Who is better, Magic or Bird?
Magic Johnson leads with a GOAT score of 91.9 against 91.2 for Sue Bird — a gap of 0.7 points on GOAT Rank's weighted model.
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Magic vs Bird
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Quick answer
GOAT Rank currently ranks Magic Johnson above Sue Bird: 91.9 vs 91.2. Magic Johnson leads on Peak, Dominance, Statistics. Sue Bird leads on Longevity.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →GOAT verdictgoatrank.world
MagicWinner
91.9Magic wins: Dominance, Peak, Honours, Statistics
Bird
91.2Bird wins: Longevity
Time range
Showing full careers. Pick a window to recalculate the selected period.
Category radar
Verdict
Weighted GOAT score
🇺🇸 Magic Johnson
91.9
Magic leads in 4 of 5 weighted categories.
1. Magic Johnson
2. Sue Bird
Category breakdown
Season form · Form index per season
Career timeline · Form index per season
Cumulative output season by season — the shape of each career against the other.
GOAT pace tracker
Through age 22 · Form index per season
1. 🇺🇸 Sue Bird14 points per game
1 season by age 22 · 14 per season
Setting the pace at age 22
No verified birth date for Magic — shown in the pro-debut view instead.
Every career is cut at the season the athlete turned 22, so a rookie today is measured against exactly what a legend had banked by the same birthday.
Fan vote — data vs the people
GOAT Rank · the data
Magic91.9
Bird91.2
FAQ
Where does Bird beat Magic?
Bird scores higher on longevity. Magic leads on peak, dominance, honours, statistics.
How is the Magic vs Bird score calculated?
Both are scored on peak, dominance, honours, statistics, longevity within their sport. Magic: 91.9, Bird: 91.2.
What do you think?
0 commentsMake your case for Magic vs Bird. The scoring is published in full — if you can point at the pillar or the weight you disagree with, we read it. Read the methodology paper.