Magic Johnson vs. Kyle Lowry Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kyle Lowry 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 / Stats Rankings

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, 7 less than Kyle Lowry, who played 20. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kyle Lowry had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Kyle Lowry 20 11 2006-07 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1979-802006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+67+18.8+12.4+1.0+3.7+4.6+4.1+1.0+0.4-2.8-0.8+5.1+8.5+.162+0.2+0.4+.149+2.4+3.2+.083
Kyle Lowry 10 17.5 5.6 1.2 1.9 3.1 3.2 1.4 0.1 1.2 2.0 1.4 3.8 .368 0.3 0.8 .375 2.5 2.8 .893
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
Kyle Lowry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1980-812007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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+11.6+12.0+2.2+3.4+5.6+5.0+2.3+0.4-2.4-0.4+5.3+8.7+.100+0.3+1.2+.081+1.6+1.9+.062
Kyle Lowry 82 25.5 9.6 0.5 2.5 3.0 3.6 1.1 0.3 1.5 2.3 3.1 7.2 .432 0.4 1.7 .257 3.0 4.2 .698
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
Kyle Lowry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1981-822008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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:+1+16.5+11.0+2.9+4.3+7.1+5.9+1.8+0.2-2.2-1.0+4.6+7.7+.102+0.2+0.9+.048+1.8+2.7+.041
Kyle Lowry 77 21.8 7.6 0.3 2.1 2.5 3.6 0.9 0.2 1.5 1.9 2.5 5.6 .435 0.3 1.3 .255 2.4 2.9 .801
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:+1+20.6+12.1+3.3+5.1+8.4+6.8+2.0+0.1-1.8-1.8+4.3+6.4+.196+0.3+0.9+.250+3.7+4.2+.086
Kyle Lowry 13 19.5 5.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.5 0.9 0.1 1.3 1.8 1.6 4.8 .333 0.3 1.2 .250 1.8 2.4 .742

Season 4

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1982-832009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+11+12.5+7.7+1.4+3.6+5.0+6.0+1.3+0.5-2.1+3.8+5.0+.151+0.5+1.7+.272+0.6+1.0+.027
Kyle Lowry 68 24.3 9.1 1.3 2.3 3.6 4.5 0.9 0.1 1.7 2.5 2.7 6.8 .397 0.5 2.0 .272 3.2 3.8 .827
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
Kyle Lowry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1983-842010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+8+4.1+4.1+0.3+3.0+3.2+6.4+0.8+0.4-2.5-0.3+2.0+0.8+.139+1.6+4.2+.169+1.7+2.0+.045
Kyle Lowry 75 34.2 13.5 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.7 1.4 0.3 2.1 2.8 4.6 10.8 .426 1.7 4.6 .376 2.6 3.3 .765
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
Kyle Lowry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1984-852011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+30+4.0+4.0+0.4+1.3+1.7+6.0+0.1-1.2-0.8+2.0+0.8+.152+1.6+4.0+.185+1.5+1.8+.021
Kyle Lowry 47 32.1 14.3 0.8 3.7 4.5 6.6 1.6 0.3 2.8 2.8 4.5 10.9 .409 1.7 4.5 .374 3.6 4.2 .864
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
Kyle Lowry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1985-862012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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:+4+6.1+7.2+0.4+0.8+1.2+6.2+0.2+0.2-1.5-1.4+3.0+3.6+.125+1.4+3.5+.129+2.5+2.5+.076
Kyle Lowry 68 29.7 11.6 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.4 1.4 0.4 2.3 3.2 3.7 9.2 .401 1.5 4.1 .362 2.8 3.5 .795
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
Kyle Lowry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1986-872013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+0.1+6.0+0.4+1.2+1.6+4.8+0.2+0.3-1.3-1.3+2.7+2.7+.099+2.3+5.8+.175+2.7+3.0+.035
Kyle Lowry 79 36.2 17.9 1.1 3.6 4.7 7.4 1.5 0.2 2.5 3.4 5.8 13.7 .423 2.4 6.3 .380 4.0 4.9 .813
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:+11+1.7+0.7+0.3+2.8+3.0+7.5+0.8+0.4-0.1-1.8+1.8+0.5+.135+2.3+5.5+.195+0.7+0.4+.047
Kyle Lowry 7 38.7 21.1 1.3 3.4 4.7 4.7 0.9 0.0 2.9 3.9 6.3 15.6 .404 2.4 6.1 .395 6.1 7.0 .878

Season 9

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1987-882014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+2+2.1+1.8+0.4+1.1+1.5+5.1-1.2-1.0+0.7+1.1+.080+1.7+4.8+.142+2.2+2.3+.045
Kyle Lowry 70 34.5 17.8 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.8 1.6 0.2 2.5 3.0 6.1 14.9 .412 1.9 5.6 .338 3.6 4.5 .808
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:+20+7.4+7.6+0.5+0.3+0.1+7.8+0.1+0.2-0.5-2.0+2.5+0.6+.198+1.0+5.2+.283+3.5+3.7+.125
Kyle Lowry 4 32.8 12.3 1.8 3.8 5.5 4.8 1.3 0.0 3.0 4.5 4.5 14.3 .316 1.3 5.8 .217 2.0 2.8 .727

Season 10

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1988-892015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRaptors Lost East Conf 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:+0.5+1.3+0.7+2.4+3.2+6.4+0.3+0.1-1.2-0.5+0.9+0.8+.082+2.0+4.7+.074+1.5+0.9+.100
Kyle Lowry 77 37.0 21.2 0.7 4.0 4.7 6.4 2.1 0.4 2.9 2.7 6.6 15.6 .427 2.8 7.1 .388 5.2 6.4 .811
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:+6+1.3+0.7+0.2+1.1+1.2+5.8+0.3-0.6-1.6+0.5+4.1+.092+1.4+4.4+.018+1.7+0.9+.157
Kyle Lowry 20 38.3 19.1 0.9 3.8 4.7 6.0 1.6 0.2 3.2 3.7 6.6 16.5 .397 2.1 6.9 .304 3.9 5.2 .750

Season 11

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1989-902016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
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:+19+0.2+0.1+0.8+1.0+1.8+4.5+0.2+0.1-0.8-0.7+0.2+0.9+.016+1.9+4.3+.028+2.2+2.0+.071
Kyle Lowry 60 37.4 22.4 0.8 4.0 4.8 7.0 1.5 0.3 2.9 2.8 7.1 15.3 .464 3.2 7.8 .412 5.0 6.1 .819
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
difference:+1+4.3+9.4+0.9+2.2+3.2+6.9+0.3+0.4-1.9-0.2+3.0+5.6+.028+1.0+2.0+.142+4.4+4.7+.068
Kyle Lowry 8 37.5 15.8 0.4 2.8 3.1 5.9 1.5 0.5 2.1 3.3 5.4 11.6 .462 1.6 4.8 .342 3.4 4.1 .818

Season 12

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1990-912017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
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:+1+4.9+3.2+0.5+0.9+1.4+5.6+0.2-1.7-0.6+0.7+0.3+.050+2.1+4.4+.079+3.7+4.0+.052
Kyle Lowry 78 32.2 16.2 0.8 4.7 5.6 6.9 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.5 5.2 12.1 .427 3.1 7.6 .399 2.9 3.3 .854
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
difference:+9+7.2+4.4+1.0+2.8+3.8+4.1+0.3-1.0-1.0+0.2+2.3+.068+1.7+2.6+.148+5.7+6.2+.069
Kyle Lowry 10 36.1 17.4 0.2 4.1 4.3 8.5 1.5 0.0 3.1 3.3 6.0 11.8 .508 2.8 6.3 .444 2.6 3.2 .813

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Kyle Lowry
Season 1995-962018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+33+4.1+0.4+0.7+0.3+0.9+1.8+0.6+0.1-0.4-1.1+0.4+2.2+.055+1.7+5.2+.032+2.9+3.3+.026
Kyle Lowry 65 34.0 14.2 0.6 4.2 4.8 8.7 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.6 4.7 11.4 .411 2.4 7.0 .347 2.5 3.0 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+20+3.7+0.3+1.1+2.5+3.6+0.1+1.3+0.3-0.7-3.2+1.3+1.7+.055+1.4+3.7+.026+4.3+4.9+.046
Kyle Lowry 24 37.5 15.0 0.9 4.0 4.9 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.3 4.0 5.1 11.5 .440 2.2 6.0 .359 2.7 3.4 .802

Additional Years

* Kyle Lowry played 7 seasons more than Magic Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 20, from 2020 to 2026—Kyle Lowry played in 4 Playoffs.

In those 7 extra years over Magic Johnson, Kyle Lowry got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game