Earl Boykins vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Earl Boykins, 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.

Earl Boykins and Isiah Thomas both played 13 years in the NBA. Earl Boykins had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, 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 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
Earl Boykins 13 3 1998-99 to 2011-12
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991981-82
Team New Jersey Nets, Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Earl Boykins 22 10.0 3.0 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.0 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.6 .380 0.1 0.8 .167 0.1 0.1 .667
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001982-83
Team Orlando Magic, Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Earl Boykins 26 10.0 5.3 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.7 0.9 2.2 4.5 .483 0.3 0.8 .400 0.7 0.9 .783
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011983-84
Team Los Angeles ClippersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Earl Boykins 10 14.9 6.5 0.4 0.7 1.1 3.2 0.5 0.0 0.9 0.9 2.5 6.3 .397 0.1 0.8 .125 1.4 1.7 .824
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-021984-85
Team Los Angeles ClippersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Boykins 68 11.2 4.1 0.4 0.4 0.8 2.1 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.6 4.0 .400 0.2 0.6 .310 0.7 0.9 .770
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-031985-86
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Earl Boykins 68 19.4 8.8 0.5 0.8 1.3 3.3 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.1 2.9 6.8 .429 0.4 1.1 .377 2.5 2.9 .865
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-041986-87
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Earl Boykins 82 22.5 10.2 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.6 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.0 3.9 9.3 .419 0.7 2.1 .322 1.7 2.0 .877
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 %
Earl Boykins 5 24.0 13.4 1.2 1.2 2.4 3.8 1.0 0.2 1.2 1.2 5.6 12.6 .444 1.0 2.8 .357 1.2 1.4 .857
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2004-051987-88
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Boykins 82 26.4 12.4 0.5 1.3 1.7 4.5 1.0 0.1 1.5 1.5 4.1 10.0 .413 0.7 2.0 .337 3.4 3.7 .921
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 %
Earl Boykins 5 30.4 14.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 3.8 0.8 0.2 1.8 2.6 5.4 13.6 .397 0.0 1.4 .000 3.4 3.8 .895
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2005-061988-89
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Boykins 60 25.7 12.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 3.8 0.8 0.1 1.4 1.2 4.5 11.0 .410 1.0 3.0 .346 2.5 2.9 .874
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 %
Earl Boykins 5 28.0 11.0 0.6 0.8 1.4 4.0 0.8 0.0 0.6 1.2 3.8 11.8 .322 0.8 3.8 .211 2.6 3.4 .765
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2006-071989-90
Team Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee BucksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Boykins 66 30.8 14.6 0.7 1.4 2.1 4.4 0.8 0.0 1.8 1.4 4.9 11.7 .420 1.4 3.6 .397 3.3 3.7 .898
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2007-081990-91
Team Charlotte BobcatsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Earl Boykins 36 16.0 5.1 0.3 0.7 0.9 2.7 0.4 0.0 1.1 0.6 1.7 4.8 .355 0.4 1.2 .318 1.4 1.6 .831
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Earl Boykins didn't play in 2008-09.

Season 11

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2009-101991-92
Team Washington WizardsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Earl Boykins 67 16.7 6.6 0.3 0.9 1.1 2.6 0.4 0.0 1.0 0.7 2.6 6.0 .427 0.3 0.9 .317 1.1 1.3 .865
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2010-111992-93
Team Milwaukee BucksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Earl Boykins 57 15.1 7.2 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.5 0.7 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.7 6.2 .443 0.5 1.2 .380 1.2 1.4 .841
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Earl Boykins Isiah Thomas
Season 2011-121993-94
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
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 %
Earl Boykins 8 13.9 4.9 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.1 0.1 0.0 0.9 0.6 1.5 4.5 .333 0.3 1.1 .222 1.6 1.9 .867
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 %
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------