Nick Anderson vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Nick Anderson, 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.

Nick Anderson and Isiah Thomas both played 13 years in the NBA. Nick Anderson had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Nick Anderson 13 6 1989-90 to 2001-02
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901981-82
Team Orlando MagicDetroit 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 %
Nick Anderson 81 22.0 11.5 1.3 2.6 3.9 1.5 0.9 0.4 1.7 1.7 4.6 9.3 .494 0.0 0.2 .059 2.3 3.3 .705
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911982-83
Team Orlando MagicDetroit 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 %
Nick Anderson 70 28.2 14.1 1.3 4.2 5.5 1.5 1.1 0.6 1.6 2.1 5.7 12.2 .467 0.2 0.8 .293 2.5 3.7 .668
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921983-84
Team Orlando MagicDetroit 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 %
Nick Anderson 60 36.7 19.9 1.6 4.8 6.4 2.7 1.6 0.6 2.1 2.2 8.0 17.4 .463 0.5 1.4 .353 3.4 5.1 .667
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931984-85
Team Orlando MagicDetroit 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 %
Nick Anderson 79 37.0 19.9 1.5 4.5 6.0 3.4 1.6 0.7 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.8 .449 1.1 3.2 .353 3.8 5.1 .741
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Magic Lost East 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 %
Nick Anderson 81 34.7 15.8 1.4 4.5 5.9 3.6 1.7 0.4 2.0 1.8 6.2 13.0 .478 1.2 3.9 .322 2.1 3.1 .672
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 %
Nick Anderson 3 40.0 14.3 0.7 2.7 3.3 3.3 1.7 0.7 1.7 2.7 4.3 11.3 .382 2.7 6.7 .400 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951986-87
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA 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 %
Nick Anderson 76 34.1 15.8 1.1 3.3 4.4 4.1 1.6 0.3 1.9 1.6 5.8 12.1 .476 2.4 5.7 .415 1.9 2.7 .704
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 %
Nick Anderson 21 38.8 14.2 1.0 3.8 4.8 3.1 1.6 0.5 1.4 2.3 5.1 11.4 .448 2.0 5.1 .383 2.0 3.0 .683
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961987-88
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 77 35.3 14.7 1.2 4.2 5.4 3.6 1.6 0.6 1.8 1.8 5.2 11.7 .442 2.2 5.6 .391 2.2 3.1 .692
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 %
Nick Anderson 11 38.0 14.2 1.5 3.5 5.0 1.9 1.9 0.5 1.9 2.0 5.0 11.5 .433 1.6 5.7 .286 2.5 4.1 .622
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971988-89
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East 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 %
Nick Anderson 63 34.3 12.0 1.0 3.8 4.8 2.9 1.9 0.5 1.4 2.5 4.6 11.5 .397 2.3 6.4 .353 0.6 1.5 .404
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 %
Nick Anderson 5 26.0 5.6 0.6 5.2 5.8 0.6 0.6 1.8 1.2 1.6 2.4 7.2 .333 0.8 3.0 .267 0.0 0.4 .000
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981989-90
Team Orlando MagicDetroit 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 %
Nick Anderson 58 29.3 15.3 1.7 3.4 5.1 2.1 1.2 0.4 1.5 1.7 5.9 13.0 .455 1.3 3.7 .360 2.2 3.4 .638
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991990-91
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Nick Anderson 47 33.6 14.9 1.1 4.8 5.9 1.9 1.4 0.3 1.8 1.5 5.4 13.6 .395 2.0 5.9 .347 2.1 3.4 .611
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 %
Nick Anderson 4 37.8 20.8 1.8 5.0 6.8 2.3 2.3 0.0 2.5 3.0 7.3 19.8 .367 2.8 10.5 .262 3.5 4.8 .737
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001991-92
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Nick Anderson 72 29.1 10.8 1.2 3.6 4.7 1.7 1.3 0.2 1.3 1.6 4.3 10.9 .391 1.8 5.5 .332 0.5 1.1 .487
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 %
Nick Anderson 5 26.4 7.2 0.8 2.6 3.4 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.8 2.2 6.8 .324 1.4 4.0 .350 1.4 1.6 .875
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

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011992-93
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -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 %
Nick Anderson 21 8.0 1.8 0.1 1.0 1.2 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.7 2.7 .246 0.5 1.9 .256 0.0 0.0 -
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Nick Anderson Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-021993-94
Team Memphis GrizzliesDetroit Pistons
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 %
Nick Anderson 15 14.6 4.0 0.1 2.1 2.2 0.9 0.4 0.4 0.9 1.1 1.4 5.1 .276 0.9 3.2 .271 0.3 0.6 .556
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------