Complete Stats Comparison of Magic Johnson and Paul Pierce

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Magic Johnson and Paul Pierce 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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 Total	Years
Magic Johnson	3 (rebounds, assists, steals)	1 (assists)	13 seasons
Paul Pierce	2 (points, blocks)	4 (points, rebounds, steals, blocks)	19 seasons

Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Years
Magic Johnson	4 (points, rebounds, assists, steals)	4 (points, rebounds, assists, steals)	13 Playoffs
Paul Pierce	1 (blocks)	1 (blocks)	14 Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Better Percentage
Magic Johnson	8 stats	4 stats	2 stats
Paul Pierce	4 stats	10 stats	1 stat

Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Better Percentage
Magic Johnson	9 stats	10 stats	2 stats
Paul Pierce	3 stats	4 stats	1 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, Magic Johnson had better averages in rebounds, assists and steals while Paul Pierce had better averages in points and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in field goals made (+0.4), free throws made (+0.3), offensive rebounds (+1.0), defensive rebounds (+0.7), total rebounds (+1.6), assists (+7.7) and steals (+0.6)

- Paul Pierce had better averages in points (+0.2), 3-pointers made (+1.2) and blocks (+0.2)

- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.3)

- Paul Pierce had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.4)

- Magic Johnson had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.1)

- Paul Pierce had higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.3) and 3-pointers attempted (+3.1)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points

Magic Johnson	19.5
Paul Pierce	19.7	+0.2

Field Goals Made

Magic Johnson	6.9	+0.4
Paul Pierce	6.5

Field Goals Attempted

Magic Johnson	13.2
Paul Pierce	14.5	+1.3

3-Pointers Made

Magic Johnson	0.4
Paul Pierce	1.6	+1.2

3-Pointers Attempted

Magic Johnson	1.2
Paul Pierce	4.3	+3.1

Free Throws Made

Magic Johnson	5.5	+0.3
Paul Pierce	5.2

Free Throws Attempted

Magic Johnson	6.5	+0.1
Paul Pierce	6.4

Offensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	1.8	+1.0
Paul Pierce	0.8

Defensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	5.5	+0.7
Paul Pierce	4.8

Total Rebounds

Magic Johnson	7.2	+1.6
Paul Pierce	5.6

Assists

Magic Johnson	11.2	+7.7
Paul Pierce	3.5

Steals

Magic Johnson	1.9	+0.6
Paul Pierce	1.3

Blocks

Magic Johnson	0.4
Paul Pierce	0.6	+0.2

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	3.9	+1.3
Paul Pierce	2.6

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	2.3
Paul Pierce	2.7	+0.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Magic Johnson had more offensive rebounds (+509) and assists (+5,433)

- Paul Pierce played more years (+6) and games (+437), and had more points (+8,690), field goals made (+2,457), 3-pointers made (+1,818), free throws made (+1,958), defensive rebounds (+1,477), total rebounds (+968), steals (+28) and blocks (+371)

- Paul Pierce had more turnovers (+26) and personal fouls (+1,593)

- Paul Pierce had more field goals attempted (+7,514), 3-pointers attempted (+4,742) and free throws attempted (+2,728)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years

Magic Johnson	13
Paul Pierce	19	+6

Games

Magic Johnson	906
Paul Pierce	1,343	+437

Points

Magic Johnson	17,707
Paul Pierce	26,397	+8,690

Field Goals Made

Magic Johnson	6,211
Paul Pierce	8,668	+2,457

Field Goals Attempted

Magic Johnson	11,951
Paul Pierce	19,465	+7,514

3-Pointers Made

Magic Johnson	325
Paul Pierce	2,143	+1,818

3-Pointers Attempted

Magic Johnson	1,074
Paul Pierce	5,816	+4,742

Free Throws Made

Magic Johnson	4,960
Paul Pierce	6,918	+1,958

Free Throws Attempted

Magic Johnson	5,850
Paul Pierce	8,578	+2,728

Offensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	1,601	+509
Paul Pierce	1,092

Defensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	4,958
Paul Pierce	6,435	+1,477

Total Rebounds

Magic Johnson	6,559
Paul Pierce	7,527	+968

Assists

Magic Johnson	10,141	+5,433
Paul Pierce	4,708

Steals

Magic Johnson	1,724
Paul Pierce	1,752	+28

Blocks

Magic Johnson	374
Paul Pierce	745	+371

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	3,506
Paul Pierce	3,532	+26

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	2,050
Paul Pierce	3,643	+1,593

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage

Magic Johnson	52.0%	+7.5
Paul Pierce	44.5%

3-Point Percentage

Magic Johnson	30.3%
Paul Pierce	36.8%	+6.5

Free Throw Percentage

Magic Johnson	84.8%	+4.2
Paul Pierce	80.6%

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 points, rebounds, assists and steals while Paul Pierce had better average in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in points (+0.8), field goals made (+0.8), free throws made (+0.5), offensive rebounds (+1.1), defensive rebounds (+0.8), total rebounds (+1.9), assists (+8.9) and steals (+0.7)

- Paul Pierce had better averages in 3-pointers made (+1.3) and blocks (+0.3)

- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.9)

- Paul Pierce had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.4)

- Magic Johnson had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.6)

- Paul Pierce had higher averages in field goals attempted (+0.8) and 3-pointers attempted (+3.5)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points

Magic Johnson	19.5	+0.8
Paul Pierce	18.7

Field Goals Made

Magic Johnson	6.8	+0.8
Paul Pierce	6.0

Field Goals Attempted

Magic Johnson	13.4
Paul Pierce	14.2	+0.8

3-Pointers Made

Magic Johnson	0.3
Paul Pierce	1.6	+1.3

3-Pointers Attempted

Magic Johnson	1.1
Paul Pierce	4.6	+3.5

Free Throws Made

Magic Johnson	5.6	+0.5
Paul Pierce	5.1

Free Throws Attempted

Magic Johnson	6.7	+0.6
Paul Pierce	6.1

Offensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	1.8	+1.1
Paul Pierce	0.7

Defensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	5.9	+0.8
Paul Pierce	5.1

Total Rebounds

Magic Johnson	7.7	+1.9
Paul Pierce	5.8

Assists

Magic Johnson	12.3	+8.9
Paul Pierce	3.4

Steals

Magic Johnson	1.9	+0.7
Paul Pierce	1.2

Blocks

Magic Johnson	0.3
Paul Pierce	0.6	+0.3

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	3.7	+0.9
Paul Pierce	2.8

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	2.8
Paul Pierce	3.2	+0.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Magic Johnson played more games (+20) and had more points (+521), field goals made (+269), free throws made (+208), offensive rebounds (+224), defensive rebounds (+256), total rebounds (+480), assists (+1,767) and steals (+154)

- Paul Pierce played more years (+1) and had more 3-pointers made (+225) and blocks (+41)

- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+220)

- Paul Pierce had more personal fouls (+23)

- Magic Johnson had more field goals attempted (+137) and free throws attempted (+238)

- Paul Pierce had more 3-pointers attempted (+565)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years

Magic Johnson	13
Paul Pierce	14	+1

Games

Magic Johnson	190	+20
Paul Pierce	170

Points

Magic Johnson	3,701	+521
Paul Pierce	3,180

Field Goals Made

Magic Johnson	1,291	+269
Paul Pierce	1,022

Field Goals Attempted

Magic Johnson	2,552	+137
Paul Pierce	2,415

3-Pointers Made

Magic Johnson	51
Paul Pierce	276	+225

3-Pointers Attempted

Magic Johnson	212
Paul Pierce	777	+565

Free Throws Made

Magic Johnson	1,068	+208
Paul Pierce	860

Free Throws Attempted

Magic Johnson	1,274	+238
Paul Pierce	1,036

Offensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	349	+224
Paul Pierce	125

Defensive Rebounds

Magic Johnson	1,116	+256
Paul Pierce	860

Total Rebounds

Magic Johnson	1,465	+480
Paul Pierce	985

Assists

Magic Johnson	2,346	+1,767
Paul Pierce	579

Steals

Magic Johnson	358	+154
Paul Pierce	204

Blocks

Magic Johnson	64
Paul Pierce	105	+41

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	696	+220
Paul Pierce	476

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Magic Johnson	524
Paul Pierce	547	+23

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 Paul Pierce had better 3-point percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage

Magic Johnson	50.6%	+8.3
Paul Pierce	42.3%

3-Point Percentage

Magic Johnson	24.1%
Paul Pierce	35.5%	+11.4

Free Throw Percentage

Magic Johnson	83.8%	+0.8
Paul Pierce	83.0%