Walt Frazier vs. Magic Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Magic Johnson and Walt Frazier, 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 / Stats Rankings / 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.

Walt Frazier and Magic Johnson both played 13 years in the NBA. Walt Frazier had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, 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
Walt Frazier 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1967-681979-80
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisNBA 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%
Walt Frazier 74 21.5 9.0 - - 4.2 4.1 - - - 2.7 3.5 7.7 .451 - - - 2.1 3.2 .655
difference:+3+14.8+9.0+3.5+3.2-0.1+3.0+4.6+.079+2.8+2.8+.155
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%
Walt Frazier 4 29.8 9.5 - - 5.5 6.3 - - - 3.0 3.0 8.3 .364 - - - 3.5 4.5 .778
difference:+12+11.3+8.8+5.0+3.1-0.1+3.4+4.1+.154+1.8+2.1+.024
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1968-691980-81
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsLakers 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%
Walt Frazier 80 36.9 17.5 - - 6.2 7.9 - - - 3.1 6.6 13.2 .505 - - - 4.3 5.7 .746
difference:+43+0.2+4.1+2.4+0.7-0.4+1.8+2.7+.027+0.3+0.4+.014
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%
Walt Frazier 10 41.5 21.2 - - 7.4 9.1 - - - 3.0 8.9 17.7 .503 - - - 3.4 5.7 .596
difference:+7+0.8+4.2+6.3+2.1-1.7+2.6+1.4+.115+0.9+1.0+.054
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1969-701981-82
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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%
Walt Frazier 77 39.5 20.9 - - 6.0 8.2 - - - 2.6 7.8 15.0 .518 - - - 5.3 7.1 .748
difference:+1+1.2+2.3+3.6+1.3-0.3+0.7+1.7+.019+1.1+1.5+.012
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%
Walt Frazier 19 43.9 16.0 - - 7.8 8.2 - - - 2.8 6.2 13.0 .478 - - - 3.6 4.7 .764
difference:+5+3.8+1.4+3.5+1.1-0.8+0.3+1.8+.051+1.9+1.9+.064
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1970-711982-83
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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%
Walt Frazier 80 43.2 21.7 - - 6.8 6.7 - - - 3.0 8.1 16.5 .494 - - - 5.4 7.0 .779
difference:+1+6.4+4.9+1.8+3.8-0.5+1.6+4.7+.054+1.6+2.2+.021
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%
Walt Frazier 12 41.8 22.6 - - 5.8 4.5 - - - 3.8 9.0 17.0 .529 - - - 4.6 6.3 .733
difference:+3+1.1+4.7+2.7+8.3-0.5+2.3+3.3+.044+0.1+0.9+.107
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1971-721983-84
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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%
Walt Frazier 77 40.6 23.2 - - 6.7 5.8 - - - 2.4 8.7 17.0 .512 - - - 5.8 7.2 .808
difference:+10+2.3+5.6+0.6+7.3-0.1+2.1+5.4+.053+1.5+1.9+.002
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%
Walt Frazier 16 44.0 24.3 - - 7.0 6.1 - - - 3.0 9.3 17.3 .536 - - - 5.8 7.8 .736
difference:+5+4.1+6.1+0.4+7.4-0.4+2.1+4.3+.015+2.0+3.0+.064
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1972-731984-85
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive 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%
Walt Frazier 78 40.8 21.1 - - 7.3 5.9 - - - 2.4 8.7 17.8 .490 - - - 3.7 4.5 .817
difference:+1+4.7+2.8+1.1+6.7-0.4+2.2+6.1+.071+1.4+1.5+.026
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%
Walt Frazier 17 45.0 21.9 - - 7.3 6.2 - - - 3.1 8.8 17.2 .514 - - - 4.3 5.5 .777
difference:+2+8.8+4.4+0.2+9.0-0.6+2.7+5.3+.001+1.0+0.7+.070
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1973-741985-86
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 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%
Walt Frazier 80 41.7 20.5 1.5 5.2 6.7 6.9 2.0 0.2 - 2.7 8.4 17.9 .472 - - - 3.7 4.4 .838
difference:+8+5.9+1.7+0.3+0.5+0.8+5.7+0.4-0.9+1.7+5.1+.054+1.6+1.6+.033
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%
Walt Frazier 12 40.9 22.5 1.8 6.2 7.9 4.0 1.8 0.3 - 3.4 9.4 18.8 .502 - - - 3.7 4.1 .898
difference:+2+2.3+0.9+0.3+0.6+0.8+11.1+0.1+0.2-0.3+1.5+4.2+.035+2.2+3.5+.132
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1974-751986-87
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Walt Frazier 78 41.1 21.5 1.2 4.8 6.0 6.1 2.4 0.2 - 2.6 8.6 17.8 .483 - - - 4.2 5.1 .828
difference:+2+4.8+2.4+0.3+0.3+6.1+0.7+0.3-0.5+0.1+1.4+.039+2.5+2.8+.020
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%
Walt Frazier 3 41.3 23.7 1.0 5.7 6.7 7.0 3.7 0.0 - 1.3 9.7 15.3 .630 - - - 4.3 5.3 .813
difference:+15+4.3+1.9+0.6+0.5+1.0+5.2+2.0+0.4-0.8+1.6+0.2+.091+1.1+1.3+.018
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1975-761987-88
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Walt Frazier 59 41.1 19.1 1.3 5.4 6.8 5.9 1.8 0.2 - 2.8 8.0 16.4 .485 - - - 3.2 3.8 .823
difference:+13+4.5+0.5+0.1+0.4+0.6+6.0+0.2-0.8+1.2+2.6+.007+2.6+3.0+.030
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%
Walt Frazier DNP------ --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1976-771988-89
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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%
Walt Frazier 76 35.4 17.4 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.3 1.7 0.1 - 2.6 7.0 14.3 .489 - - - 3.4 4.4 .771
difference:+1+2.1+5.1+0.7+3.2+4.0+7.5+0.1+0.2-0.4+0.5+0.5+.020+3.3+2.9+.140
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%
Walt Frazier DNP------ --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1977-781989-90
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos 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%
Walt Frazier 51 32.6 16.2 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.1 1.5 0.3 2.2 2.4 6.6 14.0 .471 - - - 3.0 3.5 .850
difference:+28+4.6+6.1+0.5+2.0+2.5+7.4+0.2+0.1-1.5-0.3+0.3+0.4+.009+4.2+4.6+.040
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%
Walt Frazier 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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1978-791990-91
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement 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%
Walt Frazier 12 23.3 10.8 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.8 1.8 4.5 10.2 .443 - - - 1.8 2.3 .778
difference:+67+13.8+8.6+0.7+4.5+5.3+9.8+0.2-2.2-0.1+1.4+2.2+.034+4.8+5.0+.128
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%
Walt Frazier 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

Walt Frazier Magic Johnson
Season 1979-801995-96
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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%
Walt Frazier 3 9.0 3.3 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 3.7 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000
difference:+29+20.9+11.3+1.0+3.8+4.7+4.2+0.1+0.1-1.9-0.8+3.0+5.5+.102+0.7+1.5+.379+4.7+5.6+.144
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%
Walt Frazier DNP------ --- ----------
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