Charles Oakley vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Charles Oakley, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

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.

Charles Oakley played 19 years in the NBA, 6 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Charles Oakley had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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.

Rookie Season
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1985-86	1981-82
Team	Chicago Bulls	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	All-Rookie First Team	All-Rookie First Team
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd	Did Not Play

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Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	77	23.0	9.6	3.3	5.3	8.6	1.7	0.9	0.4	2.3	3.2	3.6	7.0	.519	0.0	0.0	-	2.3	3.5	.662
difference:	+5	+10.8	+7.4	+2.5	+3.2	+5.7	+6.1	+1.2	+0.2	-1.9	-0.3	+2.7	+7.8	+.095	+0.2	+0.8		+1.9	+2.5	+.042
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		%
Charles Oakley	3	29.3	10.0	3.3	6.7	10.0	1.0	2.0	0.7	1.7	4.3	3.7	7.0	.524	0.0	0.0	-	2.7	4.3	.615
Isiah Thomas	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Season 2
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1986-87	1982-83
Team	Chicago Bulls	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA Second Team
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd	Did Not Play

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2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	82	36.3	14.5	3.6	9.5	13.1	3.6	1.0	0.4	3.6	3.8	5.7	12.8	.445	0.1	0.4	.367	3.0	4.4	.686
difference:	+1	+1.9	+8.4	+2.3	+6.7	+9.1	+4.2	+1.5		-0.4	-0.1	+3.3	+6.2	+.027	+0.3	+1.1	+.079	+1.5	+2.0	+.024
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		%
Charles Oakley	3	43.0	20.0	5.7	9.7	15.3	2.0	1.3	0.3	2.7	4.3	6.3	16.7	.380	0.7	1.3	.500	6.7	8.0	.833
Isiah Thomas	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Season 3
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1987-88	1983-84
Team	Chicago Bulls	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Star Game
	-	All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf Semis	Pistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd

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3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	82	34.3	12.4	4.0	9.0	13.0	3.0	0.8	0.3	2.9	3.3	4.6	9.5	.483	0.0	0.1	.250	3.2	4.4	.727
difference:		+2.4	+8.9	+2.7	+6.3	+9.0	+8.1	+1.7	+0.1	-0.8	-0.7	+3.6	+8.2	+.021	+0.3	+0.7	+.088	+1.5	+2.1	+.006
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		%
Charles Oakley	10	37.3	10.1	3.9	8.9	12.8	3.2	0.6	0.4	1.8	3.3	4.0	9.1	.440	0.0	0.2	.000	2.1	2.4	.875
difference:	+5	+2.3	+11.3	+2.5	+6.5	+9.0	+7.8	+2.0	+0.8	-2.8	-1.1	+3.8	+7.5	+.030	+0.4	+1.0	+.333	+3.3	+4.6	+.104
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1988-89	1984-85
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	-	Assists Leader
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Pistons Lost East Conf Semis

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4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	82	31.8	12.9	4.2	6.3	10.5	2.3	1.3	0.2	3.0	3.3	5.2	10.2	.510	0.1	0.6	.250	2.4	3.1	.773
difference:	+1	+6.3	+8.3	+2.8	+3.3	+6.0	+11.6	+1.0	+0.1	-0.7	-0.3	+2.8	+7.2	+.052	+0.3	+0.8	+.007	+2.5	+3.0	+.036
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		%
Charles Oakley	9	33.2	9.7	4.8	6.4	11.2	1.2	1.3	0.1	2.4	3.4	3.9	8.1	.479	0.1	0.2	.500	1.8	2.7	.667
difference:		+6.2	+14.6	+3.6	+2.4	+6.0	+10.0	+0.8	+0.3	-0.9	-0.9	+5.3	+10.3	+.021	+0.6	+1.5	+.100	+3.4	+4.2	+.091
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1989-90	1985-86
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Star Game
	-	All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Pistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd

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5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	61	36.0	14.6	4.2	7.7	11.9	2.4	1.0	0.3	2.7	3.6	5.5	10.5	.524	0.0	0.0	-	3.6	4.7	.761
difference:	+16	+0.2	+6.3	+3.1	+5.2	+8.3	+8.4	+1.2		-1.1	-0.4	+2.4	+5.7	+.036	+0.3	+1.1		+1.1	+1.3	+.029
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		%
Charles Oakley	10	33.6	12.1	3.9	7.1	11.0	2.7	1.1	0.2	2.2	3.3	4.3	8.4	.512	0.1	0.1	1.000	3.4	5.2	.654
difference:	+6	+7.2	+14.4	+1.9	+3.6	+5.5	+9.3	+1.2	+0.6	-2.1	-1.0	+6.0	+14.4	+.061	+0.1	+1.2	+1.000	+2.6	+3.8	+.013
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1990-91	1986-87
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA Second Team
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd	Pistons Lost East Conf Finals

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6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	76	36.0	11.2	4.0	8.1	12.1	2.7	0.8	0.2	2.8	3.8	4.0	7.8	.516	0.0	0.0	-	3.1	4.0	.784
difference:	+5	+1.2	+9.4	+3.0	+5.2	+8.2	+7.3	+1.1		-1.4	-0.7	+3.7	+8.9	+.053	+0.2	+1.2		+1.8	+2.4	+.016
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		%
Charles Oakley	3	33.3	7.7	5.0	5.3	10.3	1.0	0.7	0.3	2.3	4.3	3.3	7.0	.476	0.0	0.0	-	1.0	2.0	.500
difference:	+12	+4.2	+16.4	+3.6	+2.2	+5.8	+7.7	+1.9		-0.5	-0.9	+5.6	+12.8	+.025	+0.7	+2.2		+4.5	+5.3	+.255
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1991-92	1987-88
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Pistons Lost NBA Finals

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7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	82	28.2	6.2	3.1	5.4	8.5	1.6	0.8	0.2	1.5	3.1	2.6	4.9	.522	0.0	0.0	-	1.0	1.4	.735
difference:	+1	+7.9	+13.3	+2.3	+2.8	+5.1	+6.8	+0.9		-1.9	-0.4	+5.1	+11.7	+.059	+0.4	+1.2		+2.8	+3.5	+.039
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		%
Charles Oakley	12	29.5	5.3	3.7	5.3	9.0	0.7	0.7	0.4	1.3	3.0	1.8	4.8	.379	0.0	0.0	-	1.7	2.3	.741
difference:	+11	+10.1	+16.6	+2.6	+1.8	+4.3	+8.0	+2.2	+0.1	-2.4	-0.1	+6.2	+13.4	+.058	+0.6	+1.9		+3.7	+4.3	+.087
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1992-93	1988-89
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Finals	NBA Champion

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8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	82	27.2	6.9	3.5	5.1	8.6	1.5	1.0	0.2	1.5	3.5	2.7	5.3	.508	0.0	0.0	-	1.5	2.1	.722
difference:	+2	+9.4	+11.3	+2.9	+2.3	+5.2	+6.8	+0.7	+0.1	-2.2	-0.9	+4.4	+10.0	+.044	+0.4	+1.5		+2.1	+2.3	+.096
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		%
Charles Oakley	15	33.8	11.1	4.7	6.3	11.0	1.1	1.1	0.1	2.4	3.4	4.2	8.7	.481	0.0	0.0	-	2.7	3.7	.727
difference:	+2	+3.4	+7.1	+3.3	+3.4	+6.7	+7.2	+0.5	+0.1	-0.1	-1.1	+2.6	+7.7	+.069	+0.5	+1.8		+1.5	+1.9	+.013
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1993-94	1989-90
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	Finals MVP
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost NBA Finals	NBA Champion

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9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	82	35.8	11.8	4.3	7.5	11.8	2.7	1.3	0.2	2.4	3.6	4.4	9.3	.478	0.0	0.0	-	3.0	3.8	.776
difference:	+1	+1.2	+6.6	+3.4	+4.6	+8.0	+6.7	+0.4		-1.6	-1.1	+2.7	+7.0	+.040	+0.5	+1.7		+0.6	+0.9	+.001
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		%
Charles Oakley	25	39.7	13.2	4.6	7.0	11.7	2.4	1.4	0.2	2.6	3.5	5.0	10.5	.477	0.0	0.0	-	3.2	4.1	.775
difference:	+5	+1.8	+7.3	+3.5	+2.6	+6.2	+5.8	+0.8	+0.2	-1.0	-0.2	+2.4	+5.5	+.014	+1.6	+3.4		+0.9	+1.0	+.019
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1994-95	1990-91
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Pistons Lost East Conf Finals

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10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	50	31.3	10.1	3.1	5.8	8.9	2.5	1.2	0.1	2.1	3.6	3.8	7.9	.489	0.1	0.2	.250	2.4	3.0	.793
difference:	+2	+3.2	+6.1	+2.4	+3.2	+5.6	+6.8	+0.4	+0.1	-1.8	-1.1	+2.2	+6.0	+.054	+0.3	+1.2	+.042	+1.3	+1.8	+.011
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		%
Charles Oakley	11	38.3	13.1	2.8	5.6	8.5	3.7	1.7	0.5	2.2	3.8	4.5	9.9	.450	0.4	0.9	.400	3.8	4.6	.824
difference:	+2	+4.8	+0.4	+1.8	+2.4	+4.3	+4.8	+0.7	+0.3	-1.0	-0.6	+0.1	+1.6	+.047	+0.1	+0.8	+.127		+0.7	+.099
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1995-96	1991-92
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Pistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd

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11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	53	33.5	11.4	3.1	5.6	8.7	2.6	1.1	0.3	2.0	3.7	4.0	8.5	.471	0.1	0.5	.269	3.3	4.0	.833
difference:	+25	+3.9	+7.1	+2.2	+3.3	+5.5	+4.6	+0.4	+0.1	-1.2	-1.2	+3.2	+7.7	+.025	+0.2	+0.6	+.022	+0.4	+0.8	+.061
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		%
Charles Oakley	8	38.5	13.1	3.5	5.1	8.6	1.8	1.0	0.0	3.5	4.1	4.9	9.8	.500	0.3	0.8	.333	3.1	4.5	.694
difference:	+3	+1.5	+0.9	+2.9	+0.5	+3.4	+5.6			-0.3	-0.5	+0.5	+3.2	+.162	+0.5	+1.4	+.031	+1.3	+1.1	+.092
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
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1996-97	1992-93
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Did Not Play

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12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	80	35.9	10.8	3.1	6.7	9.8	2.8	1.4	0.3	2.1	3.8	4.2	8.7	.488	0.1	0.2	.263	2.3	2.8	.808
difference:	+1	+1.1	+6.8	+2.2	+4.7	+6.9	+5.7	+0.2	+0.1	-1.5	-1.0	+2.5	+7.2	+.070	+0.7	+2.3	+.045	+1.2	+2.0	+.071
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		%
Charles Oakley	10	35.8	9.8	2.3	6.5	8.8	1.6	2.2	0.3	1.8	3.7	3.8	8.6	.442	0.0	0.1	.000	2.2	2.9	.759
Isiah Thomas	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Season 13
	Charles Oakley	Isiah Thomas
Season	1997-98	1993-94
Team	New York Knicks	Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards	All-Defensive Second Team	-
Playoffs	Knicks Lost East Conf Semis	Did Not Play

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13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Charles Oakley	79	34.6	9.0	2.8	6.4	9.2	2.5	1.6	0.3	1.6	3.5	3.9	8.8	.440	0.0	0.1	.000	1.2	1.4	.851
difference:	+21	+4.4	+5.8	+2.0	+4.5	+6.5	+4.4	+0.4	+0.2	-1.9	-1.3	+1.6	+4.4	+.023	+0.7	+2.1	+.310	+1.9	+3.0	+.149
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		%
Charles Oakley	10	34.0	8.1	2.1	6.4	8.5	1.4	1.1	0.2	1.3	3.8	2.9	7.1	.408	0.0	0.0	-	2.3	2.5	.920
Isiah Thomas	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-