Complete Stats Comparison of Magic Johnson and Yao Ming

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Magic Johnson and Yao Ming 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 TotalYears
Magic Johnson3
(points, assists, steals)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		13
seasons
Yao Ming2
(rebounds, blocks)		1
(blocks)		8
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)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		13
Playoffs
Yao Ming3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		0
4
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Magic Johnson6
stats		11
stats		2
stats
Yao Ming6
stats		3
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Magic Johnson4
stats		12
stats		2
stats
Yao Ming8
stats		2
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 points, assists and steals while Yao Ming had better averages in rebounds and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Magic Johnson had better averages in points (+0.5), 3-pointers made (+0.4), free throws made (+0.4), assists (+9.6) and steals (+1.5)
- Yao Ming had better averages in field goals made (+0.1), offensive rebounds (+0.7), defensive rebounds (+1.2), total rebounds (+2.0) and blocks (+1.5)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.2)
- Yao Ming had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+1.0)
- Magic Johnson had higher averages in 3-pointers attempted (+1.2) and free throws attempted (+0.4)
- Yao Ming had higher average in field goals attempted (+0.1)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Magic Johnson 19.5
+0.5
Yao Ming 19.0
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6.9
Yao Ming 7.0
+0.1
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 13.2
Yao Ming 13.3
+0.1
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 0.4
+0.4
Yao Ming 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1.2
+1.2
Yao Ming 0.0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 5.5
+0.4
Yao Ming 5.1
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 6.5
+0.4
Yao Ming 6.1
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1.8
Yao Ming 2.5
+0.7
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 5.5
Yao Ming 6.7
+1.2
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 7.2
Yao Ming 9.2
+2.0
Assists
Magic Johnson 11.2
+9.6
Yao Ming 1.6
Steals
Magic Johnson 1.9
+1.5
Yao Ming 0.4
Blocks
Magic Johnson 0.4
Yao Ming 1.9
+1.5
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3.9
+1.2
Yao Ming 2.7
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2.3
Yao Ming 3.3
+1.0

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 points, rebounds, assists and steals while Yao Ming had more total blocks.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Magic Johnson played more years (+5) and games (+420), and had more points (+8,460), field goals made (+2,831), 3-pointers made (+323), free throws made (+2,475), offensive rebounds (+368), defensive rebounds (+1,697), total rebounds (+2,065), assists (+9,372) and steals (+1,535)
- Yao Ming had more blocks (+546)
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+2,195) and personal fouls (+454)
-
- Magic Johnson had more field goals attempted (+5,506), 3-pointers attempted (+1,064) and free throws attempted (+2,866)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Magic Johnson 13
+5
Yao Ming 8
Games
Magic Johnson 906
+420
Yao Ming 486
Points
Magic Johnson 17,707
+8,460
Yao Ming 9,247
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6,211
+2,831
Yao Ming 3,380
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 11,951
+5,506
Yao Ming 6,445
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 325
+323
Yao Ming 2
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1,074
+1,064
Yao Ming 10
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 4,960
+2,475
Yao Ming 2,485
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 5,850
+2,866
Yao Ming 2,984
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,601
+368
Yao Ming 1,233
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 4,958
+1,697
Yao Ming 3,261
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 6,559
+2,065
Yao Ming 4,494
Assists
Magic Johnson 10,141
+9,372
Yao Ming 769
Steals
Magic Johnson 1,724
+1,535
Yao Ming 189
Blocks
Magic Johnson 374
Yao Ming 920
+546
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3,506
+2,195
Yao Ming 1,311
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2,050
+454
Yao Ming 1,596

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 Yao Ming had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson 52.0%
Yao Ming 52.4%
+0.4
3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson 30.3%
+10.3
Yao Ming 20.0%
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson 84.8%
+1.5
Yao Ming 83.3%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Yao Ming 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), assists (+11.3) and steals (+1.6)
- Yao Ming had better averages in points (+0.3), field goals made (+0.2), free throws made (+0.3), offensive rebounds (+0.9), defensive rebounds (+0.7), total rebounds (+1.6) and blocks (+1.2)
- Magic Johnson had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.8)
- Yao Ming had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+1.0)
- Magic Johnson had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.1)
- Yao Ming had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.4)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Magic Johnson 19.5
Yao Ming 19.8
+0.3
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 6.8
Yao Ming 7.0
+0.2
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 13.4
Yao Ming 13.4
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 0.3
+0.3
Yao Ming 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 1.1
+1.1
Yao Ming 0.0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 5.6
Yao Ming 5.9
+0.3
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 6.7
Yao Ming 7.1
+0.4
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1.8
Yao Ming 2.7
+0.9
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 5.9
Yao Ming 6.6
+0.7
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 7.7
Yao Ming 9.3
+1.6
Assists
Magic Johnson 12.3
+11.3
Yao Ming 1.0
Steals
Magic Johnson 1.9
+1.6
Yao Ming 0.3
Blocks
Magic Johnson 0.3
Yao Ming 1.5
+1.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 3.7
+0.8
Yao Ming 2.9
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 2.8
Yao Ming 3.8
+1.0

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 Yao Ming.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Magic Johnson played more years (+9) and games (+162), and had more points (+3,146), field goals made (+1,096), 3-pointers made (+51), free throws made (+903), offensive rebounds (+273), defensive rebounds (+931), total rebounds (+1,204), assists (+2,317), steals (+349) and blocks (+22)
-
- Magic Johnson had more turnovers (+614) and personal fouls (+419)
-
- Magic Johnson had more field goals attempted (+2,176), 3-pointers attempted (+212) and free throws attempted (+1,076)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Magic Johnson 13
+9
Yao Ming 4
Games
Magic Johnson 190
+162
Yao Ming 28
Points
Magic Johnson 3,701
+3,146
Yao Ming 555
Field Goals Made
Magic Johnson 1,291
+1,096
Yao Ming 195
Field Goals Attempted
Magic Johnson 2,552
+2,176
Yao Ming 376
3-Pointers Made
Magic Johnson 51
+51
Yao Ming 0
3-Pointers Attempted
Magic Johnson 212
+212
Yao Ming 0
Free Throws Made
Magic Johnson 1,068
+903
Yao Ming 165
Free Throws Attempted
Magic Johnson 1,274
+1,076
Yao Ming 198
Offensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 349
+273
Yao Ming 76
Defensive Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,116
+931
Yao Ming 185
Total Rebounds
Magic Johnson 1,465
+1,204
Yao Ming 261
Assists
Magic Johnson 2,346
+2,317
Yao Ming 29
Steals
Magic Johnson 358
+349
Yao Ming 9
Blocks
Magic Johnson 64
+22
Yao Ming 42
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 696
+614
Yao Ming 82
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Magic Johnson 524
+419
Yao Ming 105

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 Yao Ming had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Magic Johnson 50.6%
Yao Ming 51.9%
+1.3
3-Point Percentage
Magic Johnson 24.1%
+24.1
Yao Ming 0%
Free Throw Percentage
Magic Johnson 83.8%
+0.5
Yao Ming 83.3%
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