Bill Cartwright vs. Isaiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isaiah Thomas and Bill Cartwright, 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.

Bill Cartwright played 15 years in the NBA, 3 more than Isaiah Thomas, who played 12. Bill Cartwright had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Isaiah Thomas 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 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
Bill Cartwright 15 10 1979-80 to 1994-95
Isaiah Thomas 12 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1979-802011-12
Team New York KnicksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 38.4 21.7 2.4 6.5 8.9 2.0 0.6 1.2 2.7 3.4 8.1 14.8 .547 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .797
Isaiah Thomas 65 25.5 11.5 0.7 1.8 2.6 4.1 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.9 3.9 8.8 .448 1.3 3.4 .379 2.4 2.8 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1980-812012-13
Team New York KnicksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 82 35.7 20.1 2.0 5.5 7.5 1.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 3.2 7.5 13.6 .554 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.3 .788
Isaiah Thomas 79 26.9 13.9 0.4 1.7 2.0 4.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 2.1 4.6 10.5 .440 1.5 4.1 .358 3.2 3.6 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 2 24.5 10.0 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.5 3.0 8.5 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1981-822013-14
Team New York KnicksSacramento Kings
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 %
Bill Cartwright 72 28.6 14.4 1.6 4.2 5.8 1.2 0.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.7 .763
Isaiah Thomas 72 34.7 20.3 0.7 2.3 2.9 6.3 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.6 6.9 15.2 .453 1.8 5.1 .349 4.8 5.7 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1982-832014-15
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 30.1 15.7 2.3 4.9 7.2 1.7 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.8 5.5 9.8 .566 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.2 .744
Isaiah Thomas 67 25.8 16.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.2 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.2 5.0 11.9 .420 1.9 5.2 .373 4.5 5.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 6 28.7 11.2 1.5 4.2 5.7 0.7 0.5 1.2 3.2 4.2 4.2 7.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .773
Isaiah Thomas 4 29.8 17.5 0.3 2.8 3.0 7.0 0.8 0.0 3.5 2.5 4.5 13.5 .333 0.8 4.5 .167 7.8 8.0 .969

Season 5

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1983-842015-16
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Bill Cartwright 77 32.3 17.0 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.4 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.4 5.9 10.5 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 6.5 .805
Isaiah Thomas 82 32.2 22.2 0.6 2.4 3.0 6.2 1.1 0.1 2.7 2.0 7.2 16.9 .428 2.0 5.7 .359 5.8 6.6 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 12 33.2 17.4 2.3 6.0 8.3 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 5.8 10.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 6.7 .863
Isaiah Thomas 6 36.7 24.2 0.3 2.7 3.0 5.0 0.7 0.8 2.3 3.0 7.8 19.8 .395 2.2 7.7 .283 6.3 7.8 .809

Note: Bill Cartwright didn't play in 1984-85.

Season 6

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1985-862016-17
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Bill Cartwright 2 18.0 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.0 1.5 3.5 .429 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 5.0 .600
Isaiah Thomas 76 33.8 28.9 0.6 2.1 2.7 5.9 0.9 0.2 2.8 2.2 9.0 19.4 .463 3.2 8.5 .379 7.8 8.5 .909
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas 15 34.7 23.3 0.3 2.8 3.1 6.7 0.9 0.1 3.3 2.3 7.4 17.4 .425 2.4 7.2 .333 6.1 7.4 .820

Season 7

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1986-872017-18
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Bill Cartwright 58 34.3 17.5 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.7 0.7 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 10.9 .531 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 7.6 .790
Isaiah Thomas 32 26.9 15.2 0.5 1.6 2.1 4.8 0.5 0.1 3.0 1.8 4.9 13.2 .373 1.7 5.9 .293 3.7 4.1 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1987-882018-19
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 82 20.4 11.1 1.5 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.6 2.9 3.5 6.4 .544 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.2 .798
Isaiah Thomas 12 15.1 8.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.4 0.1 1.5 1.4 2.8 8.3 .343 1.0 3.6 .279 1.4 2.3 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 4 19.0 7.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.0 3.0 2.3 4.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.8 .733
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Chicago BullsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Bill Cartwright 78 29.9 12.4 1.9 4.7 6.7 1.2 0.3 0.5 2.4 3.0 4.7 9.8 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.9 .766
Isaiah Thomas 40 23.1 12.2 0.3 1.4 1.7 3.7 0.3 0.2 1.9 1.9 4.4 10.7 .408 2.0 4.7 .413 1.6 1.9 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 34.3 11.8 1.9 5.2 7.1 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.4 4.1 4.2 8.7 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.7 .700
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1989-902020-21
Team Chicago BullsNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Bill Cartwright 71 30.4 11.4 1.9 4.6 6.5 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.7 3.4 4.1 8.4 .488 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.9 .811
Isaiah Thomas 3 16.0 7.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 9.0 .333 1.0 4.0 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 16 28.9 8.1 1.6 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 1.6 3.3 3.1 7.6 .413 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .674
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1990-912021-22
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets
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 %
Bill Cartwright 79 28.8 9.6 2.1 4.0 6.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 1.4 2.1 4.0 8.2 .490 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .697
Isaiah Thomas 22 15.2 8.4 0.2 1.1 1.3 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.7 1.5 3.0 7.6 .401 1.3 3.8 .337 1.0 1.2 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 30.1 9.5 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.9 0.5 0.4 1.2 3.2 4.1 7.9 .519 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .688
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Note: Isaiah Thomas didn't play in 2022-23.

Season 12

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1991-922023-24
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 %
Bill Cartwright 64 23.0 8.0 1.5 3.6 5.1 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 2.0 3.3 7.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .604
Isaiah Thomas 6 3.2 1.3 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.7 .300 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 22 27.8 5.6 1.3 3.1 4.5 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.2 3.2 2.5 5.3 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .419
Isaiah Thomas 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1992-93-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 63 19.9 5.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.3 0.3 0.2 1.0 2.4 2.2 5.4 .411 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .735
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 19 23.4 6.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.5 0.6 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 5.2 .465 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .778
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1993-94-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 42 18.6 5.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.0 2.3 4.5 .513 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .684
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 9 21.0 4.6 2.1 2.8 4.9 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.9 1.6 4.8 .326 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .813
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Bill Cartwright Isaiah Thomas
Season 1994-95-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 29 14.8 2.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 2.4 0.9 2.4 .391 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .625
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------