Chris Mullin vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Chris Mullin, 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 / 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.

Chris Mullin played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Chris Mullin 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.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Chris Mullin 16 8 1985-86 to 2000-01
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861981-82
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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%
Chris Mullin 55 25.3 14.0 0.8 1.3 2.1 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.4 2.4 5.2 11.3 .463 0.1 0.5 .185 3.4 3.8 .896
difference:+17+8.5+3.0+0.8+0.8+5.9+0.8+0.2-2.8-1.1+1.1+3.5+.039+0.1+0.3+.103+0.8+2.2+.192
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
* Neiher Chris Mullin nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871982-83
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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%
Chris Mullin 82 29.0 15.1 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.2 1.2 0.4 1.9 2.6 5.8 11.3 .514 0.2 0.8 .302 3.3 4.0 .825
difference:+1+9.2+7.8+0.8+1.1+1.8+4.6+1.3-2.1-1.3+3.2+7.7+.042+0.2+0.7+.014+1.2+2.4+.115
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%
Chris Mullin 10 26.2 11.3 0.2 1.3 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.2 1.6 3.1 4.9 9.8 .500 0.3 0.4 .750 1.2 1.6 .750
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1987-881983-84
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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%
Chris Mullin 60 33.9 20.2 1.0 2.5 3.4 4.8 1.9 0.5 2.6 2.3 7.8 15.4 .508 0.6 1.6 .351 4.0 4.5 .885
difference:+22+2.8+1.1+0.3+0.2+0.6+6.3+0.6+0.1-1.1-1.7+0.4+2.3+.046+0.3+0.8+.013+0.7+2.0+.152
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%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891984-85
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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%
Chris Mullin 82 37.7 26.5 1.9 4.0 5.9 5.1 2.1 0.5 3.6 2.2 10.1 19.9 .509 0.3 1.2 .230 6.0 6.7 .892
difference:+1+0.4+5.3+0.5+1.0+1.4+8.8+0.2+0.2-0.1-1.4+2.1+2.5+.051+0.1+0.2+.027+1.1+0.6+.083
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%
Chris Mullin 8 42.6 29.4 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.5 1.8 1.4 4.0 2.4 11.0 20.4 .540 0.1 1.0 .125 7.3 8.4 .866
difference:+1+3.2+5.1+0.2+0.5+0.7+6.7+0.3+1.0-0.7-1.9+1.8+2.0+.040+0.6+0.7+.275+2.1+1.5+.108
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901985-86
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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%
Chris Mullin 78 36.3 25.1 1.7 4.3 5.9 4.1 1.6 0.6 3.1 1.8 8.7 16.3 .536 1.1 3.0 .372 6.5 7.3 .889
difference:+1+0.1+4.2+0.6+1.8+2.3+6.7+0.6+0.3-0.7-1.4+0.8+0.1+.048+0.8+1.9+.062+1.8+1.3+.099
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%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911986-87
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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%
Chris Mullin 82 40.4 25.7 1.7 3.7 5.4 4.0 2.1 0.8 3.0 2.1 9.5 17.7 .536 0.5 1.6 .301 6.3 7.1 .884
difference:+1+3.2+5.1+0.7+0.8+1.5+6.0+0.2+0.6-1.2-1.0+1.8+1.0+.073+0.3+0.4+.107+1.4+0.7+.116
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%
Chris Mullin 8 45.8 23.8 1.1 6.1 7.3 2.9 1.9 1.5 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.4 .527 1.1 1.6 .692 5.4 6.3 .860
difference:+7+8.3+0.3+0.3+3.0+2.8+5.8+0.7+1.2-0.3-0.5+0.3+3.4+.076+0.4+0.6+.389+0.1+1.0+.105
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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%
Chris Mullin 81 41.3 25.6 1.6 4.0 5.6 3.5 2.1 0.8 2.5 2.1 10.2 19.6 .524 0.8 2.2 .366 4.3 5.2 .833
difference:+5.2+6.1+0.8+1.4+2.2+4.9+0.4+0.6-0.9-0.6+2.5+3.0+.061+0.4+1.0+.057+0.5+0.3+.059
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%
Chris Mullin 4 42.0 17.8 0.8 2.3 3.0 3.0 1.3 0.5 2.0 2.0 6.8 15.8 .429 1.0 3.0 .333 3.3 3.5 .929
difference:+19+2.4+4.1+0.3+1.2+1.7+5.7+1.6+0.2-1.7-1.1+1.2+2.4+.008+0.4+1.1+.038+2.1+3.1+.101
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931988-89
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Chris Mullin 46 41.3 25.9 0.9 4.1 5.0 3.6 1.5 0.9 3.0 1.7 10.3 20.2 .510 1.3 2.9 .451 4.0 4.9 .810
difference:+34+4.7+7.7+0.3+1.3+1.6+4.7+0.2+0.6-0.7-0.9+3.2+4.9+.046+0.9+1.4+.178+0.4+0.5+.008
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%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941989-90
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West 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%
Chris Mullin 62 37.5 16.8 1.0 4.5 5.6 5.1 1.7 0.9 2.9 1.8 6.6 14.0 .472 0.9 2.4 .364 2.7 3.5 .753
difference:+19+0.5+1.6+0.1+1.6+1.8+4.3+0.7-1.1-0.7+0.5+2.3+.034+0.4+0.7+.055+0.9+1.2+.022
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%
Chris Mullin 3 45.0 25.3 1.3 3.3 4.7 3.7 0.0 1.7 2.3 1.3 10.0 17.0 .588 2.0 4.0 .500 3.3 3.7 .909
difference:+17+7.1+4.8+0.2+1.1+0.8+4.5+2.2+1.3-1.3-2.0+2.6+1.0+.125+0.4+0.6+.029+0.8+1.4+.115
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951990-91
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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%
Chris Mullin 25 35.6 19.0 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.5 0.8 3.7 2.1 6.8 13.9 .489 1.7 3.7 .452 3.8 4.3 .879
difference:+23+1.1+2.8+0.3+1.0+1.3+4.3+0.1+0.6-0.2-0.4+0.8+.054+1.3+2.3+.160+0.1+0.5+.097
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%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961991-92
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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%
Chris Mullin 55 29.4 13.3 0.8 2.1 2.9 3.5 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.9 9.8 .499 1.1 2.7 .393 2.5 2.9 .856
difference:+23+8.0+5.2+0.1+0.2+0.3+3.7+0.1+0.4-1.0-0.2+2.3+6.4+.053+0.8+1.6+.102+1.2+1.9+.084
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%
Chris Mullin 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

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971992-93
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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%
Chris Mullin 79 34.6 14.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 4.1 1.6 0.4 2.4 2.0 5.5 10.0 .553 1.1 2.6 .411 2.3 2.7 .864
difference:+2.4+3.1+1.1+1.1+4.4+0.2-1.2-0.8+1.2+5.9+.135+0.3+0.1+.103+1.2+2.1+.127
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 Chris Mullin nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 12

Season 13

Chris Mullin Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981993-94
Team Indiana PacersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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%
Chris Mullin 82 26.5 11.3 0.5 2.6 3.0 2.3 1.2 0.5 1.4 2.3 4.1 8.4 .481 1.3 3.0 .440 1.9 2.0 .939
difference:+24+3.7+3.5+0.3+0.7+0.3+4.6+0.4-2.1-0.1+1.4+4.8+.064+0.6+0.8+.130+1.2+2.4+.237
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 16 25.8 8.9 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.4 0.9 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.3 7.1 .460 1.3 3.3 .385 1.1 1.3 .857
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Chris Mullin played 3 seasons more than Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 16, from 1999 to 2001—Chris Mullin played in two Playoffs.