Complete Stats Comparison of Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas 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 / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

This in-depth 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
Magic Johnson4
(points, rebounds, assists, blocks)		3
(rebounds, assists, blocks)		13
seasons
Isiah Thomas0
2
(points, steals)		13
seasons
they are tied1
(steals)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Magic Johnson2
(rebounds, assists)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		13
Playoffs
Isiah Thomas2
(points, steals)		0
9
Playoffs
they are tied1
(blocks)

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Magic Johnson8
stats		8
stats		3
stats
Isiah Thomas2
stats		5
stats		0
stats
they are tied2
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Magic Johnson6
stats		11
stats		2
stats
Isiah Thomas5
stats		3
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, Magic Johnson had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and blocks than Isiah Thomas. They are tied in steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in points (+0.3), free throws made (+1.4), offensive rebounds (+0.8), defensive rebounds (+2.9), total rebounds (+3.6), assists (+1.9) and blocks (+0.1)
- Isiah Thomas had better average in field goals made (+0.4)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.1)
- Isiah Thomas had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.7)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in free throws attempted (+1.1)
- Isiah Thomas had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.0) and 3-pointers attempted (+0.2)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Magic Johnson 19.5
+0.3
Isiah Thomas 19.2
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6.9
Isiah Thomas 7.3
+0.4
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 13.2
Isiah Thomas 16.2
+3.0
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 0.4
Isiah Thomas 0.4
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1.2
Isiah Thomas 1.4
+0.2
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 5.5
+1.4
Isiah Thomas 4.1
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 6.5
+1.1
Isiah Thomas 5.4
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1.8
+0.8
Isiah Thomas 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 5.5
+2.9
Isiah Thomas 2.6
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 7.2
+3.6
Isiah Thomas 3.6
Assists
Magic Johnson 11.2
+1.9
Isiah Thomas 9.3
Steals
Magic Johnson 1.9
Isiah Thomas 1.9
Blocks
Magic Johnson 0.4
+0.1
Isiah Thomas 0.3
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3.9
+0.1
Isiah Thomas 3.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2.3
Isiah Thomas 3.0
+0.7

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Magic Johnson had more free throws made (+924), offensive rebounds (+650), defensive rebounds (+2,431), total rebounds (+3,081), assists (+1,080) and blocks (+125)
- Isiah Thomas played more games (+73) and had more points (+1,115), field goals made (+983), 3-pointers made (+73) and steals (+137)
-
- Isiah Thomas had more turnovers (+176) and personal fouls (+921)
- Magic Johnson had more free throws attempted (+534)
- Isiah Thomas had more field goals attempted (+3,953) and 3-pointers attempted (+299)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Magic Johnson 13
Isiah Thomas 13
Games
Magic Johnson 906
Isiah Thomas 979
+73
Points
Magic Johnson 17,707
Isiah Thomas 18,822
+1,115
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6,211
Isiah Thomas 7,194
+983
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 11,951
Isiah Thomas 15,904
+3,953
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 325
Isiah Thomas 398
+73
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1,074
Isiah Thomas 1,373
+299
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 4,960
+924
Isiah Thomas 4,036
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 5,850
+534
Isiah Thomas 5,316
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,601
+650
Isiah Thomas 951
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 4,958
+2,431
Isiah Thomas 2,527
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 6,559
+3,081
Isiah Thomas 3,478
Assists
Magic Johnson 10,141
+1,080
Isiah Thomas 9,061
Steals
Magic Johnson 1,724
Isiah Thomas 1,861
+137
Blocks
Magic Johnson 374
+125
Isiah Thomas 249
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3,506
Isiah Thomas 3,682
+176
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2,050
Isiah Thomas 2,971
+921

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Magic Johnson had better field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Isiah Thomas.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson 52.0%
+6.8
Isiah Thomas 45.2%
3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson 30.3%
+1.3
Isiah Thomas 29.0%
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson 84.8%
+8.9
Isiah Thomas 75.9%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Magic Johnson had better averages in rebounds and assists while Isiah Thomas had better averages in points and steals. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in free throws made (+0.8), offensive rebounds (+0.6), defensive rebounds (+2.4), total rebounds (+3.0) and assists (+3.4)
- Isiah Thomas had better averages in points (+0.9), field goals made (+0.6), 3-pointers made (+0.4) and steals (+0.2)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.4)
- Isiah Thomas had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.5)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.5)
- Isiah Thomas had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.4) and 3-pointers attempted (+1.0)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Magic Johnson 19.5
Isiah Thomas 20.4
+0.9
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6.8
Isiah Thomas 7.4
+0.6
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 13.4
Isiah Thomas 16.8
+3.4
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 0.3
Isiah Thomas 0.7
+0.4
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1.1
Isiah Thomas 2.1
+1.0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 5.6
+0.8
Isiah Thomas 4.8
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 6.7
+0.5
Isiah Thomas 6.2
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1.8
+0.6
Isiah Thomas 1.2
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 5.9
+2.4
Isiah Thomas 3.5
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 7.7
+3.0
Isiah Thomas 4.7
Assists
Magic Johnson 12.3
+3.4
Isiah Thomas 8.9
Steals
Magic Johnson 1.9
Isiah Thomas 2.1
+0.2
Blocks
Magic Johnson 0.3
Isiah Thomas 0.3
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3.7
+0.4
Isiah Thomas 3.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2.8
Isiah Thomas 3.3
+0.5

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Magic Johnson had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Isiah Thomas.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Magic Johnson played more years (+4) and games (+79), and had more points (+1,440), field goals made (+466), free throws made (+538), offensive rebounds (+215), defensive rebounds (+726), total rebounds (+941), assists (+1,359), steals (+124) and blocks (+26)
- Isiah Thomas had more 3-pointers made (+30)
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+327) and personal fouls (+161)
-
- Magic Johnson had more field goals attempted (+683) and free throws attempted (+585)
- Isiah Thomas had more 3-pointers attempted (+22)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Magic Johnson 13
+4
Isiah Thomas 9
Games
Magic Johnson 190
+79
Isiah Thomas 111
Points
Magic Johnson 3,701
+1,440
Isiah Thomas 2,261
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 1,291
+466
Isiah Thomas 825
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 2,552
+683
Isiah Thomas 1,869
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 51
Isiah Thomas 81
+30
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 212
Isiah Thomas 234
+22
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 1,068
+538
Isiah Thomas 530
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 1,274
+585
Isiah Thomas 689
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 349
+215
Isiah Thomas 134
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,116
+726
Isiah Thomas 390
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,465
+941
Isiah Thomas 524
Assists
Magic Johnson 2,346
+1,359
Isiah Thomas 987
Steals
Magic Johnson 358
+124
Isiah Thomas 234
Blocks
Magic Johnson 64
+26
Isiah Thomas 38
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 696
+327
Isiah Thomas 369
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 524
+161
Isiah Thomas 363

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson 50.6%
+6.5
Isiah Thomas 44.1%
3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson 24.1%
Isiah Thomas 34.6%
+10.5
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson 83.8%
+6.9
Isiah Thomas 76.9%
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