List of career achievements by Magic Johnson
This page details the career achievements of Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. He is a member of NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and is widely considered to be the greatest point guard of all-time with
NBA achievements
Career Highlights
- Only player in NBA history to average at least 22.5 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds for a season
- He accomplished the feat twice, in 1987 and 1989
- One of four players in NBA history to win NCAA and NBA championships in consecutive years.
- One of five players in NBA history to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals clinching game: only to do it twice (1982 and 1985).
- One of three players in NBA history to record a triple-double in their playoff debut.
- One of two players in NBA history to set 20+ assists in at least 30 games: achieved it 32 times
- Only player in NBA history to win the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season
Regular season
- 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1987, 1989, 1990)
- 4× NBA assists leader (1983, 1984, 1986, 1987)
- 2× NBA steals leader (1981, 1982)
- 1× NBA free-throw percentage leader (1989)
- 9× All-NBA First Team (1983 to 91)
- 1× All-NBA Second Team (1982)
- All-rookie first team (1980)
NBA All-Star Game
- 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1990, 1992)
- 12× NBA All-Star (1980, 1982–1993)
NBA Playoffs
- 5x NBA Playoffs assists leader (1980, 1984–87)
- 9x NBA Playoffs total assists leader (1980, 1983–89, 1991)
- 2x NBA Playoffs steals leader (1980, 1982)
- 2x NBA Playoffs total steals leader (1980, 1983)
- 1x NBA Playoffs minutes played leader (1983)
- 3x NBA Playoffs total minutes played leader (1983, 1988, 1991)
- Led the 1991 NBA Playoffs in total minutes played, three points made, free throws made, defensive rebounds and assists
NBA Finals
- 3x NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
- 5x NBA Champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987–88)
- 4x NBA runner-up (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991)
- 8x NBA Finals assists leader (1980, 1983–85, 1987–89, 1991)
Los Angeles Lakers
- Los Angeles Lakers #32 retired
- Selected as the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft
NBA Records
Career
- Holds the all-time record for highest career assists-per-game average—11.2
- 2nd most career triple-doubles all-time—138 (only below Oscar Robertson)
- Holds the all-time record for most assists in Playoffs—2,346
- Johnson is also the only player in NBA history to have at least 2000 assist in a playoff career[1]
- Holds the all-time record for highest assists-per-game average in Playoffs—12.3
- 2nd most double-doubles in Playoffs—157 (only below Tim Duncan)
- Holds the all-time record for most triple-doubles in Playoffs—30
- Holds the all-time record for most triple-doubles in NBA Finals—8
Regular Season
- 2nd most consecutive double-doubles from the start of the season—11 (1991)
- 2nd most assists made in a half—18 (Feb 21, 1984, vs. Seattle SuperSonics)
- 3rd most assists made in a quarter—12 (same above, 1st qtr)
- 3rd most consecutive seasons leading league in steals—2 (1981 & 1982)
- 3rd all-time highest single season steals-per-game average—3.43 (1980–81)
All-Star Game
- Holds the all-time record for most career assists—127
- 2nd highest assists per game average—11.5
- Holds the all-time record for most assists in a game—22 (1984, OT)
- Holds the all-time record for most assists in a game w/o OT—19 (1988)
- Holds the all-time record for most assists in a half—13 (1984)
- 2nd youngest player to start in the All-Star Game: 20 years, 2 months old in 1980
Playoffs
- Holds single-series playoff record for highest assists-per-game average—15.2 (1985)
- Shares single-game playoff record for most assists made in a game—24 (May 15, 1984, vs. Phoenix Suns)
- Shares single-game playoff record for most assists made in a half—15 (May 3, 1985, vs. Portland)
- Shares single-game playoff record for most free throws made in one half—19 (May 8, 1991, vs. Golden State)
Finals
- Holds the single-series record for highest assists-per-game average—14.0 (1985)
- Shares the single-series record for most triple-doubles—2 (1985)
- Holds the record for most points by a rookie, game—42 (May 16, 1980, vs. Philadelphia)
- Holds the record for most assists by a rookie, game—11 (May 7, 1980, vs. Philadelphia)
- Holds the record for most assists made in a game—21 (June 3, 1984, vs. Boston Celtics)
- Holds the record for most assists in one half—14 (June 19, 1988, vs. Detroit)
- Holds the record for most assists in one quarter—8 (four times)
Los Angeles Lakers
- Most assists, total: 10,141
- Highest assists-per-game average, career: 11.2
- Highest assists-per-game average in a season: 13.1
- Most assists in a season: 989
- Most assists in a game: 24
- Most steals in a season: 208
- Highest steals-per-game average in a season: 3.43
- Most triple-doubles: 138
- Highest free-throw percentage in a season: .911
- 3rd most playoff games played: 190
- 2nd most playoff minutes played: 7,538
- 4th most playoff points scored: 3,701
- 3rd most playoff free throws made: 1,068
- 5th most playoff field goals attempted: 2,522
- 5th most playoff rebounds grabbed: 1,465
- 3rd most playoff offensive rebounds: 349
- Most playoff defensive rebounds: 1,116
- Most playoff assists: 2,346
- Most playoff steals: 359
Others
Game-winning shots
| Time (sec) left |
Score |
Opponent |
Date |
|---|
| 6.0 |
112-110 |
Phoenix Suns |
01979-11-02-0000November 2, 1979 |
| 1.0 |
120-118 |
Golden State Warriors |
01981-03-22-0000March 22, 1981 |
| 1:05 |
99-97 |
Phoenix Suns |
01984-05-25-0000May 25, 1984 |
| 3.0 |
112-111 |
Golden State Warriors |
01986-03-06-0000March 6, 1986 |
| 1.0 |
113-111 |
Sacramento Kings |
01986-11-16-0000November 16, 1986 |
| 2.0 |
107-106 |
Boston Celtics |
01987-06-09-0000June 9, 1987 |
| 0.0 |
115-114 |
Boston Celtics |
01987-12-11-0000December 11, 1987 |
| 0.0 |
148-146 2OT |
Denver Nuggets |
01988-11-15-0000November 15, 1988 |
| 0.0 |
118-116 |
Phoenix Suns |
01989-03-26-0000March 26, 1989 |
| 19.0 |
104-102 |
Sacramento Kings |
01989-12-26-0000December 26, 1989 |
| 0.8 |
102-101 |
Seattle SuperSonics |
01990-04-17-0000April 17, 1990 |
40-point games
| Points made |
Score |
Opponent |
Date |
|---|
| 42 |
123-107 |
Philadelphia 76ers |
01980-05-16-0000May 16, 1980 |
| 41 |
110-112 OT |
Utah Jazz |
01981-03-28-0000March 28, 1981 |
| 40 |
130-127 |
Detroit Pistons |
01982-01-09-0000January 9, 1982 |
| 46 |
127-117 OT |
Sacramento Kings |
01986-12-23-0000December 23, 1986 |
| 42 |
126-115 |
New Jersey Nets |
01987-01-19-0000January 19, 1987 |
| 40 |
113-108 |
Indiana Pacers |
01987-02-13-0000February 13, 1987 |
| 40 |
110-106 |
Seattle SuperSonics |
01988-11-30-0000November 30, 1988 |
| 43 |
101-114 |
Phoenix Suns |
01990-05-13-0000May 13, 1990 |
| 43 |
103-106 |
Phoenix Suns |
01990-05-15-0000May 15, 1990 |
| 44 |
124-125 |
Golden State Warriors |
01991-05-08-0000May 8, 1991 |
USA Basketball
- A member of The Dream Team, which is considered to be the best Basketball team ever assembled
- 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist
College basketball achievements
- Member of NCAA championship team (1979)
- NCAA Division I Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1979)
- The Sporting News All-America first team (1979)
Other achievements
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1992)
References