Magic Johnson vs. Trae Young Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Trae Young 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, 5 more than Trae Young, who played 8. Magic Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Trae Young had his rookie season in 2018-19. 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 |
| Trae Young |
8 |
3 |
2018-19 to 2025-26 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
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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: | +4 | +5.4 | +1.1 | +1.4 | +2.7 | +4.0 | +0.8 | +1.5 | +0.3 | -0.2 | -1.1 | | +3.2 | +.112 | +1.8 | +5.6 | +.098 | +0.7 | +0.9 | +.019 |
| Trae Young |
81 |
30.9 |
19.1 |
0.8 |
2.9 |
3.7 |
8.1 |
0.9 |
0.2 |
3.8 |
1.7 |
6.5 |
15.5 |
.418 |
1.9 |
6.0 |
.324 |
4.2 |
5.1 |
.829 |
|
| 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 |
| Trae Young |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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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: | +23 | +1.8 | +8.0 | +2.2 | +2.2 | +4.3 | +0.7 | +2.3 | +0.6 | -0.9 | -1.0 | +0.7 | +4.9 | +.095 | +3.3 | +9.0 | +.185 | +3.4 | +3.2 | +.100 |
| Trae Young |
60 |
35.3 |
29.6 |
0.5 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
9.3 |
1.1 |
0.1 |
4.8 |
1.7 |
9.1 |
20.8 |
.437 |
3.4 |
9.5 |
.361 |
8.0 |
9.3 |
.860 |
|
| 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 |
| Trae Young |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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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: | +15 | +4.6 | +6.7 | +2.6 | +3.1 | +5.7 | +0.1 | +1.9 | +0.2 | -0.4 | -1.1 | +0.6 | +4.4 | +.099 | +2.1 | +5.9 | +.136 | +3.5 | +3.1 | +.126 |
| Trae Young |
63 |
33.7 |
25.3 |
0.6 |
3.3 |
3.9 |
9.4 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
4.1 |
1.8 |
7.7 |
17.7 |
.438 |
2.2 |
6.3 |
.343 |
7.7 |
8.7 |
.886 |
|
| 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: | +2 | +2.4 | +11.4 | +3.5 | +5.0 | +8.5 | +0.2 | +1.6 | +0.2 | -0.9 | -1.4 | +3.5 | +11.2 | +.111 | +2.8 | +8.7 | +.313 | +1.8 | +1.8 | +.038 |
| Trae Young |
16 |
37.7 |
28.8 |
0.4 |
2.4 |
2.8 |
9.5 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
4.0 |
2.2 |
9.4 |
22.4 |
.418 |
2.8 |
9.0 |
.313 |
7.3 |
8.4 |
.866 |
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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: | +3 | +1.9 | +11.6 | +2.0 | +2.8 | +4.9 | +0.8 | +1.3 | +0.5 | -0.2 | -0.8 | +2.9 | +8.5 | +.088 | +3.1 | +7.7 | +.382 | +2.8 | +2.5 | +.104 |
| Trae Young |
76 |
34.9 |
28.4 |
0.7 |
3.1 |
3.7 |
9.7 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
4.0 |
1.7 |
9.4 |
20.3 |
.460 |
3.1 |
8.0 |
.382 |
6.6 |
7.3 |
.904 |
|
| 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 | +5.7 | +2.5 | +2.4 | +1.1 | +3.5 | +6.8 | +1.7 | +0.8 | -1.9 | -0.7 | +2.3 | +0.1 | +.166 | +1.4 | +6.9 | +.184 | +0.7 | +1.2 | +.052 |
| Trae Young |
5 |
37.2 |
15.4 |
1.0 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
6.2 |
2.6 |
4.4 |
13.8 |
.319 |
1.4 |
7.6 |
.184 |
5.2 |
6.6 |
.788 |
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: | +6 | +3.5 | +8.6 | +0.7 | +3.7 | +4.3 | +2.9 | +1.1 | +0.6 | -0.5 | -1.1 | +1.6 | +7.4 | +.136 | +2.0 | +5.9 | +.128 | +3.5 | +3.5 | +.076 |
| Trae Young |
73 |
34.8 |
26.2 |
0.8 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
10.2 |
1.1 |
0.1 |
4.1 |
1.4 |
8.2 |
19.0 |
.429 |
2.1 |
6.3 |
.335 |
7.8 |
8.8 |
.886 |
|
| 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: | +15 | +1.6 | +11.0 | +0.4 | +2.6 | +2.9 | +3.3 | +0.3 | +0.3 | -0.2 | -1.6 | +2.8 | +11.8 | +.148 | +3.0 | +8.7 | +.333 | +2.4 | +2.4 | +.060 |
| Trae Young |
6 |
38.3 |
29.2 |
0.8 |
2.8 |
3.7 |
10.2 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
4.0 |
1.8 |
10.0 |
24.8 |
.403 |
3.0 |
9.0 |
.333 |
6.2 |
7.2 |
.860 |
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: | +23 | +0.1 | +7.4 | +0.8 | +2.7 | +3.4 | +1.8 | +0.2 | +0.1 | -0.4 | | +1.5 | +7.0 | +.131 | +3.1 | +8.2 | +.184 | +1.3 | +1.5 | +.012 |
| Trae Young |
54 |
36.0 |
25.7 |
0.4 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
10.8 |
1.3 |
0.2 |
4.4 |
2.0 |
8.0 |
18.7 |
.430 |
3.2 |
8.7 |
.373 |
6.4 |
7.5 |
.855 |
|
| 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 |
| Trae Young |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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: | +4 | +0.2 | +5.4 | +0.7 | +2.1 | +2.8 | +1.0 | +0.4 | | -0.9 | -0.1 | +0.7 | +5.3 | +.115 | +2.8 | +7.8 | +.107 | +1.2 | +1.4 | +.004 |
| Trae Young |
76 |
36.0 |
24.2 |
0.5 |
2.6 |
3.1 |
11.6 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
4.7 |
1.9 |
7.4 |
18.1 |
.411 |
2.9 |
8.4 |
.340 |
6.5 |
7.4 |
.875 |
|
| 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 |
| Trae Young |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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: | +75 | +8.5 | +6.1 | +1.5 | +2.8 | +4.3 | +4.4 | +0.9 | +0.3 | -1.8 | -0.3 | +3.3 | +2.4 | +.151 | +0.9 | +4.7 | +.013 | +0.3 | +0.1 | +.027 |
| Trae Young |
5 |
27.8 |
17.8 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
7.8 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
5.2 |
14.0 |
.371 |
1.0 |
5.2 |
.192 |
6.4 |
7.8 |
.821 |
|
| 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 |
| Trae Young |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Additional Years |
* Magic Johnson played 5 seasons more than Trae Young in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 13, from 1988 to 1996—Magic Johnson played in 5 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those 5 extra years over Trae Young, Magic Johnson got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards |  2 Season MVP
4 All-NBA First Team
4 All-Star Game
1 All-Star Game MVP
|
NBA Champion