At the age of 20, Magic averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game as a rookie for the world champion Lakers. He shot 53% from the field and added 2.4 steals in 36.3 minutes a night. He was voted to the All-Star Game and the All-Rookie team.

Young Magic posted the second-highest box plus-minus (5.5) on the team, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Johnson also followed suit in win shares (10.5), win shares per 48 minutes (.180) and player efficiency rating (PER) (20.6).