Complete Stats Comparison of Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal 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 / 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 Johnson2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
seasons
Shaquille O'Neal3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		19
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Magic Johnson2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
Playoffs
Shaquille O'Neal3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		17
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Magic Johnson5
stats		4
stats		2
stats
Shaquille O'Neal7
stats		10
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Magic Johnson5
stats		4
stats		2
stats
Shaquille O'Neal7
stats		10
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, Shaquille O'Neal 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?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.4), free throws made (+0.6), assists (+8.7) and steals (+1.3)
- Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in points (+4.2), field goals made (+2.5), offensive rebounds (+1.7), defensive rebounds (+1.9), total rebounds (+3.7) and blocks (+1.9)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.2)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+1.1)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.2)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.9) and free throws attempted (+2.8)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Magic Johnson 19.5
Shaquille O'Neal 23.7
+4.2
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6.9
Shaquille O'Neal 9.4
+2.5
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 13.2
Shaquille O'Neal 16.1
+2.9
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 0.4
+0.4
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1.2
+1.2
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 5.5
+0.6
Shaquille O'Neal 4.9
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 6.5
Shaquille O'Neal 9.3
+2.8
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1.8
Shaquille O'Neal 3.5
+1.7
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 5.5
Shaquille O'Neal 7.4
+1.9
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 7.2
Shaquille O'Neal 10.9
+3.7
Assists
Magic Johnson 11.2
+8.7
Shaquille O'Neal 2.5
Steals
Magic Johnson 1.9
+1.3
Shaquille O'Neal 0.6
Blocks
Magic Johnson 0.4
Shaquille O'Neal 2.3
+1.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3.9
+1.2
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2.3
Shaquille O'Neal 3.4
+1.1

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Shaquille O'Neal 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?

- Magic Johnson had more 3-pointers made (+324), assists (+7,115) and steals (+985)
- Shaquille O'Neal played more years (+6) and games (+301), and had more points (+10,889), field goals made (+5,119), free throws made (+975), offensive rebounds (+2,608), defensive rebounds (+3,932), total rebounds (+6,540) and blocks (+2,358)
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+196)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more personal fouls (+2,096)
- Magic Johnson had more 3-pointers attempted (+1,052)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more field goals attempted (+7,506) and free throws attempted (+5,402)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Magic Johnson 13
Shaquille O'Neal 19
+6
Games
Magic Johnson 906
Shaquille O'Neal 1,207
+301
Points
Magic Johnson 17,707
Shaquille O'Neal 28,596
+10,889
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6,211
Shaquille O'Neal 11,330
+5,119
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 11,951
Shaquille O'Neal 19,457
+7,506
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 325
+324
Shaquille O'Neal 1
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1,074
+1,052
Shaquille O'Neal 22
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 4,960
Shaquille O'Neal 5,935
+975
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 5,850
Shaquille O'Neal 11,252
+5,402
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,601
Shaquille O'Neal 4,209
+2,608
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 4,958
Shaquille O'Neal 8,890
+3,932
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 6,559
Shaquille O'Neal 13,099
+6,540
Assists
Magic Johnson 10,141
+7,115
Shaquille O'Neal 3,026
Steals
Magic Johnson 1,724
+985
Shaquille O'Neal 739
Blocks
Magic Johnson 374
Shaquille O'Neal 2,732
+2,358
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3,506
+196
Shaquille O'Neal 3,310
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2,050
Shaquille O'Neal 4,146
+2,096

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Magic Johnson had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Shaquille O'Neal had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson 52.0%
Shaquille O'Neal 58.2%
+6.2
3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson 30.3%
+25.8
Shaquille O'Neal 4.5%
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson 84.8%
+32.1
Shaquille O'Neal 52.7%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Shaquille O'Neal 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?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.3), free throws made (+0.2), assists (+9.6) and steals (+1.4)
- Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in points (+4.8), field goals made (+2.6), offensive rebounds (+2.2), defensive rebounds (+1.7), total rebounds (+3.9) and blocks (+1.8)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.7)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.8)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.1)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.4) and free throws attempted (+4.0)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Magic Johnson 19.5
Shaquille O'Neal 24.3
+4.8
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6.8
Shaquille O'Neal 9.4
+2.6
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 13.4
Shaquille O'Neal 16.8
+3.4
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 0.3
+0.3
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1.1
+1.1
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 5.6
+0.2
Shaquille O'Neal 5.4
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 6.7
Shaquille O'Neal 10.7
+4.0
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1.8
Shaquille O'Neal 4.0
+2.2
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 5.9
Shaquille O'Neal 7.6
+1.7
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 7.7
Shaquille O'Neal 11.6
+3.9
Assists
Magic Johnson 12.3
+9.6
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7
Steals
Magic Johnson 1.9
+1.4
Shaquille O'Neal 0.5
Blocks
Magic Johnson 0.3
Shaquille O'Neal 2.1
+1.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3.7
+0.7
Shaquille O'Neal 3.0
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2.8
Shaquille O'Neal 3.6
+0.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Magic Johnson had more 3-pointers made (+51), assists (+1,764) and steals (+241)
- Shaquille O'Neal played more years (+4) and games (+26), and had more points (+1,549), field goals made (+750), free throws made (+100), offensive rebounds (+517), defensive rebounds (+526), total rebounds (+1,043) and blocks (+395)
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+47)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more personal fouls (+245)
- Magic Johnson had more 3-pointers attempted (+212)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more field goals attempted (+1,075) and free throws attempted (+1,043)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Magic Johnson 13
Shaquille O'Neal 17
+4
Games
Magic Johnson 190
Shaquille O'Neal 216
+26
Points
Magic Johnson 3,701
Shaquille O'Neal 5,250
+1,549
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 1,291
Shaquille O'Neal 2,041
+750
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 2,552
Shaquille O'Neal 3,627
+1,075
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 51
+51
Shaquille O'Neal 0
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 212
+212
Shaquille O'Neal 0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 1,068
Shaquille O'Neal 1,168
+100
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 1,274
Shaquille O'Neal 2,317
+1,043
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 349
Shaquille O'Neal 866
+517
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,116
Shaquille O'Neal 1,642
+526
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,465
Shaquille O'Neal 2,508
+1,043
Assists
Magic Johnson 2,346
+1,764
Shaquille O'Neal 582
Steals
Magic Johnson 358
+241
Shaquille O'Neal 117
Blocks
Magic Johnson 64
Shaquille O'Neal 459
+395
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 696
+47
Shaquille O'Neal 649
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 524
Shaquille O'Neal 769
+245

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Magic Johnson had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Shaquille O'Neal had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson 50.6%
Shaquille O'Neal 56.3%
+5.7
3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson 24.1%
+24.1
Shaquille O'Neal 0%
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson 83.8%
+33.4
Shaquille O'Neal 50.4%
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