Magic Johnson vs. Rory Sparrow Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rory Sparrow 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 Rory Sparrow, who played 12. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rory Sparrow had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Rory Sparrow 12 5 1980-81 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1979-801980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Jersey Nets
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
Rory Sparrow 15 14.1 3.7 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.1 0.9 0.2 1.2 1.0 1.5 4.2 .349 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .750
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1980-811981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks 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 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
Rory Sparrow 82 31.8 10.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 5.2 1.1 0.2 1.8 2.9 4.5 8.9 .501 0.0 0.2 .067 1.5 1.8 .838
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
Rory Sparrow 2 34.5 7.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 5.5 1.0 0.0 3.5 3.5 2.5 6.0 .417 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 3

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1981-821982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 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
Rory Sparrow 81 30.0 11.6 0.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 1.3 0.1 2.4 3.1 4.8 10.0 .484 0.1 0.3 .227 1.8 2.5 .739
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
Rory Sparrow 6 33.7 13.0 0.5 1.7 2.2 7.0 1.2 0.0 2.2 3.0 5.0 11.8 .423 0.2 0.8 .200 2.8 3.5 .810

Season 4

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1982-831983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 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
Rory Sparrow 79 30.8 10.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 6.8 1.3 0.1 2.7 2.9 4.4 9.3 .474 0.1 0.5 .256 1.4 1.7 .824
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
Rory Sparrow 12 32.4 11.2 0.8 1.3 2.2 7.2 1.0 0.1 2.5 3.4 4.5 10.1 .446 0.2 0.5 .333 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 5

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1983-841984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
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
Rory Sparrow 79 29.0 9.9 0.5 1.7 2.1 7.1 1.0 0.1 1.9 2.5 4.1 8.4 .492 0.1 0.4 .226 1.5 1.8 .865
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
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 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
Rory Sparrow 74 31.7 10.8 0.7 1.6 2.3 6.4 1.1 0.2 2.1 2.5 4.7 9.8 .477 0.1 0.3 .250 1.4 1.7 .795
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
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
Rory Sparrow 80 24.4 7.6 0.4 1.1 1.4 5.4 0.8 0.1 1.8 2.0 3.3 7.4 .446 0.1 0.5 .262 0.9 1.1 .798
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks, 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 ChampionBulls 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 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
Rory Sparrow 58 18.0 4.5 0.3 1.0 1.2 2.9 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.4 2.0 5.1 .399 0.0 0.2 .154 0.4 0.6 .727
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
Rory Sparrow 7 15.1 3.7 0.0 0.4 0.4 2.6 0.6 0.0 0.6 1.6 1.4 4.6 .313 0.3 0.6 .500 0.6 0.9 .667

Season 9

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
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
Rory Sparrow 80 32.7 12.5 0.7 2.0 2.7 5.4 1.3 0.2 2.6 2.1 5.6 12.3 .452 0.2 0.9 .243 1.2 1.3 .879
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
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
Rory Sparrow 82 21.4 5.9 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.6 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.7 2.6 6.2 .412 0.1 0.5 .200 0.7 0.9 .766
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
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
Rory Sparrow 80 29.7 10.4 0.6 1.8 2.3 4.5 1.0 0.2 1.6 2.4 4.6 9.5 .491 0.4 1.0 .397 0.7 1.0 .699
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 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
Rory Sparrow 46 10.6 2.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.8 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.2 1.3 3.3 .384 0.1 0.3 .200 0.2 0.3 .615
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
Rory Sparrow 3 5.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750

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

Season 13

Magic Johnson Rory Sparrow
Season 1995-96-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------
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
Rory Sparrow ------- --- ----------