Jerry Sloan vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Jerry Sloan, 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.

Jerry Sloan played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Jerry Sloan had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, 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
Jerry Sloan 11 9 1965-66 to 1975-76
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

Rookie Season

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1965-661981-82
Team Baltimore BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost West 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 %
Jerry Sloan 59 16.1 5.7 - - 3.9 1.9 - - - 3.0 2.0 4.9 .415 - - - 1.7 2.4 .705
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 %
Jerry Sloan 2 17.0 6.5 - - 8.0 3.0 - - - 3.0 2.5 6.0 .417 - - - 1.5 2.0 .750
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1966-671982-83
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost West 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 %
Jerry Sloan 80 36.8 17.4 - - 9.1 2.1 - - - 3.7 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 4.3 5.3 .796
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 %
Jerry Sloan 3 23.7 10.0 - - 3.3 0.3 - - - 2.3 4.0 10.3 .387 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1967-681983-84
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Div 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 %
Jerry Sloan 77 31.9 13.3 - - 7.7 3.0 - - - 3.8 4.8 12.5 .385 - - - 3.8 5.0 .749
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 %
Jerry Sloan 5 27.4 8.6 - - 6.4 2.4 - - - 3.8 2.4 7.4 .324 - - - 3.8 5.0 .760
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1968-691984-85
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Jerry Sloan 78 37.7 16.8 - - 7.9 3.5 - - - 4.0 6.3 15.0 .417 - - - 4.3 5.7 .745
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 %
Jerry Sloan ------- --- ----------
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1969-701985-86
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Div 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 %
Jerry Sloan 53 34.4 15.6 - - 7.0 3.1 - - - 3.4 5.8 13.9 .421 - - - 3.9 6.0 .651
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 %
Jerry Sloan 5 38.0 14.8 - - 7.8 2.2 - - - 3.6 5.8 14.8 .392 - - - 3.2 5.0 .640
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1970-711986-87
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Jerry Sloan 80 39.3 18.3 - - 8.8 3.5 - - - 3.6 7.4 16.8 .441 - - - 3.5 4.9 .715
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 %
Jerry Sloan 7 40.6 17.0 - - 9.0 2.4 - - - 3.6 7.3 16.7 .436 - - - 2.4 3.3 .739
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1971-721987-88
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jerry Sloan 82 37.0 16.2 - - 8.4 2.6 - - - 3.8 6.5 14.7 .444 - - - 3.1 4.8 .660
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 %
Jerry Sloan 4 42.5 15.8 - - 8.8 2.5 - - - 4.5 6.5 16.0 .406 - - - 2.8 4.8 .579
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1972-731988-89
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Jerry Sloan 69 35.0 10.1 - - 6.9 2.2 - - - 3.4 4.4 10.6 .411 - - - 1.4 1.9 .707
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 %
Jerry Sloan 7 41.7 14.9 - - 8.4 2.0 - - - 4.4 6.4 14.7 .437 - - - 2.0 2.7 .737
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1973-741989-90
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Jerry Sloan 77 37.1 13.2 1.9 5.3 7.2 1.9 2.4 0.1 - 3.5 5.4 12.0 .447 - - - 2.5 3.5 .711
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 %
Jerry Sloan 6 40.0 16.7 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.0 1.2 0.2 - 2.8 6.5 14.7 .443 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1974-751990-91
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Jerry Sloan 78 33.0 12.2 2.3 4.6 6.9 2.1 2.2 0.2 - 3.4 4.9 11.1 .439 - - - 2.5 3.3 .748
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 %
Jerry Sloan 13 36.2 13.1 1.8 5.5 7.4 2.0 1.5 0.0 - 3.5 5.8 12.5 .460 - - - 1.5 2.8 .556
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season 1975-761991-92
Team Chicago BullsDetroit 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 %
Jerry Sloan 22 28.0 10.1 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.0 1.2 0.2 - 3.5 3.8 9.5 .400 - - - 2.5 3.5 .705
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 %
Jerry Sloan ------- --- ----------
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

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season -1992-93
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Jerry Sloan ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jerry Sloan ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Jerry Sloan Isiah Thomas
Season -1993-94
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 %
Jerry Sloan ------- --- ----------
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 %
Jerry Sloan ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------