Larry Nance vs. Isaiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isaiah Thomas and Larry Nance, 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.

Larry Nance played 13 years in the NBA, 1 more than Isaiah Thomas, who played 12. Larry Nance had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Isaiah Thomas had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Larry Nance 13 8 1981-82 to 1993-94
Isaiah Thomas 12 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 80 14.8 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.1 2.8 5.5 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.5 .641
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 7 18.3 7.7 1.9 2.7 4.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.6 5.9 .610 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .500
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.5 16.7 2.9 5.7 8.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 2.3 3.1 7.2 13.0 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 2.4 3.5 .672
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 3 34.3 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.7 11.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.4 17.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 2.6 1.0 2.1 2.2 3.3 7.3 12.7 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .707
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 17 37.2 16.9 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.5 6.9 11.8 .590 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .671
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Larry Nance 61 36.1 19.9 3.2 5.6 8.8 2.6 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.0 8.4 14.4 .587 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.2 .709
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Season 5

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Larry Nance 73 34.0 20.2 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 1.0 1.8 2.9 3.4 8.0 13.7 .581 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 6.1 .698
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Season 6

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Larry Nance 69 37.2 22.5 2.7 6.0 8.7 3.4 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.2 8.5 15.4 .551 0.0 0.1 .200 5.5 7.1 .773
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Season 7

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Phoenix Suns, Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 67 35.6 19.1 2.9 6.2 9.1 3.1 0.9 2.4 2.3 3.6 7.3 13.7 .529 0.0 0.1 .333 4.5 5.8 .779
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 5 40.0 16.8 2.0 5.2 7.2 3.6 0.4 2.2 2.8 2.6 6.8 12.8 .531 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.6 .889
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Cleveland CavaliersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 73 34.6 17.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 2.2 0.8 2.8 1.6 2.5 6.8 12.6 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.6 .799
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 5 39.0 19.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.2 0.6 2.4 1.8 2.4 7.6 13.8 .551 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 6.4 .656
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Cleveland CavaliersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 62 33.3 16.3 2.6 5.7 8.3 2.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.0 6.6 13.0 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.0 3.9 .778
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 5 31.8 12.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 2.4 0.6 2.0 0.8 4.0 5.2 9.0 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .750
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1990-912020-21
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Orleans Pelicans
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 %
Larry Nance 80 36.6 19.2 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.0 0.8 2.5 1.6 2.7 7.9 15.1 .524 0.0 0.1 .250 3.3 4.1 .803
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1991-922021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 81 35.6 17.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 2.9 1.0 3.0 1.1 2.5 6.9 12.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.0 .822
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 17 40.1 18.0 2.6 6.6 9.2 2.5 0.8 2.7 1.5 3.3 7.3 14.8 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .829
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

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

Season 12

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1992-932023-24
Team Cleveland CavaliersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Larry Nance 77 35.8 16.5 2.4 6.3 8.7 2.9 0.7 2.6 1.4 2.9 6.9 12.6 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.2 .818
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 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 9 36.6 16.1 3.9 4.3 8.2 2.3 0.9 1.6 0.7 3.7 6.8 12.0 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .767
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 -

Season 13

Larry Nance Isaiah Thomas
Season 1993-94-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Larry Nance 33 27.5 11.2 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.5 0.8 1.7 1.2 2.9 4.6 9.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .753
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------