Shaquille O'Neal vs Magic Johnson
Shaquille O'Neal and Magic Johnson were contemporaries, their careers overlapping for 4 seasons. On the floor, Shaquille O'Neal was the higher-volume scorer (23.7 points per game to 19.6); Magic Johnson was the more efficient scorer (61.0% true shooting to 58.6%); Magic Johnson created more for others (11.2 assists per game to 2.5). Magic Johnson holds the edge on accolades — 3 MVPs, 5 championships, 3 Finals MVPs and the #7 all-time ranking to Shaquille O'Neal's #9.
Career averages
| Shaquille O'Neal | Stat | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| 23.7 | Points / game | 19.6 |
| 10.8 | Rebounds / game | 7.2 |
| 2.5 | Assists / game | 11.2 |
| 0.6 | Steals / game | 1.9 |
| 2.3 | Blocks / game | 0.4 |
| 58.5% | Field goal % | 52.0% |
| 2.2% | 3-point % | 22.9% |
| 52.6% | Free throw % | 84.3% |
| 58.6% | True shooting % | 61.0% |
| 1,207 | Games played | 906 |
Advanced metrics
Advanced stats aren't available for Shaquille O'Neal.
Advanced stats weren't tracked in Magic Johnson's era.
Playoff averages
| Shaquille O'Neal | Stat | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| 24.3 | Points / game | 19.5 |
| 11.6 | Rebounds / game | 7.7 |
| 2.7 | Assists / game | 12.3 |
| 0.6 | Steals / game | 1.9 |
| 2.1 | Blocks / game | 0.3 |
| 56.3% | Field goal % | 50.6% |
| 0.0% | 3-point % | 18.5% |
| 49.8% | Free throw % | 83.6% |
| 216 | Playoff games | 190 |
Accolades
| Shaquille O'Neal | Stat | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MVP awards | 3 |
| 3 | Finals MVP | 3 |
| 4 | Championships | 5 |
| 12 | All-Star selections | 11 |
| 8 | All-NBA 1st Team | 9 |
| #9 | All-time GOAT rank | #7 |
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