Avery Johnson vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Avery Johnson, 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.

Avery Johnson played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Avery Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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
Avery Johnson 16 10 1988-89 to 2003-04
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891981-82
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson 43 6.8 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.8 0.7 1.9 .349 0.0 0.2 .111 0.2 0.4 .563
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 %
Avery Johnson 6 5.2 1.8 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.8 2.0 .417 0.0 0.7 .000 0.2 0.3 .500
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Avery Johnson 53 10.8 2.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 3.1 0.5 0.0 0.9 1.0 1.0 2.7 .387 0.0 0.1 .250 0.5 0.8 .725
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 %
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911983-84
Team Denver Nuggets, San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Avery Johnson 68 14.1 4.7 0.3 0.8 1.1 3.4 0.7 0.1 1.1 0.9 1.9 4.1 .469 0.0 0.1 .111 0.9 1.3 .678
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 %
Avery Johnson 3 6.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 0 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.7 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921984-85
Team San Antonio Spurs, Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Avery Johnson 69 17.9 5.6 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.9 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.3 2.3 4.8 .479 0.1 0.2 .267 1.0 1.5 .653
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 %
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931985-86
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Avery Johnson 75 27.1 8.7 0.3 1.7 1.9 7.5 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.9 3.4 6.8 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.4 .791
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 %
Avery Johnson 10 31.4 8.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 8.1 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.7 3.6 7.0 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .714
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941986-87
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Avery Johnson 82 28.4 10.9 0.5 1.6 2.1 5.3 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.0 4.3 8.8 .492 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .704
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 %
Avery Johnson 3 13.7 6.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 3.0 5.7 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951987-88
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Avery Johnson 82 36.7 13.4 0.6 1.9 2.5 8.2 1.4 0.2 2.5 1.9 5.5 10.5 .519 0.0 0.3 .136 2.5 3.6 .685
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 %
Avery Johnson 15 38.3 14.5 0.6 1.5 2.1 8.3 1.3 0.4 2.0 1.9 6.1 11.7 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.9 .621
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961988-89
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Avery Johnson 82 37.6 13.1 0.5 2.1 2.5 9.6 1.5 0.3 2.4 2.2 5.3 10.8 .494 0.1 0.4 .194 2.3 3.2 .721
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 %
Avery Johnson 10 40.7 12.3 0.6 3.0 3.6 9.4 2.0 0.1 2.4 2.1 5.2 12.1 .430 0.0 0.2 .000 1.9 2.7 .704
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971989-90
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson 76 32.5 10.5 0.4 1.5 1.9 6.8 1.3 0.2 1.9 2.1 4.3 9.0 .477 0.1 0.3 .231 1.8 2.7 .690
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 %
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981990-91
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Avery Johnson 75 35.7 10.2 0.4 1.6 2.0 7.9 1.1 0.2 2.2 1.9 4.3 8.9 .478 0.0 0.2 .154 1.6 2.2 .726
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 %
Avery Johnson 9 38.1 17.3 0.3 1.1 1.4 6.1 1.0 0.0 2.3 3.0 6.8 11.2 .604 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 5.7 .667
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991991-92
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Avery Johnson 50 33.4 9.7 0.4 1.9 2.4 7.4 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.0 4.4 9.2 .473 0.0 0.2 .083 1.0 1.8 .568
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 %
Avery Johnson 17 38.5 12.6 0.5 1.9 2.5 7.4 1.2 0.1 2.9 1.8 5.4 11.0 .487 0.1 0.2 .333 1.9 2.8 .681
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

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001992-93
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Avery Johnson 82 31.4 11.2 0.4 1.5 1.9 6.0 0.9 0.2 1.7 1.8 4.9 10.4 .473 0.0 0.1 .111 1.4 1.9 .735
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 %
Avery Johnson 4 36.3 12.0 0.5 1.8 2.3 5.3 1.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 4.8 10.5 .452 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.5 .714
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011993-94
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson 55 23.5 5.6 0.4 1.2 1.5 4.3 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.6 2.4 5.5 .447 0.0 0.1 .167 0.7 1.1 .683
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 %
Avery Johnson 13 21.7 5.8 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.2 0.8 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 6.8 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.2 .533
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-02-
Team Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson 68 19.9 7.9 0.2 0.8 1.0 4.2 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.3 3.0 6.4 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.4 .742
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-03-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson 48 9.0 3.3 0.2 0.4 0.6 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.1 .420 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .769
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Avery Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-04-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson 46 13.8 4.6 0.1 0.7 0.7 2.4 0.6 0.1 1.1 0.7 1.7 4.3 .402 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.7 .667
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Avery Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------