Carmelo Anthony vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Carmelo Anthony, 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 / 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.

Carmelo Anthony played 19 years in the NBA, 6 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Carmelo Anthony had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, 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 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
Carmelo Anthony 19 13 2003-04 to 2021-22
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-041981-82
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Carmelo Anthony 82 36.5 21.0 2.2 3.8 6.1 2.8 1.2 0.5 3.0 2.7 7.6 17.9 .426 0.8 2.6 .322 5.0 6.4 .777
difference:+10+2.7+4.0+1.4+1.7+3.2+5.0+0.9+0.3-1.2-0.8+1.3+3.1+.002+0.6+1.8+.034+0.8+0.4+.073
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 4 36.3 15.0 1.8 6.5 8.3 2.8 1.3 0.0 4.3 2.8 5.3 16.0 .328 0.5 2.8 .182 4.0 5.0 .800
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2004-051982-83
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Carmelo Anthony 75 34.8 20.8 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.6 0.9 0.4 3.0 3.1 7.1 16.4 .431 0.6 2.1 .266 6.1 7.6 .796
difference:+6+3.4+2.1+0.6+1.0+1.7+5.2+1.6-1.0-0.8+1.9+2.6+.041+0.2+0.6+.022+1.6+1.2+.086
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 5 36.2 19.2 2.8 2.6 5.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 2.6 4.0 7.0 16.6 .422 0.0 0.2 .000 5.2 6.4 .813
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2005-061983-84
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 80 36.8 26.5 1.5 3.4 4.9 2.7 1.1 0.5 2.7 2.9 9.5 19.7 .481 0.5 1.9 .243 7.2 8.9 .808
difference:+2+0.1+5.2+0.2+0.7+0.9+8.4+1.4+0.1-1.0-1.1+1.3+2.0+.019+0.2+1.1+.095+2.5+2.4+.075
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 5 38.6 21.0 2.4 4.2 6.6 2.8 0.8 0.2 3.0 4.0 6.6 19.8 .333 0.0 0.8 .000 7.8 10.4 .750
difference:+1.0+0.4+1.0+1.8+2.8+8.2+1.8+1.0-1.6-0.4+1.2+3.2+.137+0.4+0.4+.333+2.4+3.4+.021
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2006-071984-85
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 65 38.2 28.9 2.2 3.8 6.0 3.8 1.2 0.4 3.6 3.1 10.6 22.4 .476 0.6 2.3 .268 7.1 8.7 .808
difference:+16+0.1+7.7+0.8+0.8+1.5+10.1+1.1+0.1-0.1-0.5+2.6+5.0+.018+0.2+0.9+.011+2.2+2.6+.001
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 5 42.0 26.8 3.6 5.0 8.6 1.2 1.0 0.0 3.8 2.4 9.4 19.6 .480 1.8 3.6 .500 6.2 7.8 .795
difference:+4+2.6+2.5+2.4+1.0+3.4+10.0+1.1+0.4-0.5-1.9+0.2+1.2+.020+1.1+1.9+.100+1.0+0.9+.037
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2007-081985-86
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 77 36.4 25.7 2.3 5.1 7.4 3.4 1.3 0.5 3.3 3.3 9.5 19.2 .492 0.8 2.1 .354 6.0 7.7 .786
difference:+0.2+4.8+1.2+2.6+3.8+7.4+0.9+0.2-0.5-0.1+1.6+3.0+.004+0.5+1.0+.044+1.3+1.7+.004
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 4 36.5 22.5 4.8 4.8 9.5 2.0 0.5 0.3 3.0 4.3 8.0 22.0 .364 0.5 2.0 .250 6.0 7.3 .828
difference:+4.3+4.0+2.8+1.3+4.0+10.0+1.8+0.5-1.3+2.3+0.8+.087+0.5+0.7+.250+1.7+.161
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2008-091986-87
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsPistons Lost East Conf 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%
Carmelo Anthony 66 34.5 22.8 1.6 5.2 6.8 3.4 1.1 0.4 3.0 3.0 8.1 18.3 .443 1.0 2.6 .371 5.6 7.1 .793
difference:+15+2.7+2.2+0.6+2.3+2.9+6.6+0.8+0.2-1.2-0.1+0.4+1.6+.020+0.8+1.4+.177+0.7+0.7+.025
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 16 38.3 27.2 1.6 4.2 5.8 4.1 1.8 0.6 2.3 3.8 9.1 20.1 .453 1.5 4.1 .364 7.4 9.0 .826
difference:+1+0.8+3.1+0.2+1.1+1.3+4.6+0.8+0.3-0.5-0.4+0.2+0.3+.002+0.8+1.9+.061+1.9+1.7+.071
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2009-101987-88
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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%
Carmelo Anthony 69 38.2 28.2 2.2 4.4 6.6 3.2 1.3 0.4 3.0 3.3 10.0 21.8 .458 0.9 2.7 .316 7.4 8.9 .830
difference:+12+2.1+8.7+1.4+1.8+3.2+5.2+0.4+0.2-0.4-0.6+2.3+5.2+.005+0.5+1.5+.007+3.6+4.0+.056
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 6 42.3 30.7 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 2.0 0.5 3.5 4.3 10.7 23.0 .464 1.0 3.2 .316 8.3 9.5 .877
difference:+17+2.7+8.8+1.2+2.7+3.8+5.4+0.9+0.2-0.2-1.2+2.7+4.8+.027+0.4+1.3+.021+2.9+2.9+.049
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2010-111988-89
Team Denver Nuggets, New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 77 35.7 25.6 1.5 5.8 7.3 2.9 0.9 0.6 2.7 2.9 8.9 19.5 .455 1.2 3.3 .378 6.6 7.9 .838
difference:+3+0.9+7.4+0.9+3.0+3.9+5.4+0.8+0.3-1.0-0.3+1.8+4.2+.009+0.8+1.8+.105+3.0+3.5+.020
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 4 39.0 26.0 3.3 7.0 10.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 3.3 4.0 8.3 22.0 .375 2.3 6.5 .346 7.3 8.5 .853
difference:+13+1.8+7.8+1.9+4.1+6.0+3.5+0.3+0.6-0.8-1.7+1.5+5.6+.037+1.8+4.7+.079+3.1+2.9+.113
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2011-121989-90
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 55 34.1 22.6 1.6 4.7 6.3 3.6 1.1 0.4 2.6 2.8 8.0 18.6 .430 1.2 3.7 .335 5.4 6.7 .804
difference:+26+2.9+4.2+0.7+1.8+2.5+5.8+0.6+0.2-1.4-0.3+0.9+2.3+.008+0.7+2.0+.026+1.8+2.0+.029
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 5 40.8 27.8 2.6 5.6 8.2 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.8 4.2 10.4 24.8 .419 0.8 3.6 .222 6.2 8.2 .756
difference:+15+2.9+7.3+1.5+1.2+2.7+6.0+1.0+0.2-0.8-0.9+3.0+8.8+.044+0.8+0.2+.249+2.1+3.1+.038
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2012-131990-91
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 67 37.0 28.7 2.0 4.9 6.9 2.6 0.8 0.5 2.6 3.1 10.0 22.2 .449 2.3 6.2 .379 6.3 7.6 .830
difference:+19+2.5+12.5+1.3+2.3+3.6+6.7+0.8+0.3-1.3-0.6+4.0+8.3+.014+1.9+4.8+.087+2.6+2.8+.048
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 12 40.1 28.8 0.9 5.7 6.6 1.6 1.1 0.2 2.6 3.8 10.5 25.8 .406 1.4 4.8 .298 6.4 7.3 .885
difference:+1+6.6+15.3+0.1+2.5+2.4+6.9+0.1-0.6-0.6+5.9+14.3+.003+0.9+3.1+.025+2.6+2.0+.160
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2013-141991-92
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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%
Carmelo Anthony 77 38.7 27.4 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.9 9.6 21.3 .452 2.2 5.4 .402 6.0 7.0 .848
difference:+1+1.3+8.9+1.0+3.9+4.9+4.1+0.3+0.5-0.6-0.4+2.4+5.1+.006+1.9+4.3+.111+2.3+2.2+.076
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony DNP------ --- ----------
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

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2014-151992-93
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 40 35.7 24.2 1.8 4.8 6.6 3.1 1.0 0.4 2.2 2.2 9.0 20.2 .444 1.5 4.5 .341 4.7 5.9 .797
difference:+39+1.3+6.6+0.9+2.8+3.7+5.4+0.6+0.2-1.4-0.6+2.3+4.3+.026+0.7+2.0+.033+1.2+1.1+.060
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
* Neiher Carmelo Anthony nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 12

Season 13

Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas
Season 2015-161993-94
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Carmelo Anthony 72 35.1 21.8 1.4 6.4 7.7 4.2 0.9 0.5 2.4 2.5 7.9 18.2 .434 1.5 4.3 .339 4.6 5.6 .829
difference:+14+4.9+7.0+0.6+4.5+5.0+2.7+0.3+0.4-1.1-0.3+2.4+5.0+.017+0.8+2.1+.029+1.5+1.2+.127
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
* Neiher Carmelo Anthony nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 13

Additional Years

* Carmelo Anthony played 6 seasons more than Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 19, from 2017 to 2022—Carmelo Anthony played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Isiah Thomas, Carmelo Anthony got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game