+.012				+3.4	+4.7	+.050
Jerry West	15	41.5	30.8	-	-	5.4	5.5	-	-	-	3.1	11.0	20.9	.527	-	-	-	8.8	11.3	.781

Season 9
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1987-88	1968-69
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	Finals MVP
	All-NBA First Team	-
	-	All-NBA Second Team
	-	All-Defensive Second Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

9th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+11	+2.6	+6.3			+1.9	+5.0				-0.6	+2.1	+5.2	+.021				+2.2	+3.0	+.032
Jerry West	61	39.2	25.9	-	-	4.3	6.9	-	-	-	2.6	8.9	19.0	.471	-	-	-	8.0	9.8	.821
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
difference:	+6	+1.9	+11.0			+1.5	+5.1				-0.4	+3.9	+9.8	+.051				+3.6	+4.8	+.048
Jerry West	18	42.1	30.9	-	-	3.9	7.5	-	-	-	2.9	10.9	23.5	.463	-	-	-	9.1	11.3	.804

Season 10
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1988-89	1969-70
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive First Team
	-	Scoring Leader
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Lakers Lost NBA Finals	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

10th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+3	+4.5	+8.7			+3.3	+5.3					+3.7	+7.8	+.012				+2.0	+3.3	+.087
Jerry West	74	42.0	31.2	-	-	4.6	7.5	-	-	-	2.2	11.2	22.6	.497	-	-	-	8.7	10.6	.824
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
difference:	+4	+9.1	+12.8			+2.2	+3.4				-1.0	+4.8	+10.8	+.020				+3.8	+5.7	+.105
Jerry West	18	46.1	31.2	-	-	3.7	8.4	-	-	-	3.1	10.9	23.2	.469	-	-	-	9.4	11.8	.802

Season 11
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1989-90	1970-71
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive First Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
	All-Star Game MVP	-
Playoffs	Lakers Lost West Conf Semis	Did Not Play

more >>

11th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+10	+4.0	+4.6			+2.0	+2.0				-0.5	+2.8	+5.2	+.014				+0.4	+1.0	+.058
Jerry West	69	41.2	26.9	-	-	4.6	9.5	-	-	-	2.6	9.7	19.6	.494	-	-	-	7.6	9.1	.832
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
Jerry West	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Season 12
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1990-91	1971-72
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive First Team
	-	Assists Leader
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
	-	All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs	Lakers Lost NBA Finals	NBA Champion

more >>

12th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+2	+1.5	+6.4			+2.8	+2.8				-0.8	+3.6	+7.6					+0.1	+0.9	+.092
Jerry West	77	38.6	25.8	-	-	4.2	9.7	-	-	-	2.7	9.5	20.0	.477	-	-	-	6.7	8.2	.814
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
difference:	+4	+2.8	+1.1			+3.2	+3.7				-0.3	+2.3	+8.6	+.064				+2.4	+2.3	+.052
Jerry West	15	40.5	22.9	-	-	4.9	8.9	-	-	-	2.6	8.5	22.7	.376	-	-	-	5.9	7.1	.830

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

Season 13
	Magic Johnson	Jerry West
Season	1995-96	1972-73
Team	Los Angeles Lakers	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive First Team
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

13th Season Stats Comparison
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
difference:	+37	+5.8	+8.2			+1.5	+1.9				-0.5	+4.7	+9.5	+.013				+0.5	+0.2	+.051
Jerry West	69	35.7	22.8	-	-	4.2	8.8	-	-	-	2.0	9.0	18.7	.479	-	-	-	4.9	6.1	.805
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
difference:	+13	+3.7	+8.3			+4.0	+1.3				-2.1	+5.1	+10.0	+.064				+1.2	+0.8	+.068
Jerry West	17	37.5	23.6	-	-	4.5	7.8	-	-	-	2.9	8.9	19.8	.449	-	-	-	5.8	7.5	.780

Additional Years
* Jerry West played 1 season more than Magic Johnson in the NBA. In that period—his season 14 in 1974—Jerry West played in the Playoffs. In that extra year over Magic Johnson, Jerry West got these achievements:
Honors & Awards	1 All-Star Game