Gilbert Arenas vs. Magic Johnson: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Magic Johnson and Gilbert Arenas to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Magic Johnson scored more total points both in the regular season and Playoffs and also has a better playoff average while Gilbert Arenas has a better scoring average in the regular season. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points by Thresholds

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

= NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	10.9		2002	47
Magic Johnson	18.0	+7.1	1980	77

Season 2	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	18.3		2003	82
Magic Johnson	21.6	+3.3	1981	37

Season 3	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	19.6	+1.0	2004	55
Magic Johnson	18.6		1982	78

Season 4	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	25.5	+8.7	2005	80
Magic Johnson	16.8		1983	79

Season 5	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	29.3	+11.7	2006	80
Magic Johnson	17.6		1984	67

Season 6	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	28.4	+10.1	2007	74
Magic Johnson	18.3		1985	77

Season 7	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	19.4	+0.6	2008	13
Magic Johnson	18.8		1986	72

Season 8	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	13.0		2009	2
Magic Johnson	23.9	+10.9	1987	80

Season 9	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	22.6	+3.0	2010	32
Magic Johnson	19.6		1988	72

Season 10	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	10.8		2011	70
Magic Johnson	22.5	+11.7	1989	77

Season 11	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	4.2		2012	17
Magic Johnson	22.3	+18.1	1990	79

Magic Johnson's additional seasons:

* Magic Johnson played 2 seasons more than Gilbert Arenas in the NBA. In those years—his seasons 12 to 13, from 1991 to 1996—he averaged 18.0 points in a total of 111 regular season games.

Playoffs

Rookie Season	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	-	DNP	2002	0
Magic Johnson	18.3	+18.3	1980	16

Season 2	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	-	DNP	2003	0
Magic Johnson	17.0	+17.0	1981	3

Season 3	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	-	DNP	2004	0
Magic Johnson	17.4	+17.4	1982	14

Season 4	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	23.6	+5.7	2005	10
Magic Johnson	17.9		1983	15

Season 5	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	34.0	+15.8	2006	6
Magic Johnson	18.2		1984	21

Season 6	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	-	DNP	2007	0
Magic Johnson	17.5	+17.5	1985	19

Season 7	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	10.8		2008	4
Magic Johnson	21.6	+10.8	1986	14

Season 8	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	-	DNP	2009	0
Magic Johnson	21.8	+21.8	1987	18

Season 9	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	-	DNP	2010	0
Magic Johnson	19.9	+19.9	1988	24

Season 10	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	8.6		2011	5
Magic Johnson	18.4	+9.8	1989	14

Season 11	Points per game		Year	Games
Gilbert Arenas	0.7		2012	6
Magic Johnson	25.2	+24.5	1990	9

Magic Johnson's additional Playoffs:

* During his 2 additional NBA seasons, Magic Johnson played in two Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 20.7 points in a total of 23 games.