Bob McAdoo vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Bob McAdoo, 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.

Bob McAdoo played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Bob McAdoo had the first of his seasons in 1972-73, 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
Bob McAdoo 14 9 1972-73 to 1985-86
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

Rookie Season

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1972-731981-82
Team Buffalo BravesDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
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 %
Bob McAdoo 80 32.0 18.0 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.2 7.3 16.2 .452 - - - 3.4 4.4 .774
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 %
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1973-741982-83
Team Buffalo BravesDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Braves Lost East 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 %
Bob McAdoo 74 43.0 30.6 3.8 11.3 15.1 2.3 1.2 3.3 - 3.4 12.2 22.3 .547 - - - 6.2 7.8 .793
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 %
Bob McAdoo 6 45.2 31.7 2.3 11.3 13.7 1.5 1.0 2.2 - 4.2 12.7 26.5 .478 - - - 6.3 7.8 .809
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1974-751983-84
Team Buffalo BravesDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Braves Lost East 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 %
Bob McAdoo 82 43.2 34.5 3.7 10.3 14.1 2.2 1.1 2.1 - 3.4 13.4 26.1 .512 - - - 7.8 9.7 .805
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 %
Bob McAdoo 7 46.7 37.4 3.6 9.9 13.4 1.4 0.9 2.7 - 4.1 14.9 30.9 .481 - - - 7.7 10.4 .740
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1975-761984-85
Team Buffalo BravesDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Braves Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Bob McAdoo 78 42.7 31.1 3.1 9.3 12.4 4.0 1.2 2.1 - 3.8 12.0 24.6 .487 - - - 7.2 9.4 .762
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 %
Bob McAdoo 9 45.1 28.0 3.4 10.8 14.2 3.2 0.8 2.0 - 4.1 10.8 23.9 .451 - - - 6.4 9.1 .707
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1976-771985-86
Team Buffalo Braves, New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Bob McAdoo 72 38.9 25.8 2.8 10.1 12.9 2.8 1.1 1.4 - 3.6 10.3 20.1 .512 - - - 5.3 7.2 .738
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 %
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1977-781986-87
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Bob McAdoo 79 40.3 26.5 3.0 9.8 12.8 3.8 1.3 1.6 4.4 3.8 10.3 19.8 .520 - - - 5.9 8.2 .727
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 %
Bob McAdoo 6 39.7 23.8 1.8 7.8 9.7 3.8 1.2 2.0 3.8 3.2 10.2 21.0 .484 - - - 3.5 5.8 .600
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1978-791987-88
Team New York Knicks, Boston CelticsDetroit 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 %
Bob McAdoo 60 37.2 24.8 2.2 6.5 8.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 3.6 3.2 9.9 18.8 .529 - - - 4.9 7.5 .656
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 %
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit 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 %
Bob McAdoo 58 36.2 21.1 1.7 6.3 8.1 3.4 1.3 1.1 4.1 3.1 8.5 17.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .125 4.1 5.6 .730
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 %
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Detroit Pistons, New Jersey NetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-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 %
Bob McAdoo 16 20.1 10.3 1.1 3.1 4.2 1.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.4 4.3 9.8 .433 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .707
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 %
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Bob McAdoo 41 18.2 9.6 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.8 0.5 0.9 1.2 2.7 3.7 8.0 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .714
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 %
Bob McAdoo 14 27.7 16.7 1.5 5.3 6.8 1.6 0.7 1.5 2.5 3.1 7.2 12.8 .564 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .681
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Bob McAdoo 47 21.7 15.0 1.6 3.6 5.3 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.3 6.2 12.0 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .730
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 %
Bob McAdoo 8 20.8 10.9 1.9 3.9 5.8 0.6 1.4 1.3 1.8 2.9 4.6 10.5 .440 0.3 0.8 .333 1.4 1.8 .786
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

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob McAdoo 70 20.8 13.1 1.2 3.0 4.1 1.1 0.6 0.7 1.8 2.6 5.0 10.7 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 3.8 .803
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 %
Bob McAdoo 20 22.4 14.0 1.5 3.9 5.4 0.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.2 5.6 10.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.1 .704
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
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 %
Bob McAdoo 66 19.0 10.5 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.4 2.6 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.5 .753
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 %
Bob McAdoo 19 20.9 11.4 1.3 3.2 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.4 1.7 3.5 4.8 10.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.5 .745
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob McAdoo Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-86-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Bob McAdoo 29 21.0 10.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 1.2 0.3 0.6 1.7 2.2 4.0 8.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .765
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob McAdoo 5 14.6 10.8 1.6 1.2 2.8 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.4 2.6 4.0 7.2 .556 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.2 .875
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------