Mark Olberding vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Mark Olberding, 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.

Mark Olberding played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Mark Olberding had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, 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
Mark Olberding 11 8 1976-77 to 1986-87
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1976-771981-82
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Mark Olberding 82 23.8 10.4 2.0 3.5 5.5 1.5 0.7 0.4 - 3.4 3.7 7.3 .503 - - - 3.1 3.9 .794
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 %
Mark Olberding 2 21.0 6.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 1.0 0.0 0.5 - 4.0 2.5 4.5 .556 - - - 1.5 3.0 .500
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1977-781982-83
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost East 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 %
Mark Olberding 79 22.4 8.2 1.3 3.4 4.7 1.7 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.0 2.9 6.1 .481 - - - 2.3 2.9 .811
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 %
Mark Olberding 6 25.3 10.5 1.5 3.5 5.0 2.3 1.0 1.0 1.3 3.8 4.2 8.5 .490 - - - 2.2 2.5 .867
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1978-791983-84
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs Lost East Conf 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 %
Mark Olberding 80 23.6 9.4 1.2 4.2 5.4 2.6 0.7 0.2 2.0 3.5 3.3 6.9 .474 - - - 2.9 3.6 .803
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 %
Mark Olberding 14 25.6 7.9 0.9 4.1 4.9 2.4 0.9 0.4 2.1 3.8 2.9 7.4 .398 - - - 2.1 2.6 .784
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1979-801984-85
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Mark Olberding 75 28.1 10.6 1.1 4.5 5.6 4.4 0.9 0.3 2.4 3.7 3.9 8.1 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.5 .795
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 %
Mark Olberding 3 32.3 9.7 1.7 5.7 7.3 3.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 4.7 4.3 7.7 .565 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1980-811985-86
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Mark Olberding 82 29.4 12.3 1.8 4.0 5.7 3.4 0.9 0.4 2.5 3.7 4.2 8.4 .508 0.0 0.1 .143 3.8 4.6 .829
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 %
Mark Olberding 7 36.3 19.7 1.6 4.3 5.9 4.3 0.6 0.0 2.4 4.4 8.3 15.0 .552 0.1 0.4 .333 3.0 3.6 .840
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1981-821986-87
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Mark Olberding 68 30.9 13.8 1.7 4.7 6.5 3.0 0.8 0.4 2.0 3.7 4.9 10.4 .472 0.0 0.2 .167 4.0 5.0 .808
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 %
Mark Olberding 9 36.4 14.7 2.2 4.2 6.4 3.6 1.0 0.7 3.0 4.3 5.9 13.3 .442 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.4 .839
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Olberding 80 22.7 8.7 1.4 3.1 4.5 1.6 0.6 0.1 1.9 3.1 3.1 6.5 .481 0.0 0.2 .167 2.4 3.1 .782
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Olberding 81 26.7 9.4 1.5 4.0 5.5 2.4 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.6 3.1 6.2 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 3.9 .821
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 %
Mark Olberding 3 20.0 6.7 1.3 3.7 5.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 2.0 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.7 .571
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mark Olberding 81 28.1 10.2 1.7 4.6 6.3 3.0 0.7 0.1 2.3 3.7 3.3 6.5 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.3 .832
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Mark Olberding 81 26.6 7.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 3.3 0.5 0.3 1.8 3.4 2.8 5.0 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .771
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 %
Mark Olberding 3 24.7 5.0 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 2.3 3.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit 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 %
Mark Olberding 76 13.2 3.3 0.7 1.8 2.4 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.7 1.9 0.9 2.2 .418 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.7 .885
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
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

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season -1992-93
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Mark Olberding Isiah Thomas
Season -1993-94
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
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 %
Mark Olberding ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------