Dick Barnett vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Dick Barnett, 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

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.

Dick Barnett played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Dick Barnett had the first of his seasons in 1959-60, 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
Dick Barnett 14 11 1959-60 to 1973-74
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1959-601981-82
Team Syracuse NationalsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett 57 21.7 12.4 - - 2.7 2.8 - - - 1.7 5.1 12.3 .412 - - - 2.2 3.2 .711
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 %
Dick Barnett 3 21.3 10.0 - - 4.7 1.3 - - - 1.3 4.0 12.7 .316 - - - 2.0 2.3 .857
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1960-611982-83
Team Syracuse NationalsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett 78 26.5 16.9 - - 3.6 2.8 - - - 2.2 6.9 15.3 .452 - - - 3.1 4.3 .712
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 %
Dick Barnett 8 28.3 15.5 - - 4.5 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.1 14.0 .438 - - - 3.3 4.5 .722
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Note: Dick Barnett didn't play in 1961-62.

Season 3

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1962-631983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Dick Barnett 80 31.8 18.0 - - 3.0 2.8 - - - 2.4 6.8 14.5 .471 - - - 4.3 5.3 .815
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 %
Dick Barnett 13 28.5 16.8 - - 2.9 1.6 - - - 2.7 5.5 11.6 .470 - - - 5.9 7.5 .794
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1963-641984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisPistons 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 %
Dick Barnett 78 33.6 18.4 - - 3.2 3.1 - - - 3.0 6.9 15.3 .452 - - - 4.5 5.8 .773
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 %
Dick Barnett 5 30.8 13.8 - - 1.6 3.4 - - - 3.2 4.2 10.4 .404 - - - 5.4 6.4 .844
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1964-651985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Dick Barnett 74 27.4 13.8 - - 2.7 2.1 - - - 2.8 5.1 12.3 .413 - - - 3.6 4.6 .799
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 %
Dick Barnett 10 28.7 17.5 - - 3.0 3.3 - - - 2.5 7.2 15.0 .480 - - - 3.1 3.9 .795
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1965-661986-87
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-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 %
Dick Barnett 75 34.5 23.1 - - 4.1 3.5 - - - 3.1 8.4 17.9 .469 - - - 6.2 8.1 .772
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 %
Dick Barnett ------- --- ----------
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1966-671987-88
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett 67 29.4 17.0 - - 3.4 2.4 - - - 2.8 6.8 14.2 .478 - - - 3.4 4.4 .783
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 %
Dick Barnett ------- --- ----------
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1967-681988-89
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div 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 %
Dick Barnett 81 30.7 18.0 - - 2.9 3.0 - - - 2.7 6.9 14.3 .482 - - - 4.2 5.4 .780
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 %
Dick Barnett 6 35.2 23.8 - - 4.5 3.5 - - - 4.0 10.2 19.5 .521 - - - 3.5 4.8 .724
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1968-691989-90
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett 82 36.0 17.6 - - 3.1 3.5 - - - 2.9 6.9 14.9 .463 - - - 3.8 4.9 .774
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 %
Dick Barnett 10 40.2 16.7 - - 3.5 2.7 - - - 3.2 6.5 16.3 .399 - - - 3.7 5.4 .685
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1969-701990-91
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Dick Barnett 82 33.8 14.9 - - 2.7 3.6 - - - 2.7 6.0 12.7 .475 - - - 2.8 4.0 .714
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 %
Dick Barnett 19 37.6 16.9 - - 2.1 3.4 - - - 3.4 6.9 14.7 .468 - - - 3.1 4.0 .776
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1970-711991-92
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Dick Barnett 82 34.7 15.5 - - 2.9 2.7 - - - 2.8 6.6 14.4 .456 - - - 2.4 3.4 .694
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 %
Dick Barnett 12 37.9 19.5 - - 3.2 3.0 - - - 2.8 7.9 16.6 .477 - - - 3.7 5.3 .698
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

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1971-721992-93
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett 79 28.6 12.2 - - 1.9 2.5 - - - 2.9 5.1 11.6 .437 - - - 2.1 2.7 .753
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 %
Dick Barnett 12 10.9 4.3 - - 0.7 0.8 - - - 1.6 1.9 4.1 .469 - - - 0.4 1.0 .417
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1972-731993-94
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett 51 10.1 3.8 - - 0.8 1.0 - - - 1.0 1.7 4.4 .389 - - - 0.3 0.6 .533
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 %
Dick Barnett 4 4.3 1.5 - - 0 0.5 - - - 1.3 0.8 1.5 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dick Barnett Isiah Thomas
Season 1973-74-
Team New York Knicks-
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 %
Dick Barnett 5 11.6 4.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.2 0.2 0.0 - 0.4 2.0 5.2 .385 - - - 0.4 0.6 .667
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dick Barnett ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------