Michael Adams vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Michael Adams, 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.

Michael Adams played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Michael Adams had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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
Michael Adams 11 5 1985-86 to 1995-96
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861981-82
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Michael Adams 18 7.7 2.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 1.2 0.5 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.9 2.4 .364 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.7 .667
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871982-83
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Michael Adams 63 20.7 7.2 0.6 1.3 2.0 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.3 1.4 2.5 6.2 .407 0.4 1.6 .275 1.7 2.0 .847
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 %
Michael Adams 3 27.3 6.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 3.3 2.3 0.0 1.7 2.0 2.7 8.3 .320 0.7 3.0 .222 0.3 1.0 .333
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1987-881983-84
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Michael Adams 82 33.9 13.9 0.5 2.2 2.7 6.1 2.0 0.2 1.8 1.7 5.1 11.3 .449 1.7 4.6 .367 2.0 2.4 .834
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 %
Michael Adams 11 36.9 13.4 0.8 2.5 3.3 5.8 1.6 0.2 2.1 1.7 4.3 11.8 .362 1.5 4.9 .315 3.3 3.7 .878
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891984-85
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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 %
Michael Adams 77 36.2 18.5 0.9 2.8 3.7 6.4 2.2 0.1 2.3 1.9 6.1 14.1 .433 2.2 6.1 .356 4.2 5.1 .819
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 %
Michael Adams 2 37.5 23.5 2.5 6.0 8.5 4.5 1.5 0.0 4.0 3.0 7.5 18.0 .417 5.0 11.0 .455 3.5 4.0 .875
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901985-86
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Michael Adams 79 34.1 15.5 0.6 2.2 2.8 6.3 1.5 0.0 1.8 1.7 5.0 12.5 .402 2.0 5.5 .366 3.4 4.0 .850
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 %
Michael Adams 3 35.0 13.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 6.0 1.3 0.0 2.7 3.3 4.3 11.3 .382 2.0 6.7 .300 2.3 2.7 .875
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911986-87
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Michael Adams 66 35.5 26.5 0.9 3.0 3.9 10.5 2.2 0.1 3.6 2.5 8.5 21.5 .394 2.5 8.5 .296 7.0 8.0 .879
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Michael Adams 78 35.8 18.1 0.7 3.2 4.0 7.6 1.9 0.1 2.7 2.1 6.2 15.8 .393 1.6 4.9 .324 4.0 4.6 .869
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931988-89
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -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 %
Michael Adams 70 35.7 14.8 0.7 2.7 3.4 7.5 1.4 0.1 2.5 2.1 5.2 11.9 .439 1.0 3.0 .321 3.4 4.0 .856
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941989-90
Team Washington BulletsDetroit 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 %
Michael Adams 70 33.4 12.1 0.5 2.1 2.6 6.9 1.4 0.1 2.4 2.0 4.1 10.0 .408 0.8 2.7 .288 3.2 3.9 .830
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951990-91
Team Charlotte HornetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East 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 %
Michael Adams 29 15.3 6.5 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.3 0.8 0.0 0.9 1.4 2.3 5.1 .453 1.0 2.8 .358 0.9 1.0 .833
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 %
Michael Adams 1 11.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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

Michael Adams Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961991-92
Team Charlotte HornetsDetroit 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 %
Michael Adams 21 15.7 5.4 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.2 1.2 1.8 4.0 .446 0.7 2.0 .341 1.2 1.7 .743
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Adams 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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Adams 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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
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 %
Michael Adams ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------