Elvin Hayes vs Magic Johnson
Elvin Hayes and Magic Johnson were contemporaries, their careers overlapping for 5 seasons. On the floor, Elvin Hayes was the higher-volume scorer (21.0 points per game to 19.6); Magic Johnson was the more efficient scorer (61.0% true shooting to 49.2%); Magic Johnson created more for others (11.2 assists per game to 1.8). Magic Johnson holds the edge on accolades — 3 MVPs, 5 championships, 3 Finals MVPs and the #7 all-time ranking to Elvin Hayes's #42.
Career averages
| Elvin Hayes | Stat | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| 21.0 | Points / game | 19.6 |
| 12.5 | Rebounds / game | 7.2 |
| 1.8 | Assists / game | 11.2 |
| 0.7 | Steals / game | 1.9 |
| 1.4 | Blocks / game | 0.4 |
| 45.2% | Field goal % | 52.0% |
| 4.5% | 3-point % | 22.9% |
| 67.0% | Free throw % | 84.3% |
| 49.2% | True shooting % | 61.0% |
| 1,303 | Games played | 906 |
Advanced metrics
Advanced stats weren't tracked in Elvin Hayes's era.
Advanced stats weren't tracked in Magic Johnson's era.
Playoff averages
| Elvin Hayes | Stat | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| 22.9 | Points / game | 19.5 |
| 13.0 | Rebounds / game | 7.7 |
| 1.9 | Assists / game | 12.3 |
| 1.0 | Steals / game | 1.9 |
| 2.3 | Blocks / game | 0.3 |
| 46.4% | Field goal % | 50.6% |
| 0.0% | 3-point % | 18.5% |
| 65.2% | Free throw % | 83.6% |
| 96 | Playoff games | 190 |
Accolades
| Elvin Hayes | Stat | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | MVP awards | 3 |
| 0 | Finals MVP | 3 |
| 1 | Championships | 5 |
| 12 | All-Star selections | 11 |
| 3 | All-NBA 1st Team | 9 |
| #42 | All-time GOAT rank | #7 |
More comparisons
Compare Elvin Hayes with…
Compare Magic Johnson with…
Want a different matchup? Use the interactive comparison tool.