Stephen Curry
2009–10 to 2025–26
17 seasons · 2009–10 to 2025–26NBA player comparison
Who was better: Stephen Curry or Magic Johnson?
Curry changed the geometry of modern offense with shooting; Johnson controlled games with size, passing, and transition play. Their season rankings make the cross-era case comparable.
Magic Johnson
1979–80 to 1995–96
13 seasons · 1979–80 to 1995–9610 best seasonsAverages from ten best seasons10 best seasons
64.2%True shooting61.2%
7.9%Rebound rate11.2%
31.7%Assist rate41.8%
2.2%Steal rate2.5%
0.7%Block rate0.6%
13.0%Turnover rate19.5%
What hussEyquation concludes
#13Career Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank#11
+11.9Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+9.6
2.2Best 5 seasons · avg. league rank1.8
4.3Best 10 seasons · avg. league rank2.7
2Seasons ranked No. 11
The story: Magic Johnson ranks higher because his best regular seasons were stronger. Points, rebounds, and assists tell only part of the story. hussEyquation estimates how much a player helped his team while he was on the court. Magic Johnson's best season was estimated at +9.6 points per 100 possessions above league average. Stephen Curry's best season was +11.9. Across their best three, five, and ten seasons, Magic Johnson's average league places were 1.7, 1.8, and 2.7. Stephen Curry's were 1.3, 2.2, and 4.3. A place closer to No. 1 is better.
Career Impact Rank compares entire regular-season careers across NBA history. It looks at where each player ranked in his best three, five, and ten seasons, giving the most weight to his very best years. Playoff results, awards, and championships do not affect it.
Why this verdict
Magic Johnson ranks higher because his best regular seasons were stronger. Points, rebounds, and assists tell only part of the story. hussEyquation estimates how much a player helped his team while he was on the court. Magic Johnson's best season was estimated at +9.6 points per 100 possessions above league average. Stephen Curry's best season was +11.9. Across their best three, five, and ten seasons, Magic Johnson's average league places were 1.7, 1.8, and 2.7. Stephen Curry's were 1.3, 2.2, and 4.3. A place closer to No. 1 is better.
Full comparison
All the numbers
Category leaders are highlighted. Only hussEyquation measures determine the verdict; awards remain context.
Model inputs
What the model sees
Average input rates across each player's ten best impact seasons.
64.2%True shooting61.2%
7.9%Rebound rate11.2%
31.7%Assist rate41.8%
2.2%Steal rate2.5%
0.7%Block rate0.6%
13.0%Turnover rate19.5%
Values compare Stephen Curry with Magic Johnson.These are each player's averages across up to ten best seasons. Career Impact Rank gives the Best 3, Best 5, and Best 10 average league finishes 50%, 30%, and 20% window weights, giving the most weight to the highest peak. The model accounts for position, role, pace, playing time, and team results.
Model results
What hussEyquation concludes
Era-centered impact, sustained excellence and career value.
#13Career Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank#11
#14Points-above-replacement rankAll-time rank in estimated regular-season points above replacement#16
+11.9Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+9.6
+10.2Best 3 average impact+9.2
+9.4Best 5 average impact+8.7
+8.2Best 10 average impact+7.7
+6,430 ptsEstimated points above replacementRegular season · fixed -2.0 replacement baseline · higher is better+6,378 pts
1.3Best 3 average finish1.7
2.2Best 5 average finish1.8
4.3Best 10 average finish2.7
2Seasons ranked No. 11
6Top-five impact seasons11
13Top-ten impact seasons12
Values compare Stephen Curry with Magic Johnson.Box score
Traditional stats
Scoring, efficiency and all-around production.
1,069Games906
36,304Minutes33,245
24.8PPG19.5
4.7RPG7.2
6.3APG11.2
62.6%TS%61.0%
47.1%FG%52.0%
42.2%3P%30.3%
91.2%FT%84.8%
Values compare Stephen Curry with Magic Johnson.Résumé
Awards and honors
Context only; these are not model inputs.
12All-Star12
2MVP3
11All-NBA10
0All-Defense0
0DPOY0
0Rookie of the Year0
Values compare Stephen Curry with Magic Johnson.Career shape
Impact by season
Career mode aligns season one with season one.
Stephen CurryMagic Johnson