Gary Payton vs. Kurt Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kurt Thomas and Gary Payton, 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 / 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.

Gary Payton played 17 years in the NBA, 1 less than Kurt Thomas, who played 18. Gary Payton had the first of his seasons in 1990-91, while Kurt Thomas had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07
Kurt Thomas 18 11 1995-96 to 2012-13

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Seattle SupersonicsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdHeat 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 %
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Kurt Thomas 74 22.4 9.0 1.6 4.3 5.9 0.6 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.7 3.7 7.4 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .663
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000
Kurt Thomas 3 20.0 4.0 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 1.7 4.3 1.3 3.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.3 1.000

Season 2

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1991-921996-97
Team Seattle SupersonicsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Kurt Thomas 18 20.8 6.3 1.7 4.2 5.9 0.5 0.7 0.5 1.4 3.7 2.2 5.8 .371 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1992-931997-98
Team Seattle SupersonicsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Kurt Thomas 5 14.6 7.4 1.6 3.2 4.8 0.6 0.2 0.0 2.0 3.8 3.4 9.0 .378 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1993-941998-99
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Kurt Thomas 50 23.6 8.1 1.6 4.1 5.7 1.1 0.9 0.3 1.5 3.2 3.4 7.4 .462 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.2 .611
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421
Kurt Thomas 20 21.1 5.3 1.9 3.6 5.5 0.4 0.8 0.6 1.0 3.8 2.3 5.9 .381 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .696

Season 5

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1994-951999-00
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Kurt Thomas 80 24.6 8.0 1.8 4.5 6.3 1.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 3.5 3.4 6.7 .505 0.0 0.0 .333 1.3 1.6 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417
Kurt Thomas 16 15.7 4.3 1.1 2.0 3.1 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.8 1.9 3.8 .508 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .700

Season 6

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1995-962000-01
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 %
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Kurt Thomas 77 27.6 10.4 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.3 3.7 4.1 8.0 .511 0.0 0.0 .333 2.2 2.7 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633
Kurt Thomas 5 37.2 14.4 3.4 7.8 11.2 1.8 0.4 1.0 1.8 5.2 5.0 9.4 .532 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.2 .710

Season 7

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1996-972001-02
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Kurt Thomas 82 33.8 13.9 2.6 6.5 9.1 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.9 4.2 5.6 11.4 .494 0.0 0.1 .167 2.6 3.2 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1997-982002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Kurt Thomas 81 31.8 14.0 2.0 5.9 7.9 2.0 1.0 1.2 1.7 4.2 6.1 12.7 .483 0.0 0.0 .667 1.7 2.3 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1998-992003-04
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Kurt Thomas 80 31.9 11.1 1.8 6.5 8.3 1.9 0.7 1.0 1.7 3.7 4.9 10.4 .473 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.6 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 4 35.3 12.8 2.3 9.3 11.5 1.5 1.8 0.8 2.5 4.3 5.3 12.3 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 10

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 1999-002004-05
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Kurt Thomas 80 35.7 11.5 2.1 8.3 10.4 2.0 0.9 1.0 1.2 3.9 5.3 11.3 .471 0.0 0.1 .500 0.8 1.1 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2000-012005-06
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Kurt Thomas 53 26.6 8.6 1.9 5.9 7.8 1.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.7 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 1 6.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 12

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2001-022006-07
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 %
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Kurt Thomas 67 18.0 4.6 1.3 4.4 5.7 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 2.3 1.9 3.9 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.1 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586
Kurt Thomas 11 19.3 7.5 1.0 3.9 4.9 1.1 0.5 0.8 0.8 2.3 3.1 5.9 .523 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.5 .882

Season 13

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2002-032007-08
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Kurt Thomas 70 22.6 6.3 1.9 5.4 7.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.7 2.7 2.8 5.7 .492 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.1 .663
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700
Kurt Thomas 17 15.8 4.1 1.5 3.4 4.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.8 2.7 1.9 4.1 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .714

Season 14

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2003-042008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Kurt Thomas 79 17.8 4.3 1.7 3.4 5.1 0.8 0.4 0.7 0.5 2.2 1.9 3.8 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750
Kurt Thomas 5 16.0 2.6 0.8 3.8 4.6 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 2.6 1.0 2.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 15

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2004-052009-10
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdBucks 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 %
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Kurt Thomas 70 15.0 3.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.7 2.3 1.4 3.0 .476 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833
Kurt Thomas 7 28.4 5.4 1.7 6.1 7.9 1.6 0.4 0.6 1.1 3.7 2.4 5.0 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.7 .800

Season 16

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2005-062010-11
Team Miami HeatChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 %
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Kurt Thomas 52 22.7 4.1 1.4 4.3 5.8 1.2 0.6 0.8 0.8 3.2 1.8 3.6 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.4 0.6 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720
Kurt Thomas 7 10.6 2.9 1.3 1.4 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.7 1.4 2.6 .556 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season 2006-072011-12
Team Miami HeatPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Kurt Thomas 53 15.2 3.0 0.7 2.8 3.5 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.6 2.3 1.4 3.0 .465 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Gary Payton Kurt Thomas
Season -2012-13
Team -New York Knicks
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 %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas 39 10.1 2.5 0.6 1.7 2.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.2 2.1 .542 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.2 0.3 .462
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Kurt Thomas ------- --- ----------