Magic Johnson vs. Jerry West: NBA Rankings Comparison

The ultimate statistical showdown: compare Magic Johnson and Jerry West all-time NBA rankings. Explore their historical standing across total and per-game stats, regular season and playoffs. Who ranks higher?

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings
Filter: Career Stats - Lakers

This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide an unparalleled look at where Magic Johnson, with a career spanning 13 seasons from 1980 to 1996, and Jerry West, with 14 seasons played from 1961 to 1974, stand among the league's historical elite.

Dive into a meticulous breakdown of their positions in every major statistical category—from scoring, rebounding and assists to steals, blocks, triple-doubles, and rankings by points thresholds—across both regular season and their entire playoff careers. Our comprehensive tables offer side-by-side rankings, value comparisons, and key differences, ensuring you have all the definitive data to assess their historical impact.

First, review a concise summary of how they rank in NBA history in the main categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) for both total and per-game stats, and below, you can then explore in detail all their stats and their historical rankings.

Magic Johnson vs. Jerry West
Total Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Totals
Season Playoffs
Magic Johnson Jerry West Magic Johnson Jerry West
Points
88th
27th
17th
9th
Rebounds
156th
245th
20th
72nd
Assists
7th
37th
1st
17th
Steals
24th
+300th
4th
+300th
Blocks
+300th
+300th
139th
+300th
Years13141313

Magic Johnson vs. Jerry West
Per Game Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Per Game
Season Playoffs
Magic Johnson Jerry West Magic Johnson Jerry West
Points
84th
7th
102nd
5th
Rebounds
213rd
+300th
163rd
+300th
Assists
1st
43rd
1st
44th
Steals
19th
+300th
19th
+300th
Blocks
+300th
+300th
+300th
+300th

Steals, blocks, offensive and defensive rebounds started to be recorded in the 1973-74 season. The 3-point shot was implemented in the 1979-80 season.
n/a = The player doesn't have data for the stat.
* Some years in Jerry West's career don't have data for these stats.

Comparisons on this page:

Their rankings for:
Season Totals - Playoffs Totals /
Season Per Game - Playoffs Per Game

Note: per game rankings include players with a minimum of games played

Career Totals,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
88th
27th
61 17,707 vs. 25,1927,485
Rebounds
156th
245th
89 6,559 vs. 5,3661,193
Assists
7th
37th
30 10,141 vs. 6,2383,903
Steals
24th
+300th
+276 1,724 vs. 811,643
Blocks
+300th
+300th
374 vs. 23351
Offensive Rebounds
201st
+300th
+99 1,601 vs. 301,571
Defensive Rebounds
100th
+300th
+200 4,958 vs. 864,872
Field Goals Made
118th
25th
93 6,211 vs. 9,0162,805
Field Goals Attempted
168th
27th
141 11,951 vs. 19,0327,081
3-Pointers Made
+300th
n/a
325 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
+300th
n/a
1,074 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
42nd
10th
32 4,960 vs. 7,1602,200
Free Throws Attempted
50th
11th
39 5,850 vs. 8,8012,951

Games and Years:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
262nd
226th
36 906 vs. 93226
Seasons
300th
194th
106 13 vs. 141

Triple-Doubles:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Triple-Doubles
4th
41st
37 138 vs. 16122

Rankings by Points Scored:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
139th
14th
125 6 vs. 6660
50+ point games
-
23rd
0 vs. 55
60+ point games
-
11th
0 vs. 11
70+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
17th
9th
8 3,701 vs. 4,457756
Rebounds
20th
72nd
52 1,465 vs. 855610
Assists
1st
17th
16 2,346 vs. 9701,376
Steals
4th
+300th
+296 358 vs. 0358
Blocks
139th
+300th
+161 64 vs. 064
Offensive Rebounds
27th
+300th
+273 349 vs. 0349
Defensive Rebounds
15th
+300th
+285 1,116 vs. 21,114
Field Goals Made
19th
9th
10 1,291 vs. 1,622331
Field Goals Attempted
25th
10th
15 2,552 vs. 3,460908
3-Pointers Made
273rd
n/a
51 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
179th
n/a
212 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
11th
7th
4 1,068 vs. 1,213145
Free Throws Attempted
12th
8th
4 1,274 vs. 1,506232

Games and Years:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
14th
44th
30 190 vs. 15337
Playoffs
45th
45th
0 13 vs. 130

Triple-Doubles:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Triple-Doubles
1st
38th
37 30 vs. 129

Rankings by Points Scored:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
37th
3rd
34 4 vs. 2016
50+ point games
-
5th
0 vs. 22
60+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
84th
7th
77 19.54 vs. 27.037.49
Rebounds per game
213rd
+300th
+87 7.24 vs. 5.761.48
Assists per game
1st
43rd
42 11.19 vs. 6.694.50
Steals per game
19th
+300th
+281 1.90 vs. 2.610.71
Blocks per game
+300th
+300th
0.41 vs. 0.740.33
Offensive Rebounds per game
+300th
+300th
1.77 vs. 0.970.80
Defensive Rebounds per game
115th
+300th
+185 5.47 vs. 2.772.70
Field Goals Made per game
138th
8th
130 6.86 vs. 9.672.82
Field Goals Attempted per game
227th
8th
219 13.19 vs. 20.427.23
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
n/a
0.36 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
n/a
1.19 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
37th
3rd
34 5.47 vs. 7.682.21
Free Throws Attempted per game
54th
4th
50 6.46 vs. 9.442.99

Career Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Magic Johnson Jerry West Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
102nd
5th
97 19.48 vs. 29.139.65
Rebounds per game
163rd
+300th
+137 7.71 vs. 5.592.12
Assists per game
1st
44th
43 12.35 vs. 6.346.01
Steals per game
19th
+300th
+281 1.88 vs. 0.001.88
Blocks per game
+300th
+300th
0.34 vs. 0.000.34
Offensive Rebounds per game
266th
+300th
+34 1.84 vs. 0.001.84
Defensive Rebounds per game
99th
+300th
+201 5.87 vs. 2.003.87
Field Goals Made per game
142nd
5th
137 6.79 vs. 10.603.81
Field Goals Attempted per game
212nd
9th
203 13.43 vs. 22.619.18
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
n/a
0.27 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
n/a
1.12 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
47th
6th
41 5.62 vs. 7.932.31
Free Throws Attempted per game
68th
9th
59 6.71 vs. 9.843.14

Note: the per game rankings on this page respect the minimums usually applied by the NBA for all-time leaders, this is 400 games for regular season stats unless the player reached these thresholds before: 10,000 points; 4,000 rebounds; 2,000 assists; 625 steals; 500 blocks; 250 3-pointers made. Also a minimum of 3 games is applied here for the Playoffs.