Danny Ainge vs. Isaiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isaiah Thomas and Danny Ainge, 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

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.

Danny Ainge played 14 years in the NBA, 2 more than Isaiah Thomas, who played 12. Danny Ainge had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Isaiah Thomas had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Danny Ainge 14 12 1981-82 to 1994-95
Isaiah Thomas 12 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 53 10.6 4.1 0.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.6 1.5 4.2 .357 0.1 0.3 .294 1.1 1.2 .862
Isaiah Thomas 65 25.5 11.5 0.7 1.8 2.6 4.1 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.9 3.9 8.8 .448 1.3 3.4 .379 2.4 2.8 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 12.9 5.0 0.6 0.7 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.1 1.1 2.1 1.9 4.5 .422 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.3 .769
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 25.6 9.9 1.0 1.6 2.7 3.1 1.4 0.1 1.2 3.2 4.5 9.0 .496 0.1 0.4 .172 0.9 1.2 .742
Isaiah Thomas 79 26.9 13.9 0.4 1.7 2.0 4.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 2.1 4.6 10.5 .440 1.5 4.1 .358 3.2 3.6 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 7 28.7 9.4 0.3 1.7 2.0 3.6 0.7 0.1 0.9 3.4 4.0 10.3 .389 0.3 0.7 .400 1.1 1.6 .727
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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 %
Danny Ainge 71 16.3 5.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.1 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .460 0.1 0.3 .273 0.6 0.8 .821
Isaiah Thomas 72 34.7 20.3 0.7 2.3 2.9 6.3 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.6 6.9 15.2 .453 1.8 5.1 .349 4.8 5.7 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 19 13.3 4.8 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.0 0.5 0.1 0.7 1.9 2.2 4.7 .456 0.1 0.5 .222 0.4 0.5 .700
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 %
Danny Ainge 75 34.2 12.9 1.0 2.6 3.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.0 3.0 5.6 10.6 .529 0.2 0.7 .268 1.6 1.8 .868
Isaiah Thomas 67 25.8 16.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.2 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.2 5.0 11.9 .420 1.9 5.2 .373 4.5 5.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 21 32.7 11.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 5.8 1.5 0.0 1.5 3.6 4.6 9.9 .466 0.3 0.8 .438 1.4 1.9 .769
Isaiah Thomas 4 29.8 17.5 0.3 2.8 3.0 7.0 0.8 0.0 3.5 2.5 4.5 13.5 .333 0.8 4.5 .167 7.8 8.0 .969

Season 5

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 30.1 10.7 0.6 2.4 2.9 5.1 1.2 0.1 1.6 2.6 4.4 8.8 .504 0.3 0.9 .356 1.5 1.7 .904
Isaiah Thomas 82 32.2 22.2 0.6 2.4 3.0 6.2 1.1 0.1 2.7 2.0 7.2 16.9 .428 2.0 5.7 .359 5.8 6.6 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 18 36.2 15.6 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.2 2.3 0.1 1.7 3.2 5.9 10.7 .554 0.8 1.9 .412 2.9 3.3 .867
Isaiah Thomas 6 36.7 24.2 0.3 2.7 3.0 5.0 0.7 0.8 2.3 3.0 7.8 19.8 .395 2.2 7.7 .283 6.3 7.8 .809

Season 6

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 %
Danny Ainge 71 35.2 14.8 0.7 2.7 3.4 5.6 1.4 0.2 2.0 2.7 5.8 11.9 .486 1.2 2.7 .443 2.1 2.3 .897
Isaiah Thomas 76 33.8 28.9 0.6 2.1 2.7 5.9 0.9 0.2 2.8 2.2 9.0 19.4 .463 3.2 8.5 .379 7.8 8.5 .909
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 20 38.1 14.8 0.7 2.0 2.6 4.6 1.2 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.8 11.9 .487 1.6 3.7 .438 1.6 1.8 .861
Isaiah Thomas 15 34.7 23.3 0.3 2.8 3.1 6.7 0.9 0.1 3.3 2.3 7.4 17.4 .425 2.4 7.2 .333 6.1 7.4 .820

Season 7

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 81 37.3 15.7 0.7 2.3 3.1 6.2 1.4 0.2 1.9 2.5 6.0 12.1 .491 1.8 4.4 .415 2.0 2.2 .878
Isaiah Thomas 32 26.9 15.2 0.5 1.6 2.1 4.8 0.5 0.1 3.0 1.8 4.9 13.2 .373 1.7 5.9 .293 3.7 4.1 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 17 39.4 11.6 0.9 2.2 3.1 6.4 0.5 0.1 2.4 3.8 4.2 10.8 .386 1.1 3.4 .328 2.2 2.5 .881
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Boston Celtics, Sacramento KingsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Danny Ainge 73 32.6 17.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 5.5 1.3 0.1 2.0 2.5 6.6 14.4 .457 1.6 4.2 .380 2.8 3.3 .854
Isaiah Thomas 12 15.1 8.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.4 0.1 1.5 1.4 2.8 8.3 .343 1.0 3.6 .279 1.4 2.3 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Sacramento KingsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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 %
Danny Ainge 75 36.4 17.9 0.9 3.4 4.3 6.0 1.5 0.2 2.5 3.2 6.7 15.4 .438 1.4 3.9 .374 3.0 3.6 .831
Isaiah Thomas 40 23.1 12.2 0.3 1.4 1.7 3.7 0.3 0.2 1.9 1.9 4.4 10.7 .408 2.0 4.7 .413 1.6 1.9 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1990-912020-21
Team Portland Trail BlazersNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 80 21.4 11.1 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.6 0.8 0.2 1.3 2.4 4.2 8.9 .472 1.3 3.1 .406 1.4 1.7 .826
Isaiah Thomas 3 16.0 7.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 9.0 .333 1.0 4.0 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 16 17.3 8.0 0.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.1 2.9 6.6 .448 0.7 2.3 .306 1.4 1.8 .821
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1991-922021-22
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 81 19.7 9.7 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.5 0.9 0.2 0.9 1.8 3.7 8.3 .442 1.0 2.8 .339 1.3 1.6 .824
Isaiah Thomas 22 15.2 8.4 0.2 1.1 1.3 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.7 1.5 3.0 7.6 .401 1.3 3.8 .337 1.0 1.2 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 21 21.4 10.6 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 0.7 0.0 1.2 2.8 3.9 8.0 .479 1.0 2.5 .404 1.9 2.2 .830
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Note: Isaiah Thomas didn't play in 2022-23.

Season 12

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1992-932023-24
Team Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 80 27.0 11.8 0.6 2.1 2.7 3.3 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.2 4.2 9.1 .462 1.9 4.7 .403 1.5 1.8 .848
Isaiah Thomas 6 3.2 1.3 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.7 .300 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 24 24.6 8.1 0.8 1.7 2.5 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.9 2.5 2.7 7.1 .376 1.4 3.3 .413 1.4 1.6 .872
Isaiah Thomas 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1993-94-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 68 22.9 8.9 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 1.2 2.1 3.3 7.9 .417 1.2 3.6 .328 1.1 1.4 .830
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 23.0 8.6 0.7 1.6 2.3 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.5 2.6 2.7 5.9 .458 1.7 4.0 .425 1.5 2.1 .714
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Danny Ainge Isaiah Thomas
Season 1994-95-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 74 18.6 7.7 0.3 1.1 1.5 2.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 2.1 2.6 5.7 .460 1.1 2.9 .364 1.4 1.8 .808
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 13.7 6.0 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.5 1.9 3.8 .500 1.2 2.6 .462 1.0 1.1 .909
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------