Donovan Mitchell vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Donovan Mitchell, 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.

Donovan Mitchell played 8 years in the NBA, 5 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Donovan Mitchell had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, 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
Donovan Mitchell 8 8 2017-18 to 2024-25
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2017-181981-82
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Donovan Mitchell 79 33.4 20.5 0.7 3.1 3.7 3.7 1.5 0.3 2.7 2.7 7.5 17.2 .437 2.4 7.0 .340 3.0 3.8 .805
difference:+7+0.4+3.5+0.1+1.0+0.8+4.1+0.6+0.1-1.5-0.8+1.2+2.4+.013+2.2+6.2+.052+1.2+2.2+.101
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%
Donovan Mitchell 11 37.4 24.4 0.8 5.1 5.9 4.2 1.5 0.4 2.9 3.2 9.3 22.1 .420 2.3 7.3 .313 3.5 3.9 .907
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2018-191982-83
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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%
Donovan Mitchell 77 33.7 23.8 0.8 3.3 4.1 4.2 1.4 0.4 2.8 2.7 8.6 19.9 .432 2.4 6.7 .362 4.1 5.1 .806
difference:+4+4.5+0.9+0.5+0.5+0.1+3.6+1.1-1.2-1.2+0.4+0.9+.040+2.0+5.2+.074+0.4+1.3+.096
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%
Donovan Mitchell 5 38.6 21.4 1.4 3.6 5.0 3.2 1.6 0.2 4.2 3.0 7.2 22.4 .321 2.2 8.6 .256 4.8 6.6 .727
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2019-201983-84
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Jazz 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%
Donovan Mitchell 69 34.3 24.0 0.8 3.6 4.4 4.3 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.5 8.7 19.4 .449 2.5 6.9 .366 4.0 4.7 .863
difference:+13+2.4+2.7+0.5+0.9+0.4+6.8+1.5+0.2-1.0-1.5+0.5+1.7+.013+2.2+6.1+.028+0.7+1.8+.130
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%
Donovan Mitchell 7 37.7 36.3 0.9 4.1 5.0 4.9 1.0 0.3 4.1 1.6 11.9 22.4 .529 4.7 9.1 .516 7.9 8.3 .948
difference:+2+1.9+14.9+0.5+1.7+1.2+6.1+1.6+0.9-0.5-2.8+4.1+5.8+.059+4.3+7.9+.183+2.5+1.3+.177
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
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2020-211984-85
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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%
Donovan Mitchell 53 33.4 26.4 0.9 3.5 4.4 5.2 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.2 9.0 20.6 .438 3.4 8.7 .386 5.0 6.0 .845
difference:+28+4.7+5.2+0.5+0.5+0.1+8.7+1.3-0.9-1.4+1.0+3.2+.020+3.0+7.3+.129+0.1+0.1+.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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Donovan Mitchell 10 34.6 32.3 0.3 3.9 4.2 5.5 1.1 0.2 2.8 2.0 10.5 23.5 .447 5.0 11.5 .435 6.3 7.6 .829
difference:+1+4.8+8.0+0.9+0.1+1.0+5.7+1.0+0.2-0.5-2.3+1.3+5.1+.053+4.3+9.8+.035+1.1+0.7+.071
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
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2021-221985-86
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Jazz 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%
Donovan Mitchell 67 33.8 25.9 0.8 3.4 4.2 5.3 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.4 9.2 20.5 .448 3.5 9.8 .355 4.0 4.7 .853
difference:+10+2.4+5.0+0.3+0.9+0.6+5.5+0.7+0.1-0.8-0.8+1.3+4.3+.040+3.2+8.7+.045+0.7+1.3+.063
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%
Donovan Mitchell 6 38.2 25.5 1.0 3.3 4.3 5.7 0.7 0.5 2.7 2.3 8.8 22.2 .398 1.7 8.0 .208 6.2 7.0 .881
difference:+2+2.6+1.0+1.0+0.2+1.2+6.3+1.6+0.3-1.6-2.0+1.5+0.6+.053+1.7+6.7+.208+0.2+2.0+.214
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
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2022-231986-87
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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%
Donovan Mitchell 68 35.8 28.3 0.9 3.3 4.3 4.4 1.5 0.4 2.6 2.5 10.0 20.6 .484 3.6 9.3 .386 4.7 5.4 .867
difference:+13+1.4+7.7+0.1+0.4+0.4+5.6+0.4+0.2-1.6-0.6+2.3+3.9+.021+3.4+8.1+.192+0.2+1.0+.099
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%
Donovan Mitchell 5 41.4 23.2 0.6 4.4 5.0 7.2 2.0 0.6 3.8 2.8 9.0 20.8 .433 2.6 9.0 .289 2.6 3.6 .722
difference:+10+3.9+0.9+0.8+1.3+0.5+1.5+0.6+0.3-1.0-0.6+0.1+1.0+.018+1.9+6.8+.014+2.9+3.7+.033
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
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2023-241987-88
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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%
Donovan Mitchell 55 35.3 26.6 0.8 4.3 5.1 6.1 1.8 0.5 2.8 2.1 9.1 19.8 .462 3.3 9.0 .368 5.0 5.8 .865
difference:+26+0.8+7.1+1.7+1.7+2.3+0.1+0.3-0.6-0.6+1.4+3.2+.001+2.9+7.8+.059+1.2+0.9+.091
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%
Donovan Mitchell 10 38.2 29.6 0.6 4.8 5.4 4.7 1.3 0.3 2.8 2.9 10.7 22.5 .476 2.9 8.2 .354 5.3 6.5 .815
difference:+13+1.4+7.7+0.5+1.3+0.7+4.0+1.6-0.9-0.2+2.7+4.3+.039+2.3+6.3+.059+0.1+0.1+.013
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
Donovan Mitchell Isiah Thomas
Season 2024-251988-89
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisNBA 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%
Donovan Mitchell 71 31.4 24.0 0.8 3.7 4.5 5.0 1.3 0.2 2.1 2.0 8.2 18.6 .443 3.3 8.9 .368 4.2 5.1 .823
difference:+9+5.2+5.8+0.2+0.9+1.1+3.3+0.4+0.1-1.6-0.6+1.1+3.3+.021+2.9+7.4+.095+0.6+0.7+.005
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%
Donovan Mitchell 9 32.0 29.6 1.2 3.4 4.7 3.9 1.9 0.3 1.9 2.0 9.6 21.6 .443 3.1 9.3 .333 7.3 9.9 .742
difference:+8+5.2+11.4+0.2+0.5+0.4+4.4+0.3+0.1-0.6-0.3+2.8+5.2+.031+2.6+7.5+.066+3.1+4.3+.002
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

Additional Years

* Isiah Thomas played 5 seasons more than Donovan Mitchell in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 13, from 1990 to 1994—Isiah Thomas played in 3 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 5 extra years over Donovan Mitchell, Isiah Thomas got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 4 All-Star Game
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