Stephen Curry vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Stephen Curry, 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 / Scoring / Stats / 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.

Stephen Curry played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Magic Johnson, who played 13. Stephen Curry had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, 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 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
Stephen Curry 17 10 2009-10 to 2025-26
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

Rookie Season

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2009-101979-80
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 80 36.2 17.5 0.6 3.9 4.5 5.9 1.9 0.2 3.0 3.2 6.6 14.3 .462 2.1 4.8 .437 2.2 2.5 .885
difference:+3+0.1+0.5+1.6+1.7+3.2+1.4+0.5+0.3-1.0-0.4+0.1+2.0+.068+2.0+4.4+.211+2.7+3.5+.075
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2010-111980-81
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 74 33.6 18.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.8 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.1 6.8 14.2 .480 2.0 4.6 .442 2.9 3.1 .934
difference:+37+3.5+3.0+2.0+2.7+4.7+2.8+1.9+0.4-0.8-0.4+1.6+1.7+.052+1.9+4.1+.266+1.7+3.0+.174
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2011-121981-82
Team Golden State WarriorsLos 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 >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 26 28.2 14.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 5.3 1.5 0.3 2.5 2.4 5.6 11.4 .490 2.1 4.7 .455 1.5 1.8 .809
difference:+52+10.1+3.9+2.6+3.6+6.2+4.2+1.2+0.1-1.2-0.5+1.5+1.9+.047+2.0+4.3+.248+2.7+3.8+.049
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2012-131982-83
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 78 38.2 22.9 0.8 3.3 4.0 6.9 1.6 0.2 3.1 2.5 8.0 17.8 .451 3.5 7.7 .453 3.4 3.7 .900
difference:+1+1.4+6.1+1.9+2.6+4.6+3.6+0.6+0.4-0.7+1.5+6.0+.097+3.5+7.4+.453+0.4+1.1+.100
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 12 41.4 23.4 0.4 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.9 8.5 19.6 .434 3.5 8.8 .396 2.9 3.2 .921
difference:+3+1.5+5.5+3.0+1.7+4.7+4.7+0.6+0.6-1.0-0.4+1.8+5.9+.051+3.5+8.1+.396+1.6+2.2+.081
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2013-141983-84
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 78 36.5 24.0 0.6 3.7 4.3 8.5 1.6 0.2 3.8 2.5 8.4 17.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .424 3.9 4.5 .885
difference:+11+1.8+6.4+0.9+2.2+3.0+4.6+0.6+0.5-0.8+1.8+6.1+.094+3.2+7.5+.217+0.4+0.8+.075
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 7 42.3 23.0 0.6 3.0 3.6 8.4 1.7 0.1 3.7 2.6 7.3 16.6 .440 3.1 8.1 .386 5.3 6.0 .881
difference:+14+2.4+4.8+0.6+2.4+3.0+5.1+0.3+0.9-0.1-0.8+0.1+3.6+.111+3.1+7.8+.386+1.5+1.2+.081
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2014-151984-85
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 80 32.7 23.8 0.7 3.6 4.3 7.7 2.0 0.2 3.1 2.0 8.2 16.8 .487 3.6 8.1 .443 3.9 4.2 .914
difference:+3+3.4+5.5+0.5+1.4+1.9+4.9+0.5+0.1-0.9+1.7+5.1+.074+3.5+7.6+.254+1.2+1.8+.071
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 21 39.3 28.3 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.4 1.9 0.1 3.9 2.2 9.5 20.9 .456 4.7 11.0 .422 4.6 5.5 .835
difference:+2+3.1+10.8+2.1+2.1+8.8+0.2+0.1-0.1-0.3+3.4+9.0+.057+4.6+10.6+.279+0.7+0.7+.012
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2015-161985-86
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 79 34.2 30.1 0.9 4.6 5.4 6.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.0 10.2 20.2 .504 5.1 11.2 .454 4.6 5.1 .908
difference:+7+1.6+11.3+0.3+0.1+0.5+5.9+0.5-0.5-0.2+3.5+7.4+.022+5.0+10.6+.221+0.7+0.9+.037
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 18 34.1 25.1 0.8 4.7 5.5 5.2 1.4 0.3 4.2 2.2 8.2 18.8 .438 4.4 11.0 .404 4.2 4.6 .916
difference:+4+4.5+3.5+0.7+0.9+1.6+9.9+0.5+0.2-1.0-0.9+0.3+4.2+.099+4.4+10.2+.404+1.7+3.0+.150
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2016-171986-87
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 79 33.4 25.3 0.8 3.7 4.5 6.6 1.8 0.2 3.0 2.3 8.5 18.3 .468 4.1 10.0 .411 4.1 4.6 .898
difference:+1+2.9+1.4+0.7+1.1+1.8+5.6+0.1+0.3-0.8-0.2+1.9+.054+4.0+9.5+.206+2.6+3.3+.050
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 17 35.4 28.1 1.3 4.9 6.2 6.7 2.0 0.2 3.4 2.2 8.9 18.4 .484 4.2 10.1 .419 6.1 6.7 .904
difference:+1+1.6+6.3+0.3+1.3+1.5+5.5+0.3+0.2-0.6-0.1+0.8+3.3+.055+4.1+9.5+.219+0.7+0.1+.073
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2017-181987-88
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 51 32.0 26.4 0.7 4.4 5.1 6.1 1.6 0.2 3.0 2.2 8.4 16.9 .495 4.2 9.8 .423 5.5 5.9 .921
difference:+21+4.6+6.8+0.5+0.6+1.1+5.8-0.7-0.2+1.6+3.1+.003+4.0+9.0+.227+0.3+0.9+.068
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 15 37.0 25.5 0.6 5.5 6.1 5.4 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.5 9.1 20.3 .451 4.3 10.8 .395 3.0 3.1 .957
difference:+9+3.2+5.6+0.7+1.4+0.7+7.2+0.3+0.5-0.6+2.1+6.6+.063+4.0+10.2+.105+2.5+3.4+.105
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2018-191988-89
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA 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%
Stephen Curry 69 33.8 27.3 0.7 4.7 5.3 5.2 1.3 0.4 2.8 2.4 9.2 19.4 .472 5.1 11.7 .437 3.8 4.2 .916
difference:+8+3.7+4.8+0.7+1.7+2.6+7.6+0.5+0.1-1.3-0.2+1.7+4.6+.037+4.3+9.3+.123+2.9+3.1+.005
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 22 38.5 28.2 0.8 5.2 6.0 5.7 1.1 0.2 3.0 3.1 8.6 19.6 .441 4.2 11.1 .377 6.7 7.1 .943
difference:+8+1.5+9.8+0.3+0.3+0.1+6.1+0.8-0.8-1.0+2.5+7.2+.048+3.5+8.6+.091+1.1+1.0+.036
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2019-201989-90
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West 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%
Stephen Curry 5 27.8 20.8 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.6 1.0 0.4 3.2 2.2 6.6 16.4 .402 2.4 9.8 .245 5.2 5.2 1.000
difference:+74+9.4+1.5+0.8+0.6+1.4+4.9+0.7-0.5-0.1+0.3+2.0+.078+1.1+6.3+.139+2.0+2.9+.110
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2020-211990-91
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 63 34.2 32.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 5.8 1.2 0.1 3.4 1.9 10.4 21.7 .482 5.3 12.7 .421 5.7 6.3 .916
difference:+16+2.9+12.6+0.8+0.6+1.5+6.7+0.1+0.1-0.6+4.5+9.3+.005+4.3+9.5+.101+0.9+1.0+.010
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------
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

Stephen Curry Magic Johnson
Season 2021-221995-96
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 64 34.5 25.5 0.5 4.7 5.2 6.3 1.3 0.4 3.2 2.0 8.4 19.1 .437 4.5 11.7 .380 4.3 4.7 .923
difference:+32+4.6+10.9+0.8+0.2+0.5+0.6+0.5-0.5+4.1+9.9+.029+3.8+9.9+.001+1.1+1.6+.067
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Stephen Curry 22 34.7 27.4 0.5 4.7 5.2 5.9 1.3 0.4 2.6 2.7 9.2 20.0 .459 4.1 10.4 .397 4.9 5.9 .829
difference:+18+0.9+12.1+1.5+1.8+3.3+0.6+1.3+0.4-0.4-1.9+5.4+10.2+.074+3.3+8.1+.064+2.1+2.4+.019
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

Additional Years

* Stephen Curry played 4 seasons more than Magic Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 17, from 2023 to 2026—Stephen Curry played in two Playoffs.

In those 4 extra years over Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Clutch Player of the Year
Achievement 3 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP