Larry Smith vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Larry Smith, 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.

Larry Smith and Isiah Thomas both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Smith had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, 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
Larry Smith 13 5 1980-81 to 1992-93
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1980-811981-82
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Larry Smith 82 31.4 9.6 5.3 6.8 12.1 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.8 3.9 3.7 7.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.7 .588
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1981-821982-83
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Larry Smith 74 29.9 7.1 3.8 7.2 11.0 1.1 0.9 0.7 1.4 3.9 3.0 5.6 .534 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 2.1 .553
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1982-831983-84
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Larry Smith 49 29.2 8.4 4.3 5.6 9.9 0.9 0.7 0.4 1.7 3.8 3.7 6.2 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 2.0 .535
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1983-841984-85
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Larry Smith 75 27.9 7.8 3.8 5.2 9.0 1.0 0.8 0.3 1.7 3.7 3.3 5.8 .560 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.2 .560
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Larry Smith 80 31.2 11.1 5.1 5.8 10.9 1.2 1.0 0.7 2.0 3.6 4.6 8.6 .530 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.2 .605
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Larry Smith 77 31.7 9.6 5.0 6.1 11.1 1.2 0.8 0.6 1.8 3.7 4.1 7.6 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.9 .493
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Larry Smith 80 29.7 8.8 4.6 6.9 11.5 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.7 3.7 3.7 6.8 .546 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.5 .574
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 %
Larry Smith 10 32.9 10.3 6.1 7.6 13.7 1.7 1.2 0.6 1.4 3.9 4.3 8.1 .531 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.4 .708
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -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 %
Larry Smith 20 25.0 6.4 4.0 5.2 9.1 1.3 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.2 2.9 6.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.4 .407
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Larry Smith 80 23.7 5.7 3.4 4.8 8.2 1.5 0.8 0.7 1.4 3.1 2.7 5.0 .552 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.7 .310
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 %
Larry Smith 8 18.5 1.0 2.1 2.9 5.0 2.0 0.8 1.4 0.8 3.0 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Larry Smith 74 17.6 3.0 2.4 3.7 6.1 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.7 1.4 2.9 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.7 .364
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 %
Larry Smith 4 18.3 3.0 1.8 1.5 3.3 1.3 1.0 0.0 1.3 2.8 1.5 2.0 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Larry Smith 81 23.7 3.3 3.7 5.0 8.8 1.1 1.0 0.3 1.1 3.3 1.6 3.2 .487 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.6 .240
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 %
Larry Smith 3 19.0 0.7 2.0 2.3 4.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 3.7 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.3 .000
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

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921992-93
Team Houston RocketsDetroit 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 %
Larry Smith 45 17.8 2.3 2.4 3.3 5.7 0.7 0.5 0.2 1.0 2.7 1.1 2.0 .543 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .364
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 %
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931993-94
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Larry Smith 66 12.6 1.3 1.6 2.5 4.1 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.6 2.0 0.6 1.3 .437 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .409
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 %
Larry Smith 6 8.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 2.7 0.2 0.7 0.3 0.2 2.7 0.3 0.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------