Alex English vs. Tristan Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tristan Thompson and Alex English, 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 / Stats Rankings

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.

Alex English played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Tristan Thompson, who played 14. Alex English had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Tristan Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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 achievements, 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
Alex English 15 10 1976-77 to 1990-91
Tristan Thompson 14 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1976-772011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 60 10.8 5.2 1.1 1.7 2.8 0.4 0.3 0.3 - 1.3 2.2 4.6 .477 - - - 0.8 1.0 .767
difference:+12.9+3.0+2.0+1.7+3.7+0.1+0.2+0.7-0.9+1.0+2.8+.038+1.0+2.2+.215
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .552
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Alex English nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1977-782012-13
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 82 18.9 9.6 1.8 3.1 4.8 1.6 0.5 0.7 1.7 2.2 4.2 7.7 .542 - - - 1.3 1.7 .727
difference:+12.4+2.1+1.9+2.6+4.6+0.3+0.2+0.2-0.2-0.7+0.6+2.0+.054+0.9+1.8+.119
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .608
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 9 23.1 13.4 1.8 2.9 4.7 1.4 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.2 5.3 8.7 .615 - - - 2.8 3.6 .781
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1978-792013-14
Team Indiana PacersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 81 33.3 16.0 3.1 5.0 8.1 3.3 0.9 1.0 2.4 2.6 7.0 13.6 .511 - - - 2.1 2.8 .752
difference:+1+1.7+4.3+0.2+0.9+1.1+2.4+0.4+0.6-1.1-0.3+2.6+4.3+.034+0.8+1.3+.059
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.1 .693
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Alex English nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1979-802014-15
Team Indiana Pacers, Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 78 30.8 16.9 3.4 4.3 7.8 2.9 0.9 0.8 2.7 2.6 7.1 14.3 .497 0.0 0.1 .333 2.7 3.4 .789
difference:+4+4.0+8.4+0.1+0.4+0.2+2.4+0.5+0.1-1.7-0.3+3.8+8.3+.050+0.1+0.8+0.4+.148
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585

Season 5

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1980-812015-16
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 81 38.2 23.8 3.4 4.6 8.0 3.6 1.3 1.2 3.0 3.1 9.5 19.2 .494 0.0 0.1 .600 4.8 5.7 .850
difference:+1+10.5+16.0+0.1+1.1+1.0+2.8+0.8+0.6-2.3-0.6+6.5+14.1+.094+0.1+3.0+2.7+.234
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575

Season 6

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1981-822016-17
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 82 36.8 25.4 2.6 4.2 6.8 5.3 1.1 1.5 3.2 3.2 10.4 18.9 .551 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.4 .840
difference:+4+6.9+17.3+1.1+1.3+2.4+4.3+0.6+0.4-2.4-0.9+7.0+13.3+.049+0.1+3.1+2.7+.342
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.7 .498
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 3 39.3 19.3 2.7 5.0 7.7 5.7 1.0 1.0 1.3 2.0 8.7 18.3 .473 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.3 .857
difference:+15+8.1+11.1+1.1+0.5+0.6+4.3+0.5+0.3-0.1+5.7+13.2+.114+0.2+1.0+.190
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667

Season 7

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1982-832017-18
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 82 36.4 28.4 3.2 4.1 7.3 4.8 1.4 1.5 3.2 2.9 11.7 22.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .167 5.0 6.0 .829
difference:+29+16.2+22.6+0.8+0.2+0.7+4.2+1.1+1.2-2.5-1.0+9.2+18.2+.046+0.1+4.2+4.5+.285
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 7 38.6 25.9 2.9 3.4 6.3 6.0 0.6 1.0 3.0 3.0 9.6 21.4 .447 0.0 0.3 .000 6.7 7.6 .887
difference:+12+16.7+19.7+0.6+0.2+0.4+5.4+0.5+0.6-2.4-1.6+7.0+17.0+.143+0.2+5.6+6.2+.146
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741

Season 8

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1983-842018-19
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 82 35.0 26.4 2.6 3.0 5.7 5.0 1.0 1.2 2.7 3.1 11.1 20.9 .529 0.0 0.1 .143 4.3 5.2 .824
difference:+39+7.1+15.5+1.4+3.2+4.5+3.0+0.3+0.8-1.3-1.0+6.4+12.1+0.1+2.7+2.7+.182
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 5 40.6 29.0 3.2 4.8 8.0 5.6 0.6 0.4 1.4 3.4 12.0 20.4 .588 0.0 0.2 .000 5.0 5.6 .893
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1984-852019-20
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 81 36.1 27.9 2.5 3.1 5.7 4.2 1.2 0.6 3.1 3.2 11.6 22.4 .518 0.0 0.1 .200 4.7 5.7 .829
difference:+24+5.9+15.9+1.5+3.1+4.4+2.1+0.6+0.3-1.3-1.0+6.5+12.5+.006+0.2+0.3+.191+3.0+2.9+.214
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 14 38.3 30.2 2.6 4.0 6.6 4.5 1.2 0.4 2.1 2.9 11.6 21.7 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 6.9 7.8 .890
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1985-862020-21
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 81 37.3 29.8 2.4 2.6 5.0 4.0 0.9 0.4 3.1 2.9 11.7 23.3 .504 0.0 0.1 .200 6.3 7.3 .862
difference:+27+13.5+22.2+0.7+2.4+3.1+2.8+0.5+0.2-2.0-0.7+8.6+17.3+.014+.200+5.0+5.1+.270
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 10 39.4 27.3 1.8 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.4 0.4 2.8 2.9 10.6 22.9 .463 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 7.1 .859
difference:+5+13.0+16.9+4.0+2.3+6.3+4.2+0.4+0.8-1.8-0.5+6.6+16.1+.125+0.1+3.7+3.7+.153
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 11

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1986-872021-22
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 82 37.6 28.6 1.8 2.4 4.2 5.1 0.9 0.3 2.6 2.6 11.8 23.4 .503 0.0 0.2 .267 5.0 5.9 .844
difference:+25+21.9+22.6+0.3+0.5+0.9+4.5+0.5+0.1-1.8-0.9+9.3+18.7+.025+0.1+.066+3.9+3.9+.318
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 3 25.3 18.7 3.3 1.3 4.7 3.3 0.0 0.0 2.7 3.0 8.3 16.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.3 .857
difference:+2+17.7+17.9+2.9+0.1+3.1+2.9+0.2-1.7-2.2+7.9+15.3+.110+2.0+2.3
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1987-882022-23
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 80 35.2 25.0 2.1 2.6 4.7 4.7 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.4 10.5 21.3 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.7 .828
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 11 39.8 24.3 2.8 2.5 5.4 4.4 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.1 10.5 23.2 .455 0.0 0.3 .000 3.2 3.9 .814
difference:+5+34.5+22.5+2.1+1.5+3.7+4.1+0.6+0.3-1.3-2.9+9.7+21.4+0.3+3.0+3.1+.614
Tristan Thompson 6 5.3 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.8 .200

Season 13

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1988-892023-24
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 82 36.5 26.5 1.8 2.2 4.0 4.7 0.8 0.1 2.4 2.1 11.3 22.9 .491 0.0 0.1 .250 4.0 4.6 .858
difference:+33+25.3+23.2+0.3+0.1+0.4+3.7+0.6+0.2-1.8-0.9+9.8+20.5+.117+0.1+3.7+3.5+.570
Tristan Thompson 49 11.2 3.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.4 .608 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.1 .288
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 3 36.0 26.0 2.7 1.7 4.3 3.7 0.3 0.0 4.7 2.0 10.7 20.7 .516 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 5.3 .875
difference:+7+27.3+24.5+1.7+0.7+2.3+2.7+0.2+0.5-4.5-1.1+10.0+19.1+.078+4.6+5.1+.375
Tristan Thompson 10 8.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.6 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .500

Season 14

Alex English Tristan Thompson
Season 1989-902024-25
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 80 27.6 17.9 1.5 2.1 3.6 2.8 0.6 0.3 1.2 1.6 7.9 16.2 .491 0.0 0.1 .400 2.0 2.3 .880
difference:+40+19.4+16.2+0.7+0.5+0.2+2.2+0.5-0.8-0.7+7.1+14.4+.054+.400+1.8+1.5+.647
Tristan Thompson 40 8.2 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.4 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.8 1.8 .437 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.8 .233
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex English 3 25.3 19.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.0 8.3 14.7 .568 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.7 .818
difference:+15.6+17.4+0.3+2.3+2.0+2.7+0.4+0.4-1.3+7.3+12.7+.068+2.7+2.7+.485
Tristan Thompson 3 9.7 2.3 0.7 4.3 5.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333

Additional Years

* Alex English played 1 season more than Tristan Thompson in the NBA.

In that period—his season 15 in 1991—Alex English didn't play in the postseason.