Eddie Johnson vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Eddie 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.

Eddie Johnson played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Eddie Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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
Eddie Johnson 17 10 1981-82 to 1998-99
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit 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 %
Eddie Johnson 74 20.5 9.3 1.7 2.6 4.4 1.5 0.7 0.2 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.7 .459 0.0 0.1 .091 1.3 2.0 .664
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 35.8 19.8 2.3 3.8 6.1 2.6 0.9 0.2 2.2 3.2 8.3 16.7 .494 0.2 0.9 .282 3.0 3.9 .779
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 35.6 21.9 2.0 3.5 5.5 3.6 0.9 0.3 2.6 3.2 9.2 18.9 .485 0.2 0.8 .313 3.3 4.0 .810
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 %
Eddie Johnson 3 35.7 17.0 1.3 2.0 3.3 4.0 1.0 0.3 0.7 2.7 7.0 16.0 .438 0.7 1.7 .400 2.3 2.3 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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 36.9 22.9 1.8 3.1 5.0 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 2.9 9.4 19.1 .491 0.2 0.7 .241 4.0 4.5 .871
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 %
Eddie 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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 30.7 18.7 2.1 3.0 5.1 2.6 0.7 0.2 2.3 2.9 7.6 16.0 .475 0.0 0.2 .200 3.4 4.2 .816
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 %
Eddie Johnson 3 32.0 18.7 3.3 3.7 7.0 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 2.3 8.0 18.3 .436 0.0 1.0 .000 2.7 3.0 .889
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 30.3 18.7 1.8 2.6 4.4 3.1 0.5 0.2 2.0 2.7 7.5 16.2 .463 0.5 1.5 .314 3.3 4.0 .829
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1987-881987-88
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit 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 %
Eddie Johnson 73 29.8 17.7 1.7 2.7 4.4 2.5 0.5 0.1 1.9 2.6 7.3 15.2 .480 0.3 1.3 .255 2.8 3.3 .850
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 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 %
Eddie Johnson 70 29.2 21.5 1.3 3.1 4.4 2.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.8 8.7 17.5 .497 1.0 2.5 .413 3.1 3.6 .868
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 %
Eddie Johnson 12 32.7 17.8 2.3 4.9 7.3 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.5 3.4 7.1 17.2 .413 1.1 3.2 .342 2.5 3.3 .769
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901989-90
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 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 %
Eddie Johnson 64 28.3 16.9 1.1 2.8 3.8 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.7 6.4 14.2 .453 1.1 2.9 .380 2.9 3.2 .917
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 %
Eddie Johnson 16 21.1 12.3 0.9 2.6 3.6 1.1 0.6 0.3 1.3 2.5 4.5 10.0 .450 0.9 2.4 .395 2.3 2.9 .787
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911990-91
Team Phoenix Suns, Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 25.7 16.7 1.3 2.0 3.3 1.4 0.7 0.1 1.5 2.2 6.7 13.9 .484 0.5 1.5 .325 2.8 3.2 .891
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 %
Eddie Johnson 5 34.2 24.0 2.4 1.8 4.2 1.4 1.4 0.2 1.6 2.6 9.2 17.8 .517 0.8 3.0 .267 4.8 5.8 .828
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921991-92
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 29.2 17.1 1.5 2.1 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.6 2.5 6.6 14.4 .459 0.3 1.3 .252 3.6 4.2 .861
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 %
Eddie Johnson 9 27.4 18.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.9 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.1 7.2 15.2 .474 0.4 2.4 .182 3.6 3.8 .941
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

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931992-93
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 22.8 14.4 1.5 1.8 3.3 1.6 0.4 0.0 1.6 2.1 5.6 12.1 .467 0.2 0.7 .304 2.9 3.1 .911
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 %
Eddie Johnson 19 20.1 10.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 4.3 11.1 .390 0.6 1.9 .333 1.5 1.6 .935
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941993-94
Team Charlotte HornetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
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 %
Eddie Johnson 73 20.0 11.5 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.2 2.0 4.6 10.1 .459 0.8 2.1 .393 1.4 1.7 .780
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Note: Eddie Johnson didn't play in 1994-95.

Season 14

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-96-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Eddie Johnson 62 16.2 7.7 0.7 1.7 2.5 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.9 1.7 2.9 7.0 .413 0.7 2.1 .352 1.1 1.3 .886
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 1 9.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 .000 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-97-
Team Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 52 17.6 8.2 0.5 2.1 2.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.9 1.6 3.1 7.0 .442 0.9 2.5 .374 1.1 1.3 .809
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 16 17.7 8.3 0.9 1.3 2.3 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.4 1.1 3.0 7.3 .410 0.9 2.9 .298 1.4 1.5 .958
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 75 19.9 8.4 0.7 1.4 2.0 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.0 7.3 .417 0.9 2.6 .333 1.5 1.8 .831
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 5 17.6 5.6 0.8 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 2.0 1.8 5.4 .333 0.6 2.0 .300 1.4 1.6 .875
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Eddie Johnson Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-99-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Eddie Johnson 3 6.0 4.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------