Shawn Kemp vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Shawn Kemp, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Shawn Kemp played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Shawn Kemp had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, while Isiah Thomas had his rookie season in 1981-82. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Shawn Kemp 14 10 1989-90 to 2002-03
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901981-82
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 81 13.8 6.5 1.8 2.5 4.3 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.3 2.5 2.5 5.2 .479 0.0 0.1 .167 1.4 2.0 .736
Isiah Thomas 72 33.8 17.0 0.8 2.1 2.9 7.8 2.1 0.2 4.2 3.5 6.3 14.8 .424 0.2 0.8 .288 4.2 6.0 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 81 30.1 15.0 3.3 5.1 8.4 1.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 3.9 5.7 11.2 .508 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 5.4 .661
Isiah Thomas 81 38.2 22.9 1.3 2.8 4.0 7.8 2.5 0.4 4.0 3.9 9.0 19.0 .472 0.4 1.5 .288 4.5 6.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 5 29.8 13.2 2.6 4.6 7.2 1.2 0.6 0.8 3.2 4.0 4.4 11.4 .386 0.0 0.2 .000 4.4 5.4 .815
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921983-84
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 64 28.3 15.5 4.1 6.3 10.4 1.3 1.1 1.9 2.4 4.1 5.7 11.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.6 .748
Isiah Thomas 82 36.7 21.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 11.1 2.5 0.4 3.7 4.0 8.2 17.7 .462 0.3 0.8 .338 4.7 6.5 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 9 37.6 17.4 5.2 7.0 12.2 0.4 0.6 1.6 3.0 4.6 5.3 11.2 .475 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 8.9 .763
Isiah Thomas 5 39.6 21.4 1.4 2.4 3.8 11.0 2.6 1.2 4.6 4.4 7.8 16.6 .470 0.4 1.2 .333 5.4 7.0 .771

Season 4

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931984-85
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 78 33.1 17.8 3.7 7.0 10.7 2.0 1.5 1.9 2.8 4.2 6.6 13.4 .492 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.4 .712
Isiah Thomas 81 38.1 21.2 1.4 3.0 4.5 13.9 2.3 0.3 3.7 3.6 8.0 17.4 .458 0.4 1.4 .257 4.9 6.1 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 19 34.9 16.5 4.2 5.8 10.0 2.6 1.5 2.1 2.8 4.1 5.8 11.3 .512 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.1 .809
Isiah Thomas 9 39.4 24.3 1.2 4.0 5.2 11.2 2.1 0.4 3.3 4.3 9.2 18.4 .500 0.7 1.7 .400 5.2 6.9 .758

Season 5

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 79 32.9 18.1 3.9 6.8 10.8 2.6 1.8 2.1 3.3 3.9 6.7 12.5 .538 0.0 0.1 .250 4.6 6.2 .741
Isiah Thomas 77 36.2 20.9 1.1 2.5 3.6 10.8 2.2 0.3 3.8 3.2 7.9 16.2 .488 0.3 1.1 .310 4.7 6.0 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 5 41.2 14.8 4.0 5.8 9.8 3.4 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.6 5.2 14.0 .371 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.6 .667
Isiah Thomas 4 40.8 26.5 2.0 3.5 5.5 12.0 2.3 0.8 4.3 4.3 10.3 22.8 .451 0.0 1.3 .000 6.0 9.0 .667

Season 6

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 82 32.7 18.7 3.9 7.0 10.9 1.8 1.2 1.5 3.2 4.1 6.6 12.2 .547 0.0 0.1 .286 5.3 7.1 .749
Isiah Thomas 81 37.2 20.6 1.0 2.9 3.9 10.0 1.9 0.2 4.2 3.1 7.7 16.7 .463 0.2 1.2 .194 4.9 6.4 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 4 40.0 24.8 4.3 7.8 12.0 2.8 2.0 1.8 3.8 4.3 8.3 14.3 .579 0.3 0.3 1.000 8.0 9.8 .821
Isiah Thomas 15 37.5 24.1 1.4 3.1 4.5 8.7 2.6 0.3 2.8 3.4 8.9 19.8 .451 0.7 2.2 .303 5.5 7.3 .755

Season 7

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 79 33.3 19.6 3.5 7.9 11.4 2.2 1.2 1.6 4.0 3.8 6.7 11.9 .561 0.1 0.2 .417 6.2 8.4 .742
Isiah Thomas 81 36.1 19.5 0.8 2.6 3.4 8.4 1.7 0.2 3.4 2.7 7.7 16.6 .463 0.4 1.2 .309 3.8 4.9 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 20 36.0 20.9 3.3 7.1 10.4 1.5 1.2 2.0 4.0 4.2 7.4 12.9 .570 0.0 0.2 .000 6.2 7.8 .795
Isiah Thomas 23 39.6 21.9 1.1 3.5 4.7 8.7 2.9 0.3 3.7 3.1 8.0 18.2 .437 0.6 1.9 .295 5.4 6.6 .828

Season 8

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 81 34.0 18.7 3.4 6.6 10.0 1.9 1.5 1.0 3.5 4.0 6.5 12.7 .510 0.1 0.4 .364 5.6 7.5 .742
Isiah Thomas 80 36.6 18.2 0.6 2.8 3.4 8.3 1.7 0.3 3.7 2.6 7.1 15.3 .464 0.4 1.5 .273 3.6 4.4 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 12 36.8 21.6 4.3 8.0 12.3 3.0 1.2 1.3 3.9 4.6 7.1 14.6 .486 0.2 0.8 .200 7.3 8.8 .829
Isiah Thomas 17 37.2 18.2 1.4 2.9 4.3 8.3 1.6 0.2 2.5 2.3 6.8 16.4 .412 0.5 1.8 .267 4.2 5.6 .740

Season 9

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981989-90
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 80 34.6 18.0 2.7 6.6 9.3 2.5 1.4 1.1 3.4 3.9 6.5 14.6 .445 0.0 0.1 .250 5.1 7.0 .727
Isiah Thomas 81 37.0 18.4 0.9 2.9 3.8 9.4 1.7 0.2 4.0 2.5 7.1 16.3 .438 0.5 1.7 .309 3.6 4.7 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 4 38.0 26.0 4.0 6.3 10.3 2.0 1.3 1.0 4.0 3.0 8.3 17.8 .465 0.0 0.0 - 9.5 11.3 .844
Isiah Thomas 20 37.9 20.5 1.1 4.4 5.5 8.2 2.2 0.4 3.6 3.3 7.4 16.0 .463 1.6 3.4 .471 4.1 5.1 .794

Season 10

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991990-91
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 42 35.1 20.5 3.1 6.1 9.2 2.4 1.1 1.1 3.0 3.8 6.6 13.7 .482 0.0 0.0 .500 7.3 9.3 .789
Isiah Thomas 48 34.5 16.2 0.7 2.6 3.3 9.3 1.6 0.2 3.9 2.5 6.0 13.9 .435 0.4 1.4 .292 3.7 4.8 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas 13 33.5 13.5 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.5 1.0 0.2 3.2 3.2 4.6 11.5 .403 0.5 1.7 .273 3.8 5.3 .725

Season 11

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001991-92
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 82 30.4 17.8 2.8 6.0 8.8 1.7 1.2 1.2 3.5 4.5 5.9 14.1 .417 0.0 0.1 .333 6.0 7.7 .776
Isiah Thomas 78 37.4 18.5 0.9 2.3 3.2 7.2 1.5 0.2 3.2 2.5 7.2 16.2 .446 0.3 1.1 .291 3.7 4.8 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas 5 40.0 14.0 0.6 4.6 5.2 7.4 1.0 0.0 3.2 3.6 4.4 13.0 .338 0.8 2.2 .364 4.4 5.6 .786

Season 12

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011992-93
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 68 15.9 6.5 0.9 2.9 3.8 1.0 0.7 0.3 1.5 2.7 2.5 6.1 .407 0.1 0.2 .364 1.5 1.9 .771
Isiah Thomas 79 37.0 17.6 0.9 2.0 2.9 8.5 1.6 0.2 3.6 2.8 6.7 15.9 .418 0.8 2.5 .308 3.5 4.8 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-021993-94
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 75 16.4 6.1 1.2 2.6 3.8 0.7 0.6 0.4 1.1 2.5 2.3 5.4 .430 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 1.7 .794
Isiah Thomas 58 30.2 14.8 0.8 1.9 2.7 6.9 1.2 0.1 3.5 2.2 5.5 13.2 .417 0.7 2.2 .310 3.1 4.4 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 3 12.0 3.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 2.7 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.3 .700
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Shawn Kemp Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-03-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 79 20.7 6.8 1.9 3.8 5.7 0.7 0.8 0.4 1.3 3.0 2.7 6.4 .418 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.0 .742
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shawn Kemp 7 10.4 3.0 0.1 2.0 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 1.9 1.1 3.0 .381 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .833
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------