Kobe Bryant vs. Magic Johnson Career Comparison: Who Is The Greatest Laker Ever?

To the majority of fans, pundits, and players in the world, Kobe Bryant is considered the second-best shooting guard of all time with relative ease. No shooting guard outside of the greatest player of all time in, Michael Jordan, has earned as many honors in his Hall of Fame career as Bryant, who also served as the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty that won five NBA titles. An elite scorer and competitor, Kobe’s resume includes 5 NBA titles, 2 Finals MVPs, and an 81-point explosion in a single game. Not to mention, there probably isn’t a better tough shot-maker and clutch performer than the iconic Lakers star.

Meanwhile, superstar point guard Magic Johnson is one of the most dominant players of all time. He is considered the greatest leader in basketball history because of his playmaking and elite basketball IQ, which led the player to capture an impressive 5 NBA championships in his career, all of them coming as a member of the Lakers. Magic also won 3 Finals MVP awards with the Lakers and 3 MVP awards while also capturing 4 assist titles. No point guard has meant more to the Los Angeles Lakers franchise than Magic Johnson because of the championship success and for being the catalyst of the “Showtime” era that is one of the most beloved teams in NBA history.

Kobe and Magic had amazing careers and should be honored as two of the top 10 players to have ever graced the court. But both players also have similarities in the fact that they became NBA champions with the Lakers and were the best players for the franchise at many points during their careers. But which superstar had more impact as a member of the Lakers? To distinguish between the two greatest Lakers of all time, it is time to compare the careers of both players by their most significant achievements and statistical categories. There can only be one winner in this all-time great comparison.

Championships

Kobe Bryant: 5 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)

Magic Johnson: 5 (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)

Kobe Bryant has one of the most impressive resumes ever, winning 5 rings, all as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. His first in 2000 was impressive, as the young shooting guard followed Shaquille O’Neal’s lead while providing clutch scoring alongside him. Bryant also won the 2001 and 2002 championships alongside Shaq to complete a historic three-peat. As dominant as Shaquille O’Neal was inside, Kobe’s clutch shot-making and perimeter scoring proved invaluable for the team. Of course, Bryant was a member of the 2009 and 2010 championship sides that saw the rise of Kobe Bryant as a two-time Finals MVP and the undisputed most talented player of his era.

The legendary Magic Johnson was the floor general for the Lakers that won 5 NBA championships as an oversized guard with perfect guard skills, including dribbling and passing. He was unstoppable on the break and was one of the very best players in the league during each of his 5 NBA championship rings. We have yet to see a more “magical” point guard than the great Earvin Magic Johnson because his floor leadership and playmaking were second-to-none. No question Magic was the leader of the Lakers, even if he won 3 out of the 5 Finals MVPs. But in the end, there is no separation between the Lakers legends in terms of the number of championships won.

Advantage: Even

Finals MVP Awards

Kobe Bryant: 2 (2009, 2010)

Magic Johnson: 3 (1980, 1982, 1987)

Kobe Bryant won 2 Finals MVP awards once Shaquille O’Neal left town. Shaq won all three Finals MVP awards during the 3-peat together, and while the Lakers do not win multiple championships, if Bryant is not the most spectacular perimeter player on the team, the big man deserves his trophies. Regardless, earning two Finals MVPs is impressive, and that thrust him into the conversation for being a top-10 player of all time. Whenever Kobe Bryant played well, his team won in the Finals, and that was a constant throughout his career. With 2 Finals MVPs to his name, Bryant could have retired following the 2010 season, and his legacy would have been forever secured.

In terms of being the best player on the team, Magic Johnson was the undisputed best player on the court for 3 out of his 5 championship runs. Even if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the man during the 1985 Finals and Worthy had clutch performances in the 1988 Finals, Magic Johnson was the Finals MVP every other time the Lakers won an NBA championship. In 1980, Johnson was the standout player for the Lakers as he posted 21.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 8.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 57.3% and 87.5% FT. The point guard won the Finals MVP award in the next championship win with the Lakers, posting 16.2 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 8.0 APG in a 6-game victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. In the 1987 Finals, Johnson was spectacular by posting 26.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 13.0 APG for the Lakers. In the end, Magic has an edge in the Finals MVP awards.

There was never a time in which the Lakers won the title where Magic was edged in performances other than the time James Worthy put up clutch performances during the 1988 Finals and when Kareem captured the Finals MVP in 1985. Anyways, Magic has a big advantage over Kobe in Finals MVP trophies.

Advantage: Magic Johnson

MVP Awards

Kobe Bryant: 1 (2008)

Magic Johnson: 3 (1987, 1989, 1990)

It is shocking to say and probably ridiculous, but Kobe Bryant somehow only won an MVP award as a member of the Lakers. The first and only award came in 2008 when the superstar shooting guard posted a 28.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 5.4 APG while shooting 45.9% from the field. Finally, Bryant earned his MVP award after leading the Lakers to a 57-25 record, which led all teams in the Western Conference. Even if Bryant lost in the Finals that year and would go on to win in the next two years, Kobe’s victory to earn the MVP award was huge for his legacy. Regardless, Bryant only has one MVP award to his name and will lose this comparison category.

Magic Johnson won 3 MVP awards with the Lakers, and each of those seasons was impressive. His first MVP season came in 1987 when he averaged 23.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 12.2 APG while also contributing 1.7 SPG. The point guard played 80 games while leading the Lakers with a 65-17 record that led the NBA. During the 1989 season, Johnson led the Lakers to the second-best record in the NBA while averaging 22.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 12.8 APG. Once again, Magic was the best point guard in the NBA, and it wasn’t close. The following year, in the 1989-90 season, Magic averaged 22.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 11.5 APG while leading Los Angeles to 63 wins which ended up being the most in the NBA.

In the end, there is a significant difference between the two superstars in terms of MVP award wins. Both players have at least one MVP won, but Johnson spectacularly won three of them. That means the advantage goes to Magic Johnson.

Advantage: Magic Johnson

All-NBA Teams

Kobe Bryant: 15 (11 First Team, 2 Second Team, 2 Third Team)

Magic Johnson: 10 (9 First Team, 1 Second Team)

Kobe Bryant has made 15 All-NBA Teams, with 11 First Team appearances. These are alarming achievements from a shooting guard who was often banged up during most of his career. Even as Bryant aged and had to play more methodically instead of relying on athleticism, he was capable of impacting the game on the defensive end of the court or controlling the pace of the offense from the post. As things stand, Kobe Bryant has the edge over Magic Johnson because the point guard was never able to equal Kobe in terms of All-NBA selections due to his sudden retirement.

Magic Johnson made 10 All-NBA Team appearances with the Lakers, of which 9 came in the First Team. Of course, those are incredible achievements, and we have yet to see a player with this type of consistency as a point guard for the Lakers. Magic was easily a consistent member of All-NBA Teams because of his ability to make his teammates better and also his resume, which included constant takeovers in the biggest games. An impressive 9 First Team appearances came as a result of that, with 1 Second Team appearance as well. Kobe Bryant has a massive edge in All-NBA Team selections because he played 7 years longer with the Lakers and had an edge in longevity mainly because Magic retired due to his HIV diagnosis.

Advantage: Kobe Bryant

All-Star Selections

Kobe Bryant: 18

Magic Johnson: 12

An all-time great Laker, Kobe Bryant has a total of 18 All-Star appearances. The legendary scorer is one of the most intelligent players ever, and he was able to impact the game for a very long time. As a bona fide All-Star offensive player, Bryant simply captivated audiences with his scoring and perimeter play year after year. Even on defense, Kobe was holding his own. But perhaps another major reason why the shooting guard had so many All-Star appearances was that so many fans and media members loved voting for him.

Magic Johnson had a total of 12 All-Star appearances as a member of the Lakers. While that is short of Kobe’s number with the Lakers, it is important to mention that this was because the point guard was forced to retire in his prime for 4 seasons due to HIV. Still, it is an incredible achievement to make the All-Star Team every season when playing for a franchise as iconic as the Lakers. Had Magic been able to play, he would have very likely had 16 All-Star appearances with the Lakers, which comes close to what the superstar shooting guard did. But in the end, Bryant has a significant advantage in All-Star Teams.

Advantage: Kobe Bryant

All-Defensive NBA Teams

Kobe Bryant: 12 (9 First Team, 3 Second Team)

Magic Johnson: 0

One of the best defensive players in NBA history from the shooting guard position, Kobe Bryant was named to 12 All-Defensive Teams, including 9 First Team selections. Bryant maintained his ability to stay with on-ball defenders and also play spectacular team offense for nearly two decades. He was athletic enough to be a force because he could move his feet and also explode to contest shots in his younger days. As he aged, Bryant was a master at team defense, as he would lead players into difficult positions. Watching Kobe play defense was down to his basketball IQ, which was all-time great.

At 6’9” and 215 lbs, Magic Johnson had the size to be a force at his position due to size alone. But oftentimes, Magic would not be the designated defensive player because of the other talented defenders he had alongside him. The point guard still averaged 1.9 SPG over his career and led the NBA in steals twice, rather impressively. But he did not make a single All-Defensive Team, which means he does not have the advantage that Kobe Bryant has.

Advantage: Kobe Bryant

Total Win Shares

Kobe Bryant: 172.7

Magic Johnson: 155.8

Win Shares is a statistic that tries to allocate a team’s wins for each player on the roster. For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar owns the single-season record for Win Shares with 25.4 during 1971-72 on a Milwaukee Bucks team that won 63 games. In terms of contributing to a winning side and helping his side to win games consistently, Kobe Bryant has an edge in win share rating over Magic Johnson.

Kobe Bryant’s win share rating ranks 16th all-time behind some other top stars, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, and John Stockton. The superstar shooting guard influenced the game in various ways, including scoring the ball at superstar levels and making clutch plays. Kobe won a ton of games over his career because he had Shaquille O’Neal as a teammate early on and also Phil Jackson on the sidelines for most of his career.

Magic’s win shares are not as high as Kobe’s over his 13 seasons of play with the Lakers. The superstar point guard still influenced the game in a variety of ways, including having a high field goal percentage and elite passing ability, which did take away slightly from his scoring. That is not to say that Johnson was not a winner because five rings indicate otherwise. But Kobe’s win shares rating is all-time great, while Magic’s is ranked 22nd all-time.

Advantage: Kobe Bryant

Career Player Efficiency Rating

Kobe Bryant: 22.9

Magic Johnson: 24.1

Player Efficiency Rating, better known as PER, is a statistic created by John Hollinger that’s goal is to give each NBA player a comprehensive rating. Hollinger’s PER metric is unique because it combines a player’s positive and negative contributions on the court.

Kobe Bryant ranks 28th all-time with a PER of 22.9. Bryant has a positive influence on winning due to his incredible two-way skill set. Bryant managed to have shooting splits of 44.7% FG, 32.9% 3-PT FG, and 83.7% FT while averaging a career 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.7 APG. But Bryant attempted a ton of bad shots and difficult shots, meaning his career field-goal percentages are not as high as other all-time great players. But that was Kobe’s playing style, and he needed to shoot a lot to get into a rhythm.

Meanwhile, Magic Johnson had a PER figure of 24.1, which is really great even through 13 years. Clearly, the point guard impacts winning because his dominance on the court is unquestionably great. Averaging 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 11.2 APG as a member of the Lakers, Magic managed to have shooting splits of 52.0% FG and 84.8% FT. The greatest point guard ever was a stat-sheet stuffer with the Lakers and ultimately has the edge in PER even against an all-time great player in Kobe Bryant.

Advantage: Magic Johnson

Final Score

Kobe Bryant vs. Magic Johnson 4-3

In the end, Kobe Bryant has a slight edge over Magic Johnson in terms of individual stats and accolades. Both stars won 5 NBA titles, so their rank in terms of bringing winning days to the Lakers is equal. Kobe was a more dominant defensive player than Magic, no doubt about that. Bryant made a whopping 12 All-Defensive Teams, while Magic never made a single one. His other edges came in the All-Star appearances and also the win shares rating, both a testament to the fact that he played much longer than Magic.

Meanwhile, Johnson won more Finals MVPs, MVP awards, and had a PER advantage due to the fact he was able to do more than Kobe earlier on in his career because the shooting guard often graced the bench during the first two seasons of his career. Not to mention, Magic was fortunate enough to be the most dominant player on his team, while Kobe had to give up his Finals MVP chances to Shaq for three straight years.

Nonetheless, Bryant has a 4-3 career comparison, which is particularly impressive. But that doesn’t automatically mean the shooting guard was a better player with the Los Angeles Lakers because the point guard was the leader of the franchise who won 3 Finals MVPs out of 5 championship Finals victories. Throughout the 1980s, the Lakers dominated mainly thanks to Magic and his leadership as a point guard.

Of course, Lakers fans will never forget when Magic stepped in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the NBA Finals as a rookie and ended up winning the championship and Finals MVP. To many Lakers fans, Magic Johnson is still the greater player, but in the end, Kobe has an edge in this career comparison, no matter what the arguments are.

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