Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Stats / Season by season / Games against each other

This in-dept comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Larry Bird3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		13
seasons
Magic Johnson2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Larry Bird3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		12
Playoffs
Magic Johnson2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird8
stats		8
stats		2
stats
Magic Johnson4
stats		5
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird8
stats		9
stats		2
stats
Magic Johnson3
stats		5
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while Magic Johnson had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+4.8), field goals made (+2.7), 3-pointers made (+0.3), offensive rebounds (+0.2), defensive rebounds (+2.5), total rebounds (+2.8) and blocks (+0.4)
- Magic Johnson had better averages in free throws made (+1.1), assists (+4.9) and steals (+0.2)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.2)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.8)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+6.1) and 3-pointers attempted (+0.7)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in free throws attempted (+1.5)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+4.8
Magic Johnson 19.5
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+2.7
Magic Johnson 6.9
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+6.1
Magic Johnson 13.2
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.3
Magic Johnson 0.4
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
+0.7
Magic Johnson 1.2
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
Magic Johnson 5.5
+1.1
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
Magic Johnson 6.5
+1.5
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
+0.2
Magic Johnson 1.8
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+2.5
Magic Johnson 5.5
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+2.8
Magic Johnson 7.2
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
Magic Johnson 11.2
+4.9
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
Magic Johnson 1.9
+0.2
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
+0.4
Magic Johnson 0.4
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Magic Johnson 3.9
+0.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
+0.2
Magic Johnson 2.3

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Magic Johnson had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had more points (+4,084), field goals made (+2,380), 3-pointers made (+324), offensive rebounds (+156), defensive rebounds (+2,259), total rebounds (+2,415) and blocks (+381)
- Magic Johnson played more games (+9) and had more free throws made (+1,000), assists (+4,446) and steals (+168)
- Larry Bird had more personal fouls (+229)
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+690)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+5,383) and 3-pointers attempted (+653)
- Magic Johnson had more free throws attempted (+1,379)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
Magic Johnson 13
Games
Larry Bird 897
Magic Johnson 906
+9
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
+4,084
Magic Johnson 17,707
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
+2,380
Magic Johnson 6,211
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
+5,383
Magic Johnson 11,951
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
+324
Magic Johnson 325
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
+653
Magic Johnson 1,074
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
Magic Johnson 4,960
+1,000
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
Magic Johnson 5,850
+1,379
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
+156
Magic Johnson 1,601
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
+2,259
Magic Johnson 4,958
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
+2,415
Magic Johnson 6,559
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
Magic Johnson 10,141
+4,446
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
Magic Johnson 1,724
+168
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
+381
Magic Johnson 374
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
Magic Johnson 3,506
+690
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
+229
Magic Johnson 2,050

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Larry Bird had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Magic Johnson had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
Magic Johnson 52.0%
+2.4
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
+7.3
Magic Johnson 30.3%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+3.8
Magic Johnson 84.8%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while Magic Johnson had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+4.3), field goals made (+2.1), 3-pointers made (+0.2), offensive rebounds (+0.4), defensive rebounds (+2.2), total rebounds (+2.6) and blocks (+0.6)
- Magic Johnson had better averages in free throws made (+0.1), assists (+5.8) and steals (+0.1)
-
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.6)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+5.4) and 3-pointers attempted (+0.4)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.5)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
+4.3
Magic Johnson 19.5
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+2.1
Magic Johnson 6.8
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+5.4
Magic Johnson 13.4
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
+0.2
Magic Johnson 0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
+0.4
Magic Johnson 1.1
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
Magic Johnson 5.6
+0.1
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
Magic Johnson 6.7
+0.5
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
+0.4
Magic Johnson 1.8
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
+2.2
Magic Johnson 5.9
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+2.6
Magic Johnson 7.7
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
Magic Johnson 12.3
+5.8
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
Magic Johnson 1.9
+0.1
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
+0.6
Magic Johnson 0.3
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Magic Johnson 3.7
+0.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
Magic Johnson 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Magic Johnson had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had more points (+196), field goals made (+167), 3-pointers made (+29), offensive rebounds (+11), defensive rebounds (+207), total rebounds (+218) and blocks (+81)
- Magic Johnson played more years (+1) and games (+26), and had more free throws made (+167), assists (+1,284) and steals (+62)
-
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+190) and personal fouls (+58)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+538) and 3-pointers attempted (+37)
- Magic Johnson had more free throws attempted (+262)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
Magic Johnson 13
+1
Games
Larry Bird 164
Magic Johnson 190
+26
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+196
Magic Johnson 3,701
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+167
Magic Johnson 1,291
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+538
Magic Johnson 2,552
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
+29
Magic Johnson 51
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
+37
Magic Johnson 212
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
Magic Johnson 1,068
+167
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
Magic Johnson 1,274
+262
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
+11
Magic Johnson 349
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+207
Magic Johnson 1,116
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+218
Magic Johnson 1,465
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
Magic Johnson 2,346
+1,284
Steals
Larry Bird 296
Magic Johnson 358
+62
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
+81
Magic Johnson 64
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
Magic Johnson 696
+190
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
Magic Johnson 524
+58

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Larry Bird had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Magic Johnson had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
Magic Johnson 50.6%
+3.4
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
+8.0
Magic Johnson 24.1%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
+5.2
Magic Johnson 83.8%
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