Isiah Thomas vs. Buck Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Buck Williams and Isiah 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 / 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.

Isiah Thomas played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Buck Williams, who played 17. Isiah Thomas had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Buck Williams 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
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94
Buck Williams 17 14 1981-82 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 34.5 15.5 4.2 8.0 12.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 2.9 3.5 6.3 10.7 .582 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 2 39.5 17.5 5.5 5.0 10.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 2.0 3.5 7.0 13.0 .538 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 7.5 .467

Season 2

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 36.1 17.0 4.5 8.1 12.5 1.5 1.1 1.3 3.0 3.3 6.5 11.1 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 6.4 .620
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 2 42.5 19.0 4.5 7.0 11.5 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 6.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 10.0 .800

Season 3

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdNets 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 %
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
Buck Williams 81 37.1 15.7 4.4 8.0 12.3 1.6 1.0 1.5 2.9 3.7 6.1 11.4 .535 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 6.1 .570
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 11 43.0 15.5 5.2 8.9 14.1 1.5 1.4 1.5 2.6 4.0 5.7 11.8 .485 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 7.4 .556

Season 4

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf SemisNets 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 38.8 18.2 3.9 8.3 12.3 2.0 0.8 1.3 2.9 3.6 7.0 13.3 .530 0.0 0.0 .250 4.1 6.6 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 3 41.0 24.7 4.7 6.0 10.7 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.0 4.0 8.7 13.3 .650 0.0 0.0 - 7.3 10.0 .733

Season 5

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdNets 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 37.4 15.9 4.0 8.0 12.0 1.6 0.9 1.2 3.0 3.6 6.1 11.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.4 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 3 42.0 20.7 4.0 6.3 10.3 0.7 2.0 0.3 2.0 5.0 7.0 9.7 .724 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 8.7 .769

Season 6

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 36.3 18.0 3.9 8.5 12.5 1.6 1.0 1.1 3.4 3.8 6.4 11.4 .557 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 7.2 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1987-881987-88
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
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
Buck Williams 70 37.7 18.3 4.3 7.7 11.9 1.6 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.8 6.7 11.9 .560 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 7.4 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Detroit PistonsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 74 33.1 13.0 3.4 6.0 9.4 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 9.5 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.3 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1989-901989-90
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 82 34.2 13.6 3.0 6.7 9.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 2.0 3.5 5.0 9.2 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 5.0 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 21 37.0 13.0 3.2 6.0 9.2 1.9 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.5 4.8 9.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .676

Season 10

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1990-911990-91
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Buck Williams 80 32.3 11.7 2.8 6.6 9.4 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.7 3.1 4.5 7.4 .602 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.9 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 16 35.8 10.3 3.3 5.6 8.9 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.4 4.1 8.1 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 .603

Season 11

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1991-921991-92
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 80 31.5 11.3 3.3 5.6 8.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 1.6 3.1 4.3 7.0 .604 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.7 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Buck Williams 21 36.1 9.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 1.0 1.3 0.8 2.1 3.5 3.1 6.2 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.3 .758

Season 12

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1992-931992-93
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Buck Williams 82 30.5 8.3 2.8 5.6 8.4 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.2 3.3 3.3 6.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.6 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 4 29.8 8.8 3.0 4.3 7.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.0 2.8 5.8 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.8 .684

Season 13

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season 1993-941993-94
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Buck Williams 81 32.5 9.7 3.9 6.5 10.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 1.4 3.0 3.6 6.5 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.7 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 4 31.3 12.8 3.5 5.3 8.8 0.5 1.0 0.5 2.0 2.8 4.8 7.0 .679 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 3.8 .867

Season 14

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season -1994-95
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 82 29.5 9.2 3.1 5.1 8.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.5 3.1 3.8 7.4 .512 0.0 0.0 .500 1.7 2.5 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 34.3 8.3 2.7 3.7 6.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 4.7 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636

Season 15

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 70 23.9 7.3 2.3 3.5 5.8 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.3 2.7 2.7 5.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .667 1.8 2.7 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 5 26.6 4.8 2.6 2.4 5.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.6 1.8 4.6 .391 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 16

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 74 20.2 6.3 2.2 3.1 5.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.8 2.4 4.4 .537 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 10 19.2 4.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.4 3.4 1.7 3.5 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.7 .529

Season 17

Isiah Thomas Buck Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 41 18.0 4.9 1.9 2.6 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 2.3 1.8 3.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 15.0 4.7 2.3 3.0 5.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750