Gail Goodrich vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Gail Goodrich, 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.

Gail Goodrich played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Gail Goodrich had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, 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
Gail Goodrich 14 8 1965-66 to 1978-79
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1965-661981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Gail Goodrich 65 15.5 7.8 - - 2.0 1.6 - - - 1.6 3.1 7.7 .404 - - - 1.6 2.3 .691
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 %
Gail Goodrich 11 26.4 10.5 - - 3.8 3.0 - - - 3.2 3.9 8.4 .467 - - - 2.6 3.9 .674
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1966-671982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich 77 23.1 12.4 - - 3.3 2.7 - - - 2.5 4.6 10.1 .454 - - - 3.3 4.4 .751
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 %
Gail Goodrich 3 27.0 11.0 - - 3.0 3.3 - - - 1.7 3.7 10.3 .355 - - - 3.7 6.0 .611
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1967-681983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Gail Goodrich 79 26.0 13.8 - - 2.5 2.6 - - - 2.9 5.0 10.3 .486 - - - 3.8 5.0 .770
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 %
Gail Goodrich 10 10.0 6.0 - - 1.4 1.4 - - - 1.0 2.3 4.7 .489 - - - 1.4 1.8 .778
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1968-691984-85
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Gail Goodrich 81 40.0 23.8 - - 5.4 6.4 - - - 3.1 8.9 21.6 .411 - - - 6.1 8.2 .747
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1969-701985-86
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Suns Lost West Div SemisPistons 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 %
Gail Goodrich 81 39.9 20.0 - - 4.2 7.5 - - - 3.1 7.0 15.4 .454 - - - 6.0 7.5 .808
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 %
Gail Goodrich 7 37.9 20.3 - - 4.6 5.4 - - - 3.0 8.0 16.9 .475 - - - 4.3 5.0 .857
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1970-711986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Gail Goodrich 79 35.5 17.5 - - 3.3 4.8 - - - 3.3 7.1 14.9 .475 - - - 3.3 4.3 .770
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 %
Gail Goodrich 12 43.2 25.4 - - 3.2 7.6 - - - 3.2 8.8 20.6 .425 - - - 7.9 9.4 .841
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1971-721987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich 82 37.1 25.9 - - 3.6 4.5 - - - 2.6 10.1 20.7 .487 - - - 5.8 6.8 .850
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 %
Gail Goodrich 15 38.3 23.8 - - 2.5 3.3 - - - 3.3 8.7 19.5 .445 - - - 6.5 7.2 .898
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1972-731988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich 76 35.5 23.9 - - 3.5 4.4 - - - 2.5 9.9 21.3 .464 - - - 4.1 4.9 .840
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 %
Gail Goodrich 17 35.5 20.0 - - 3.6 3.9 - - - 3.1 8.2 18.2 .448 - - - 3.6 4.6 .785
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1973-741989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich 82 37.3 25.3 1.2 1.9 3.0 5.2 1.5 0.1 - 2.8 9.6 21.6 .442 - - - 6.2 7.2 .864
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 %
Gail Goodrich 5 37.8 19.6 1.4 1.8 3.2 6.0 1.4 0.2 - 1.4 7.0 18.0 .389 - - - 5.6 6.6 .848
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1974-751990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Gail Goodrich 72 37.1 22.6 1.3 1.7 3.0 5.8 1.4 0.1 - 3.0 9.1 19.8 .459 - - - 4.4 5.3 .841
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1975-761991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit 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 %
Gail Goodrich 75 35.3 19.5 1.3 1.6 2.9 5.6 1.6 0.2 - 3.2 7.8 17.6 .441 - - - 3.9 4.6 .847
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
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

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1976-771992-93
Team New Orleans JazzDetroit 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 %
Gail Goodrich 27 22.6 12.6 0.9 1.3 2.3 2.7 0.8 0.1 - 1.6 5.0 11.3 .446 - - - 2.5 3.1 .800
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1977-781993-94
Team New Orleans JazzDetroit 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 %
Gail Goodrich 81 31.5 16.1 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.8 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.3 6.4 13.0 .495 - - - 3.3 4.1 .795
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 %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Gail Goodrich Isiah Thomas
Season 1978-79-
Team New Orleans Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich 74 28.8 12.7 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.8 1.2 0.2 2.5 2.4 5.2 11.5 .449 - - - 2.4 2.8 .853
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gail Goodrich ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------