Isaiah Thomas vs. Lou Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lou Williams and Isaiah Thomas, 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 Rankings / 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.

Isaiah Thomas played 12 years in the NBA, 5 less than Lou Williams, who played 17. Isaiah Thomas had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Lou Williams had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Isaiah Thomas 12 4 2011-12 to 2023-24
Lou Williams 17 10 2005-06 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2011-122005-06
Team Sacramento KingsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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
difference:+35+20.7+9.6+0.6+1.3+2.0+3.8+0.6+0.1-1.2-1.5+3.1+7.1+.006+1.2+3.1+.157+2.1+2.4+.217
Lou Williams 30 4.8 1.9 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 .442 0.1 0.3 .222 0.3 0.4 .615
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Isaiah Thomas nor Lou Williams played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2012-132006-07
Team Sacramento KingsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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
difference:+18+15.6+9.6+0.1+0.8+0.9+2.2+0.4-1.0-1.4+3.1+7.0+.001+1.3+3.5+.034+2.2+2.1+.186
Lou Williams 61 11.3 4.3 0.3 0.9 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.7 1.5 3.5 .441 0.2 0.6 .324 1.0 1.5 .696
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Isaiah Thomas nor Lou Williams played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2013-142007-08
Team Sacramento KingsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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%
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
difference:+8+11.4+8.8+0.2+0.7+0.8+3.1+0.3+0.1-1.4-1.0+2.9+5.8+.029+1.1+3.2+.010+2.0+2.1+.067
Lou Williams 80 23.3 11.5 0.5 1.6 2.1 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.0 9.4 .424 0.7 1.9 .359 2.8 3.6 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Isaiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------
Lou Williams 6 22.5 12.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.0 10.0 .400 0.3 1.5 .222 3.7 5.0 .733

Season 4

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2014-152008-09
Team Phoenix Suns, Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+14+2.1+3.6+0.1+0.2+0.3+1.2+0.1+0.1-0.2-0.6+0.9+1.5+.022+1.1+2.5+.087+0.7+0.4+.078
Lou Williams 81 23.7 12.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.0 1.0 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.1 10.4 .398 0.8 2.7 .286 3.8 4.8 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+5.0+7.8+0.6+0.5+4.2+0.3+0.2-1.5-0.8+1.0+5.0+.079+0.2+1.8+.208+6.1+5.5+.302
Lou Williams 6 24.8 9.7 0.3 2.2 2.5 2.8 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.7 3.5 8.5 .412 1.0 2.7 .375 1.7 2.5 .667

Season 5

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2015-162009-10
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+18+2.3+8.2+0.2+0.1+0.1+2.0+0.2+0.1-1.0-0.3+2.2+6.3+.042+0.9+2.5+.019+2.8+3.0+.047
Lou Williams 64 29.9 14.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 4.2 1.3 0.2 1.7 1.7 5.0 10.6 .470 1.1 3.2 .340 3.0 3.6 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2016-172010-11
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+1+10.5+15.2+0.2+0.5+0.7+2.5+0.3-1.4-0.5+4.7+8.8+.057+2.0+5.1+.031+3.9+3.8+.086
Lou Williams 75 23.3 13.7 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.4 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.7 4.3 10.6 .406 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+10+8.7+12.5+0.3+1.2+1.5+3.7+0.1+0.1-2.5-1.1+4.0+7.0+.098+1.2+3.2+.033+3.3+3.6+.083
Lou Williams 5 26.0 10.8 0.0 1.6 1.6 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.4 10.4 .327 1.2 4.0 .300 2.8 3.8 .737

Season 7

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2017-182011-12
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+32+0.6+0.3+0.4+0.3+1.3+0.3+0.2-1.9-0.4+0.1+1.0+.034+0.4+2.3+.069+0.5+.081
Lou Williams 64 26.3 14.9 0.5 2.0 2.4 3.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 1.4 5.0 12.2 .407 1.3 3.6 .362 3.7 4.6 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Isaiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------
Lou Williams 13 27.5 11.5 0.2 1.8 2.1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.3 3.8 10.9 .352 0.6 3.7 .167 3.2 4.0 .788

Season 8

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2018-192012-13
Team Denver NuggetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+27+13.6+6.0+0.2+1.1+1.0+1.7+0.7+0.2-0.4+2.0+3.1+.079+0.8+1.4+.088+1.3+0.8+.238
Lou Williams 39 28.7 14.1 0.2 1.8 2.1 3.6 1.1 0.3 1.9 1.4 4.8 11.4 .422 1.8 5.0 .367 2.7 3.1 .868
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Isaiah Thomas nor Lou Williams played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2019-202013-14
Team Washington WizardsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+20+1.0+1.8+0.1+0.5+0.4+0.2+0.5+0.1-0.4-0.8+1.1+2.5+.008+0.7+0.8+.071+0.9+1.1+.033
Lou Williams 60 24.1 10.4 0.2 1.9 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.1 3.3 8.2 .400 1.3 3.9 .342 2.5 3.0 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Isaiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------
Lou Williams 7 19.0 8.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 1.1 1.0 0.1 1.9 1.4 2.7 7.1 .380 0.7 2.3 .313 2.1 2.3 .938

Season 10

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2020-212014-15
Team New Orleans PelicansToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+77+9.2+7.8+0.6+0.6+0.4+0.8+0.1-0.7-0.3+1.7+2.6+.071+0.9+1.6+.090+3.6+4.2+.139
Lou Williams 80 25.2 15.5 0.3 1.6 1.9 2.1 1.1 0.1 1.3 1.3 4.7 11.6 .404 1.9 5.6 .340 4.3 4.9 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Isaiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------
Lou Williams 4 25.5 12.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 4.0 12.8 .314 1.0 5.3 .190 3.8 4.5 .833

Season 11

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2021-222015-16
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+45+13.3+6.9+0.3+1.0+1.2+1.0+0.6+0.1-0.9-0.1+1.2+2.7+.007+0.3+1.0+.007+4.3+5.1+.016
Lou Williams 67 28.5 15.3 0.5 2.1 2.5 2.5 0.9 0.3 1.6 1.6 4.2 10.3 .408 1.6 4.8 .344 5.3 6.3 .830
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Isaiah Thomas nor Lou Williams played in the postseason in their season 11

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

Season 12

Isaiah Thomas Lou Williams
Season 2023-242016-17
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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 -
difference:+75+21.4+16.2+0.3+2.2+2.5+2.5+1.0+0.2-2.0-1.1+4.8+10.6+.129+1.7+4.8+.135+5.0+5.6
Lou Williams 81 24.6 17.5 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.0 1.0 0.2 2.0 1.1 5.3 12.3 .429 2.0 5.5 .365 5.0 5.6 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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 -
difference:+10+20.7+12.5+0.6+2.1+2.7+1.3+0.6+0.1-0.3-1.5+4.5+8.7+.424+1.1+2.5+.308+2.4+2.6
Lou Williams 11 24.7 12.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 1.3 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.5 4.5 10.7 .424 1.1 3.5 .308 2.4 2.6 .897

Additional Years

* Lou Williams played 5 seasons more than Isaiah Thomas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 17, from 2018 to 2022—Lou Williams played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Isaiah Thomas, Lou Williams got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 Sixth Man of the Year