Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, one of the most iconic players in NBA history, had a legendary career defined by brilliance, leadership, and showmanship. Standing at 6’9″, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his size, court vision, and versatility. Drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, he immediately made an impact, leading the team to an NBA championship in his rookie season and earning Finals MVP honors.
Throughout the 1980s, Johnson was the centerpiece of the Lakers’ “Showtime” era — a fast-paced, high-scoring style of play that captivated fans and dominated the league. Teaming up with stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) and nine Finals appearances in total.
Magic was a 12-time All-Star and three-time NBA MVP (1987, 1989, 1990). Known for his dazzling passes and uncanny ability to elevate his teammates, he averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game over his career. His leadership and unselfish style made him the ultimate floor general.
In 1991, Johnson shocked the world by announcing he had contracted HIV and would retire immediately. He briefly returned in 1992 to play in the All-Star Game and was named MVP, and again for a short stint in the 1995–96 season. Beyond the court, Magic became a powerful advocate for HIV awareness and an influential entrepreneur.
Magic Johnson’s impact goes far beyond stats and titles. He transformed how basketball was played and viewed, blending flair with fundamentals. His charisma, intelligence, and competitive spirit made him not only one of the greatest point guards ever but also a transcendent cultural icon in sports history.
Magic Johnson Regular Season Stats
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1979-80 | 77 | 36:17 | 18.0 | 7.7 | 7.3 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 6.5 | 12.3 | 53.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 22.6 | 4.9 | 6.0 | 81.0 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 5.6 |
| 1980-81 | 37 | 36:55 | 21.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 8.4 | 15.9 | 53.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 17.6 | 4.6 | 6.1 | 76.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 5.2 |
| 1981-82 | 78 | 38:20 | 18.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 7.1 | 13.3 | 53.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 21.4 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 76.0 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 2.6 |
| 1982-83 | 79 | 36:47 | 16.8 | 8.6 | 10.5 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 6.5 | 11.8 | 54.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 80.0 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 5.8 |
| 1983-84 | 67 | 38:18 | 17.6 | 7.3 | 13.1 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 11.6 | 56.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 22.2 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 81.0 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 5.9 |
| 1984-85 | 77 | 36:07 | 18.3 | 6.2 | 12.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 6.5 | 11.7 | 56.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 18.9 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 84.3 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 5.0 |
| 1985-86 | 72 | 35:53 | 18.8 | 5.9 | 12.5 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.7 | 12.8 | 52.6 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 23.8 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 87.1 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
| 1986-87 | 80 | 36:18 | 23.9 | 6.3 | 12.2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 8.5 | 16.3 | 52.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 20.5 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 84.8 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 4.8 |
| 1987-88 | 72 | 36:37 | 19.6 | 6.2 | 11.9 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.8 | 13.8 | 49.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 19.6 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 85.3 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 5.0 |
| 1988-89 | 77 | 37:28 | 22.5 | 7.9 | 12.8 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 7.5 | 14.8 | 50.9 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 31.4 | 6.7 | 7.3 | 91.1 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 6.4 |
| 1989-90 | 79 | 37:10 | 22.3 | 6.6 | 11.5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 6.9 | 14.4 | 48.0 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 38.4 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 89.0 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
| 1990-91 | 79 | 37:07 | 19.4 | 7.0 | 12.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 5.9 | 12.4 | 47.7 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 32.0 | 6.6 | 7.3 | 90.6 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 5.6 |
| 1995-96 | 32 | 29:56 | 14.6 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 46.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 37.9 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 85.6 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 4.5 |
| 906 | 36:41 | 19.5 | 7.2 | 11.2 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 6.9 | 13.2 | 52.0 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 30.4 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 84.8 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 5.1 | ||
| 906 | 36:41 | 19.5 | 7.2 | 11.2 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 6.9 | 13.2 | 52.0 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 30.4 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 84.8 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 5.1 |
Magic Johnson Playoff Stats
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | 16 | 41:07 | 18.3 | 10.5 | 9.4 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 6.4 | 12.4 | 51.8 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 25.0 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 80.2 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 7.3 |
| 1980-81 | 3 | 42:20 | 17.0 | 13.7 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 6.3 | 16.3 | 38.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 6.7 | 65.0 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 11.0 |
| 1981-82 | 14 | 40:08 | 17.4 | 11.3 | 9.3 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 11.2 | 52.9 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 82.8 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 5.4 |
| 1982-83 | 15 | 42:52 | 17.9 | 8.5 | 12.8 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 6.7 | 13.7 | 48.5 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 84.0 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 4.1 |
| 1983-84 | 21 | 39:51 | 18.2 | 6.6 | 13.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 7.2 | 13.0 | 55.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 80.0 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
| 1984-85 | 19 | 36:09 | 17.5 | 7.1 | 15.2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 6.1 | 11.9 | 51.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 14.3 | 5.3 | 6.2 | 84.7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 6.1 |
| 1985-86 | 14 | 38:38 | 21.6 | 7.1 | 15.1 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 7.9 | 14.6 | 53.7 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 7.6 | 76.6 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 5.6 |
| 1986-87 | 18 | 37:00 | 21.8 | 7.7 | 12.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 8.1 | 15.1 | 53.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 20.0 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 83.0 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 6.2 |
| 1987-88 | 24 | 40:12 | 19.9 | 5.4 | 12.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 7.0 | 13.7 | 51.4 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 50.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 85.2 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 4.1 |
| 1988-89 | 14 | 37:00 | 18.4 | 5.9 | 11.8 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 12.4 | 48.9 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 28.6 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 90.7 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 4.9 |
| 1989-90 | 9 | 41:46 | 25.2 | 6.3 | 12.8 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 8.4 | 17.2 | 49.0 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 20.0 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 88.6 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 5.0 |
| 1990-91 | 19 | 43:18 | 21.8 | 8.1 | 12.6 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 6.2 | 14.1 | 44.0 | 1.1 | 3.7 | 29.6 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 88.2 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 6.9 |
| 1995-96 | 4 | 33:45 | 15.3 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 9.8 | 38.5 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 33.3 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 84.8 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 6.5 |
| 190 | 39:40 | 19.5 | 7.7 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 6.8 | 13.4 | 50.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 23.7 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 83.8 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 5.6 | ||
| 190 | 39:40 | 19.5 | 7.7 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 6.8 | 13.4 | 50.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 23.7 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 83.8 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 5.6 |
Magic Johnson Best Ten Games (Points)
| Date | Opponent | MIN | PTS | AST | REB | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 1986 | Sacramento Kings (W) | 48:00 | 46 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 36 | 0.47 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 12 | 16 | 0.75 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| May 08, 1991 | Golden State Warriors (L) | 44:00 | 44 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 23 | 0.52 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 20 | 22 | 0.91 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| May 13, 1990 | Phoenix Suns (L) | 45:00 | 43 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 26 | 0.58 | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | 12 | 12 | 1.00 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| May 15, 1990 | Phoenix Suns (L) | 44:00 | 43 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 26 | 0.58 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 13 | 16 | 0.81 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| May 16, 1980 | Philadelphia 76ers (W) | 47:00 | 42 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 23 | 0.61 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 14 | 14 | 1.00 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| Jan 19, 1987 | New Jersey Nets (W) | 41:00 | 42 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 28 | 0.46 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 16 | 16 | 1.00 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| Mar 28, 1981 | Utah Jazz (L) | 44:00 | 41 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 23 | 0.74 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 7 | 10 | 0.70 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Feb 13, 1987 | Indiana Pacers (W) | 41:00 | 40 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 24 | 0.58 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 12 | 14 | 0.86 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Nov 30, 1988 | Seattle SuperSonics (W) | 38:00 | 40 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 21 | 0.62 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 13 | 14 | 0.93 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| Jan 09, 1982 | Detroit Pistons (W) | 36:00 | 40 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 23 | 0.78 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 5 | 0.80 | 0 | 0 | 0 |