Michael Finley vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

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

Michael Finley played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Michael Finley had the first of his seasons in 1995-96, 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 Finley 15 10 1995-96 to 2009-10
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961981-82
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 Finley 82 39.2 15.0 1.7 2.9 4.6 3.5 1.0 0.4 1.6 2.4 5.7 11.9 .476 0.7 2.3 .328 3.0 3.9 .749
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 Finley ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971982-83
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 Finley 83 33.6 15.0 1.1 3.4 4.5 2.7 0.8 0.3 2.0 1.7 5.7 12.9 .444 1.2 3.4 .361 2.4 3.0 .808
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 Finley ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981983-84
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 Finley 82 41.4 21.5 1.8 3.5 5.3 4.9 1.6 0.4 2.7 2.0 8.2 18.4 .449 1.1 3.0 .357 4.0 5.1 .784
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 Finley ------- --- ----------
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991984-85
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 Finley 50 41.0 20.2 1.4 3.9 5.3 4.4 1.3 0.3 2.1 1.9 7.8 17.5 .444 0.9 2.7 .331 3.7 4.5 .823
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 Finley ------- --- ----------
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001985-86
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 Finley 82 42.2 22.6 1.5 4.8 6.3 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.4 2.1 9.1 20.0 .457 1.2 3.0 .401 3.2 3.9 .820
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 Finley ------- --- ----------
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011986-87
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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 Finley 82 42.0 21.5 1.3 3.9 5.2 4.4 1.4 0.4 2.3 2.1 8.7 18.9 .458 1.1 3.2 .346 3.1 4.0 .775
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 Finley 10 43.4 19.7 1.3 4.0 5.3 4.4 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.3 7.2 20.0 .360 1.7 4.7 .362 3.6 4.4 .818
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-021987-88
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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 Finley 69 39.9 20.6 1.3 3.9 5.2 3.3 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.1 8.2 17.8 .463 1.1 3.2 .339 3.0 3.6 .837
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 Finley 8 46.5 24.6 1.6 4.6 6.3 2.3 1.5 0.5 1.9 3.0 8.6 18.5 .466 1.8 4.6 .378 5.6 6.3 .900
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-031988-89
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsNBA 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 Finley 69 38.3 19.3 1.6 4.3 5.8 3.0 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.5 7.3 17.3 .425 1.7 4.7 .370 2.9 3.3 .861
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 Finley 20 41.1 18.3 1.3 4.5 5.8 3.0 1.3 0.6 1.6 2.3 6.6 15.1 .435 2.4 5.7 .412 2.9 3.3 .864
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-041989-90
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Michael Finley 72 38.6 18.6 1.1 3.4 4.5 2.9 1.2 0.5 1.2 1.6 7.1 16.1 .443 2.1 5.1 .405 2.3 2.7 .850
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 Finley 5 39.4 13.0 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.6 0.8 0.6 1.8 1.6 5.2 13.6 .382 1.4 5.2 .269 1.2 2.0 .600
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2004-051990-91
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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 Finley 64 36.8 15.7 0.7 3.4 4.1 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.9 6.0 14.2 .427 1.8 4.5 .407 1.8 2.1 .831
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 Finley 13 38.2 13.1 1.0 3.3 4.3 2.2 1.3 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.0 11.8 .425 1.8 4.7 .393 1.2 1.4 .889
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2005-061991-92
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Michael Finley 77 26.5 10.1 0.4 2.8 3.2 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.3 3.7 9.0 .412 1.4 3.6 .394 1.3 1.5 .852
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 Finley 13 31.6 10.5 0.1 3.7 3.8 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.5 3.8 8.1 .476 1.4 3.6 .383 1.4 1.5 .900
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 Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2006-071992-93
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
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 %
Michael Finley 82 22.2 9.0 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.3 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.9 3.3 8.1 .412 1.3 3.5 .364 1.1 1.2 .918
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 Finley 20 26.9 11.3 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.4 3.7 8.9 .410 2.2 5.3 .419 1.8 2.0 .897
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2007-081993-94
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Michael Finley 82 26.9 10.1 0.3 2.8 3.1 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.1 3.8 9.3 .414 1.6 4.4 .370 0.8 1.0 .800
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 Finley 17 23.0 6.7 0.1 1.9 1.9 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.5 2.5 6.3 .402 1.1 3.1 .365 0.5 0.5 1.000
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Michael Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2008-09-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Michael Finley 81 28.8 9.7 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.7 8.5 .437 1.6 3.9 .411 0.6 0.8 .823
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 5 28.6 8.0 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.6 3.0 6.8 .441 1.4 3.0 .467 0.6 0.8 .750
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Michael Finley Isiah Thomas
Season 2009-10-
Team San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 Finley 46 15.4 4.4 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 1.8 4.0 .440 0.7 1.8 .390 0.2 0.3 .533
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 18 6.0 0.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 1.1 .250 0.2 0.6 .273 0.1 0.1 1.000
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------