Muggsy Bogues vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Muggsy Bogues, 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.

Muggsy Bogues played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Muggsy Bogues 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
Muggsy Bogues 14 5 1987-88 to 2000-01
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

Rookie Season

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1987-881979-80
Team Washington BulletsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 79 20.6 5.0 0.4 1.3 1.7 5.1 1.6 0.0 1.3 1.7 2.1 5.4 .390 0.0 0.2 .188 0.7 0.9 .784
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 1 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1988-891980-81
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 79 22.2 5.4 0.7 1.4 2.1 7.8 1.4 0.1 1.6 1.8 2.3 5.3 .426 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.1 .750
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1989-901981-82
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Muggsy Bogues 81 33.9 9.4 0.6 2.0 2.6 10.7 2.0 0.0 1.8 2.1 4.0 8.2 .491 0.1 0.3 .192 1.3 1.7 .791
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1990-911982-83
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -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 %
Muggsy Bogues 81 28.4 7.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 8.3 1.7 0.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 6.5 .460 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .796
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1991-921983-84
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -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 %
Muggsy Bogues 82 34.0 8.9 0.7 2.2 2.9 9.1 2.1 0.1 1.9 1.9 3.9 8.2 .472 0.0 0.3 .074 1.1 1.5 .783
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1992-931984-85
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 81 35.0 10.0 0.6 3.0 3.7 8.8 2.0 0.1 1.9 2.2 4.1 9.0 .453 0.1 0.3 .231 1.7 2.1 .833
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 9 38.4 9.8 0.7 3.3 4.0 7.8 2.7 0.0 1.9 2.3 4.3 9.1 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.6 .714
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Charlotte HornetsLos 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 77 35.7 10.8 1.0 3.1 4.1 10.1 1.7 0.0 2.2 1.9 4.6 9.8 .471 0.0 0.2 .167 1.6 2.0 .806
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1994-951986-87
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 78 33.7 11.1 0.7 2.6 3.3 8.7 1.3 0.0 1.7 1.9 4.5 9.4 .477 0.1 0.4 .200 2.1 2.3 .889
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 4 36.3 8.5 0.8 0.8 1.5 6.3 1.0 0.0 2.3 2.0 3.5 11.3 .311 0.3 0.8 .333 1.3 1.3 1.000
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1995-961987-88
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Muggsy Bogues 6 12.8 2.3 1.0 0.2 1.2 3.2 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.7 1.0 2.7 .375 0.0 0.2 .000 0.3 0.3 1.000
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1996-971988-89
Team Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 65 28.9 8.0 0.4 1.8 2.2 7.2 1.3 0.0 1.7 1.8 3.1 6.8 .460 0.9 2.2 .417 0.8 1.0 .844
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 2 28.5 16.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.5 0.0 3.0 1.5 5.5 9.5 .579 3.0 3.5 .857 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1997-981989-90
Team Charlotte Hornets, Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 61 25.7 5.7 0.5 1.7 2.2 5.4 1.1 0.0 1.7 1.0 2.3 5.3 .437 0.1 0.3 .250 1.0 1.1 .897
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1998-991990-91
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-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 %
Muggsy Bogues 36 19.8 5.1 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.7 1.2 0.0 1.3 1.2 2.1 4.3 .494 0.0 0.2 .000 0.9 1.0 .861
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 1999-001995-96
Team Toronto RaptorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 80 21.6 5.1 0.3 1.4 1.7 3.7 0.8 0.1 0.7 1.5 2.0 4.5 .439 0.2 0.6 .333 1.0 1.1 .908
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 3 29.0 5.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.7 1.3 0.0 1.3 1.3 2.0 7.0 .286 1.0 3.0 .333 0.3 1.0 .333
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

Muggsy Bogues Magic Johnson
Season 2000-01-
Team Toronto Raptors-
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 3 11.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.7 0.7 0.0 1.3 1.0 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
Magic Johnson ------- --- ----------