Larry Bird
1986–87
NBA player comparison
Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson: 1986–87 season
Regular-season verdict
Larry Bird has the higher model estimate for the 1986–87 season
Magic Johnson
1986–87
Impact comparison
+8.8LeadsSeason impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+8.1
#2LeadsSeason impact rank#3
74Games80
3,005Minutes2,904
28.1LeadsPPG23.9
61.2%LeadsTS%60.2%
Larry Bird's estimated impact per 100 possessions was +8.8, compared with +8.1 for Magic Johnson. This compares their impact while playing, not their total contribution across the season. Both players are compared in the 1986–87 season using its published Impact Rate. A ranked comparison requires at least 450 minutes for each player.
Larry Bird: 74 games and 3,005 minutes. Magic Johnson: 80 games and 2,904 minutes. Playing time matters when judging the whole season; the impact estimate above is a rate, not a season total.
Read turnover rate alongside offensive workload. Offensive usage measures the share of team plays a player ends with a shot, free throws, or a turnover while on the court—not every touch, pass, or act of playmaking. These rows provide context; they are not extra points added to the ranking.
Regular season only. Impact figures are estimates; small gaps are not exact. Playoffs, awards and titles do not determine the verdict.
Behind the estimate
Why the model rates them this way
A verified breakdown of this season’s published estimate is unavailable. We do not substitute another season’s calculation.
What this does not establish: these figures do not prove that either player made his teammates shoot better. A verified teammate-shooting comparison is unavailable for this selected season. A small difference in the estimates is not a decisive basketball distinction.
Full comparison · 1986–87 season
Understand the numbers
Start with impact, then compare playing time and skills. Team results add context. These are not categories to tally into a winner.
1 · Ranking evidence
Impact: who ranks higher, and why?
The impact estimate compares performance while playing, not total contribution over the season. The individual-stat estimate plus the lineup adjustment gives the final estimate.
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Season impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average | +8.8 | +8.1 |
| Season impact rank | #2 | #3 |
Larry Bird: verified lineup window unavailable. Magic Johnson: verified lineup window unavailable. The adjustment is not necessarily based on this season alone.
2 · Playing time and responsibility
How much did each player take on?
Read games and minutes alongside impact. Offensive usage is the share of team plays a player ends with a shot, free throws, or a turnover while on court. More usage is not automatically better.
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 74 | 80 |
| Minutes | 3,005 | 2,904 |
3 · Individual skills
Where does each player have an advantage?
These figures describe the selected regular seasons. They provide context, not extra points added to the verdict. Green marks a higher impact result above; these skill rows are not votes toward the ranking.
Shooting
True shooting includes two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws.
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| True shooting percentage | 61.2% | 60.2% |
Show more stats: Shooting
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Field-goal percentage | 52.5% | 52.2% |
| Three-point percentage | 40.0% | 20.5% |
| Free-throw percentage | 91.0% | 84.8% |
Passing
Assist rate is the share of teammates’ made shots assisted while the player is on court. Read turnovers alongside offensive workload; lower turnover rate is generally better.
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Assists per game | 7.6 | 12.2 |
Rebounding
Rebound rate is the share of available rebounds collected while on court.
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Rebounds per game | 9.2 | 6.3 |
Scoring
Points per game describe scoring volume, not overall impact.
| Metric | Larry Bird | Magic Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 28.1 | 23.9 |
4 · Team context, not ranking inputs
What happened with and without them?
A verified with/without comparison is unavailable for this scope. We do not substitute another season’s observations.
Four separate questions
Impact, winning, playoffs, and awards
These are different ways to understand a career. Only Regular Season Impact determines the hussEyquation verdict. The other three sections add basketball context without adding points or changing the rank.
Regular Season Impact
Larry Bird has the higher model estimate for the 1986–87 season.
Larry BirdMetricMagic Johnson
+8.8LeadsSeason impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+8.1
#2LeadsSeason impact rank#3
This is the ranking result. It uses regular-season impact only. Team records, playoffs, and awards do not change it.
Team Success
Magic Johnson leads every available measure below.
Larry BirdMetricMagic Johnson
751Listed-team regular-season wins765Leads
70.5%Listed-team winning percentage71.8%Leads
1250-win team seasons13Leads
660-win team seasons6
13Playoff team seasons13
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Final records for every listed team-season. A traded season can include more than one team.
Playoff Résumé
Magic Johnson leads every available measure below.
Larry BirdMetricMagic Johnson
12Playoff appearances13Leads
164Playoff games190Leads
104Team playoff wins128Leads
5Finals appearances9Leads
3Championships5Leads
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Team playoff results count only seasons when the player appeared in a playoff game.
Awards
Larry Bird leads every available measure below.
Larry BirdMetricMagic Johnson
12All-Star12
3MVP3
10All-NBA10
3LeadsAll-Defense0
0DPOY0
1LeadsRookie of the Year0
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Major regular-season honors are recognition, not inputs to the impact ranking.
How each context field is counted
- Listed-team regular-season wins
- The sum of each listed team's final wins in every season the player represented that team.
- Listed-team winning percentage
- Those team wins divided by those teams' total regular-season games.
- 50- and 60-win team seasons
- Listed team-seasons that finished with at least 50 or 60 wins. Shortened seasons are not projected to 82 games.
- Team seasons reaching playoffs
- Listed team-seasons in which that team qualified for the playoffs.
- Playoff appearances and games
- Postseasons and games in which the player appeared.
- Team playoff wins
- Team wins from those postseasons. They describe team results, not individual credit.
- Finals appearances and championships
- Seasons when the player appeared in the playoffs for the finalist or champion.
- Awards
- Recorded NBA selections and major regular-season honors. A zero means the source records none; Not available means the source field is missing.
Source and scope Basketball Reference, NBA seasons 1950–51 through 2025–26, accessed 2026-10-09.
Selected seasons
Era-centered impact
Both bars show the same NBA season. Missing or unqualified data does not establish a winner.
Larry BirdMagic Johnson
Estimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average