Mark Jackson vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Mark Jackson, 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.

Mark Jackson played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Mark Jackson had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, while Magic Johnson had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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
Mark Jackson 17 14 1987-88 to 2003-04
Magic Johnson 13 13 1979-80 to 1995-96

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1987-881979-80
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 39.6 13.6 1.5 3.4 4.8 10.6 2.5 0.1 3.1 3.0 5.3 12.4 .432 0.4 1.5 .254 2.5 3.2 .774
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 4 42.8 14.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 9.8 2.5 0.0 3.5 3.3 5.5 15.0 .367 1.3 3.0 .417 2.0 2.8 .727
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

Season 2

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1988-891980-81
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Mark Jackson 72 34.4 16.9 1.5 3.3 4.7 8.6 1.9 0.1 3.1 2.3 6.7 14.2 .467 1.1 3.3 .338 2.5 3.6 .698
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 9 37.3 14.7 0.8 2.7 3.4 10.1 1.1 0.3 3.1 1.0 5.7 11.1 .510 1.2 3.1 .393 2.1 3.1 .679
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

Season 3

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1989-901981-82
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 29.6 9.9 1.3 2.6 3.9 7.4 1.3 0.0 2.6 1.5 4.0 9.1 .437 0.4 1.6 .267 1.5 2.0 .727
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 9 9.0 3.8 0.1 0.4 0.6 2.3 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.6 1.4 3.4 .419 0.0 0.2 .000 0.9 1.2 .727
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

Season 4

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1990-911982-83
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 72 22.2 8.8 0.9 1.9 2.7 6.3 0.8 0.1 1.9 1.1 3.5 7.1 .492 0.2 0.7 .255 1.6 2.2 .731
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 3 12.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0 2.7 0.3 0.3 1.7 0.3 0.3 1.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 5

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1991-921983-84
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 81 30.4 11.3 1.2 2.6 3.8 8.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 1.9 4.5 9.2 .491 0.1 0.5 .256 2.1 2.7 .770
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 12 30.7 8.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 7.2 0.8 0.0 2.5 2.2 3.1 7.7 .402 0.3 1.8 .190 1.8 2.3 .815
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

Season 6

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1992-931984-85
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 38.0 14.4 1.6 3.2 4.7 8.8 1.7 0.1 2.7 1.9 5.6 11.5 .486 0.3 1.0 .268 2.9 3.7 .803
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 5 37.6 15.2 1.6 4.2 5.8 7.6 1.6 0.2 2.6 1.6 5.6 12.8 .438 0.2 0.4 .500 3.8 4.4 .864
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

Season 7

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 79 34.3 10.9 1.4 3.1 4.4 8.6 1.5 0.1 2.9 1.5 4.2 9.3 .452 0.5 1.6 .283 2.1 2.7 .791
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 8

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1994-951986-87
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 29.3 7.6 0.9 2.8 3.7 7.5 1.3 0.2 2.6 1.8 2.9 6.9 .422 0.3 1.1 .310 1.5 1.9 .778
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 17 32.6 9.9 1.6 3.6 5.2 7.2 0.9 0.0 2.4 2.0 3.5 7.6 .454 0.9 2.4 .400 2.0 2.7 .739
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

Season 9

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1995-961987-88
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 81 32.6 10.0 0.8 3.0 3.8 7.8 1.2 0.1 2.5 1.9 3.7 7.7 .473 0.8 1.8 .430 1.9 2.4 .785
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 5 37.2 10.6 0.6 4.4 5.0 6.0 1.2 0.0 2.6 1.8 3.6 10.2 .353 0.8 3.6 .222 2.6 3.4 .765
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

Season 10

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1996-971988-89
Team Denver Nuggets, Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 37.2 9.9 1.1 3.7 4.8 11.4 1.2 0.1 3.3 2.0 3.5 8.3 .426 0.8 2.2 .371 2.0 2.6 .789
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 11

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1997-981989-90
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 29.4 8.3 0.8 3.1 3.9 8.7 1.0 0.0 2.1 1.6 3.0 7.3 .416 0.5 1.7 .314 1.7 2.2 .761
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 16 30.9 9.2 1.1 3.4 4.6 8.3 1.4 0.0 2.9 1.8 3.3 7.9 .417 0.9 2.3 .378 1.7 2.1 .794
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

Season 12

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1998-991990-91
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 49 28.2 7.6 0.7 3.1 3.8 7.9 0.9 0.1 2.0 1.2 2.8 6.7 .419 0.7 2.1 .311 1.3 1.6 .823
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 13 34.8 11.2 1.1 3.5 4.5 8.6 1.1 0.1 2.7 2.5 3.9 7.9 .495 1.1 2.6 .412 2.3 3.2 .714
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

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

Season 13

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001995-96
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Mark Jackson 81 27.0 8.1 0.8 2.9 3.7 8.0 0.9 0.1 2.1 1.4 3.0 7.0 .432 1.1 2.7 .403 1.0 1.2 .806
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 23 27.6 8.1 0.5 3.2 3.7 7.7 0.8 0.1 1.9 1.8 3.0 7.7 .392 0.9 2.9 .313 1.2 1.3 .903
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

Season 14

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 2000-01-
Team Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Mark Jackson 83 31.2 7.6 0.8 2.9 3.7 8.0 1.0 0.1 2.1 1.7 2.9 7.0 .419 0.8 2.5 .338 0.9 1.1 .785
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 5 31.2 9.0 0.6 4.6 5.2 5.2 1.6 0.0 2.0 1.2 4.0 8.0 .500 0.4 1.6 .250 0.6 0.6 1.000
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 2001-02-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 82 28.9 8.4 0.7 3.1 3.8 7.4 0.9 0.0 1.8 2.0 3.2 7.2 .439 1.0 2.4 .405 1.1 1.3 .791
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 2002-03-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Mark Jackson 82 17.9 4.7 0.4 1.7 2.1 4.6 0.6 0.0 1.9 1.1 1.8 4.5 .398 0.3 1.2 .284 0.7 1.0 .763
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 5 16.6 7.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 3.2 0.6 0.0 0.8 2.2 3.0 6.0 .500 1.0 1.8 .556 0.2 0.2 1.000
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Mark Jackson Magic Johnson
Season 2003-04-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Mark Jackson 42 13.7 2.5 0.2 1.4 1.7 2.8 0.4 0.0 1.3 1.0 0.8 2.4 .340 0.2 1.0 .171 0.7 0.9 .718
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Jackson 5 7.6 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 .167 0.0 0.6 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------