Clyde Drexler vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Clyde Drexler, 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.

Clyde Drexler played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Clyde Drexler had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, 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
Clyde Drexler 15 15 1983-84 to 1997-98
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1983-841981-82
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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%
Clyde Drexler 82 17.2 7.7 1.4 1.5 2.9 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.1 6.8 .451 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.1 .728
difference:+10+16.6+9.3+0.6+0.6+5.9+0.8+0.2-2.7-1.0+3.2+8.0+.027+0.2+0.8+2.7+3.9+.024
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%
Clyde Drexler 5 17.0 7.2 1.4 2.0 3.4 1.6 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.2 .000 1.2 1.4 .857
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1984-851982-83
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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%
Clyde Drexler 80 31.9 17.2 2.7 3.2 6.0 5.5 2.2 0.9 2.8 3.3 7.2 14.5 .494 0.1 0.5 .216 2.8 3.7 .759
difference:+1+6.3+5.7+1.4+0.4+2.0+2.3+0.3+0.5-1.2-0.6+1.8+4.5+.022+0.3+1.0+.072+1.7+2.7+.049
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%
Clyde Drexler 9 37.7 16.7 3.0 3.1 6.1 9.2 2.6 1.0 3.2 4.1 6.1 14.9 .410 0.2 0.8 .286 4.2 5.0 .844
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861983-84
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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%
Clyde Drexler 75 34.3 18.5 2.3 3.3 5.6 8.0 2.6 0.6 3.8 3.6 7.2 15.2 .475 0.2 0.8 .200 3.9 5.1 .769
difference:+7+2.4+2.8+1.0+0.6+1.6+3.1+0.1+0.2-0.1-0.4+1.0+2.5+.013+0.1+.138+0.8+1.4+.036
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%
Clyde Drexler 4 36.3 18.0 2.3 4.0 6.3 6.5 1.5 0.8 4.8 4.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.5 1.3 .400 4.5 5.8 .783
difference:+1+3.3+3.4+0.9+1.6+2.5+4.5+1.1+0.4-0.2-0.4+1.3+2.3+.014+0.1+0.1+.067+0.9+1.2+.012
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871984-85
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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%
Clyde Drexler 82 38.0 21.7 2.8 3.5 6.3 6.9 2.5 0.9 3.1 3.4 8.6 17.2 .502 0.1 0.6 .234 4.4 5.7 .760
difference:+1+0.1+0.5+1.4+0.5+1.8+7.0+0.2+0.6-0.6-0.2+0.6+0.2+.044+0.3+0.8+.023+0.5+0.4+.049
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%
Clyde Drexler 4 38.3 24.0 4.0 3.5 7.5 3.8 1.8 0.8 1.5 4.0 9.0 19.8 .456 0.3 1.0 .250 5.8 7.3 .793
difference:+5+1.1+0.3+2.8+0.5+2.3+7.4+0.3+0.4-1.8-0.3+0.2+1.4+.044+0.4+0.7+.150+0.6+0.4+.035
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1987-881985-86
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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%
Clyde Drexler 81 37.8 27.0 3.2 3.4 6.6 5.8 2.5 0.6 2.9 3.1 10.5 20.7 .506 0.1 0.6 .212 5.9 7.2 .811
difference:+4+1.6+6.1+2.1+0.9+3.0+5.0+0.3+0.3-0.9-0.1+2.6+4.5+.018+0.2+0.5+.098+1.2+1.2+.021
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%
Clyde Drexler 4 42.5 22.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 5.3 3.0 0.5 3.0 3.5 8.0 20.8 .386 0.8 1.5 .500 5.3 7.3 .724
difference:+1.7+4.5+1.0+0.5+1.5+6.7+0.7+0.3-1.3-0.8+2.3+2.0+.065+0.8+0.2+.500+0.7+1.7+.057
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891986-87
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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%
Clyde Drexler 78 39.3 27.2 3.7 4.2 7.9 5.8 2.7 0.7 3.2 3.4 10.6 21.4 .496 0.3 1.3 .260 5.6 7.0 .799
difference:+3+2.1+6.6+2.7+1.3+4.0+4.2+0.8+0.5-1.0-0.3+2.9+4.7+.033+0.1+0.1+.066+0.7+0.6+.031
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%
Clyde Drexler 3 42.7 27.7 4.3 2.3 6.7 8.3 2.0 0.7 4.0 3.7 11.7 23.7 .493 0.0 0.7 .000 4.3 5.7 .765
difference:+12+5.2+3.6+2.9+0.8+2.2+0.4+0.6+0.4-1.2-0.3+2.8+3.9+.042+0.7+1.5+.303+1.2+1.6+.010
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901987-88
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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%
Clyde Drexler 73 36.8 23.3 2.8 4.1 6.9 5.9 2.0 0.7 2.6 3.0 9.2 18.6 .494 0.4 1.5 .283 4.6 5.9 .774
difference:+8+0.7+3.8+2.0+1.5+3.5+2.5+0.3+0.5-0.8-0.3+1.5+2.0+.031+0.3+.026+0.8+1.0
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%
Clyde Drexler 21 40.6 21.4 3.0 4.2 7.2 7.1 2.5 0.9 3.2 3.4 8.2 18.6 .441 0.4 2.0 .220 4.6 5.9 .774
difference:+2+1.0+0.5+1.9+0.7+2.5+1.6+0.4+0.6-0.5-0.3+0.2+0.4+.004+0.2+0.1+.075+0.8+0.7+.054
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911988-89
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf FinalsNBA 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%
Clyde Drexler 82 34.8 21.5 2.6 4.1 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.7 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.3 .482 0.7 2.3 .319 5.1 6.4 .794
difference:+2+1.8+3.3+2.0+1.3+3.3+2.3+0.1+0.4-0.9-0.2+0.8+1.0+.018+0.3+0.8+.046+1.5+2.0+.024
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%
Clyde Drexler 16 39.6 21.7 2.5 5.6 8.1 8.1 2.1 1.0 3.8 3.5 8.0 16.8 .476 0.9 3.5 .268 4.8 6.1 .776
difference:+1+2.4+3.5+1.1+2.7+3.8+0.2+0.5+0.8-1.3-1.2+1.2+0.4+.064+0.4+1.7+.001+0.6+0.5+.036
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921989-90
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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%
Clyde Drexler 76 36.2 25.0 2.2 4.4 6.6 6.7 1.8 0.9 3.2 3.0 9.1 19.4 .470 1.5 4.4 .337 5.3 6.6 .794
difference:+5+0.8+6.6+1.3+1.5+2.8+2.7+0.1+0.7-0.8-0.5+2.0+3.1+.032+1.0+2.7+.028+1.7+1.9+.019
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%
Clyde Drexler 21 40.3 26.3 2.9 4.5 7.4 7.0 1.5 1.0 2.8 3.7 9.4 20.2 .466 0.9 3.9 .235 6.6 8.1 .807
difference:+1+2.4+5.8+1.8+0.1+1.9+1.2+0.7+0.6-0.8-0.4+2.0+4.2+.003+0.7+0.5+.236+2.5+3.0+.013
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931990-91
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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%
Clyde Drexler 49 34.1 19.9 2.6 3.7 6.3 5.7 1.9 0.8 2.3 3.2 7.1 16.7 .429 0.6 2.7 .233 5.0 6.0 .839
difference:+1+0.4+3.7+1.9+1.1+3.0+3.6+0.3+0.6-1.6-0.7+1.1+2.8+.006+0.2+1.3+.059+1.3+1.2+.057
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%
Clyde Drexler 3 38.7 19.0 2.7 3.7 6.3 4.7 1.7 1.0 1.0 3.0 6.0 14.3 .419 1.7 4.0 .417 5.3 6.7 .800
difference:+10+5.2+5.5+1.7+0.5+2.1+3.8+0.7+0.8-2.2-0.2+1.4+2.8+.016+1.2+2.3+.144+1.5+1.4+.075
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941991-92
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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%
Clyde Drexler 68 34.3 19.2 2.3 4.3 6.5 4.9 1.4 0.5 2.5 3.0 7.0 16.3 .428 1.0 3.2 .324 4.2 5.4 .777
difference:+10+3.1+0.7+1.4+2.0+3.3+2.3+0.1+0.3-0.7-0.5+0.2+0.1+.018+0.7+2.1+.033+0.5+0.6+.005
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%
Clyde Drexler 4 39.3 21.0 2.5 7.8 10.3 5.5 2.0 0.5 2.3 1.8 7.8 18.3 .425 0.8 3.3 .231 4.8 5.8 .826
difference:+1+0.7+7.0+1.9+3.2+5.1+1.9+1.0+0.5-0.9-1.8+3.4+5.3+.087+1.1+.133+0.4+0.2+.040
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

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951992-93
Team Portland Trail Blazers, Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
Clyde Drexler 76 35.9 21.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 4.8 1.8 0.6 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.3 .461 1.9 5.4 .360 4.8 5.8 .824
difference:+3+1.1+4.2+1.1+2.3+3.4+3.7+0.2+0.4-1.2-0.1+0.8+0.4+.043+1.1+2.9+.052+1.3+1.0+.087
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Clyde Drexler 22 38.6 20.5 2.0 5.0 7.0 5.0 1.5 0.7 2.0 3.1 7.0 14.6 .481 1.4 4.5 .303 5.0 6.4 .786
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961993-94
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Clyde Drexler 52 38.4 19.3 1.9 5.3 7.2 5.8 2.0 0.5 2.6 2.9 6.4 14.7 .433 1.5 4.5 .332 5.1 6.5 .784
difference:+6+8.2+4.5+1.1+3.4+4.5+1.1+0.8+0.4-0.9-0.7+0.9+1.5+.016+0.8+2.3+.022+2.0+2.1+.082
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%
Clyde Drexler 8 36.5 16.6 1.9 5.9 7.8 5.0 2.6 0.5 2.5 2.8 6.1 14.8 .415 1.1 4.3 .265 3.3 4.3 .765
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Clyde Drexler played 2 seasons more than Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 15, from 1997 to 1998—Clyde Drexler played in two Playoffs.

In those 2 extra years over Isiah Thomas, Clyde Drexler got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game