Patrick Ewing vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Patrick Ewing, 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.

Patrick Ewing played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Patrick Ewing 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
Patrick Ewing 17 14 1985-86 to 2001-02
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1985-861981-82
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Patrick Ewing 50 35.4 20.0 2.5 6.5 9.0 2.0 1.1 2.1 3.4 3.8 7.7 16.3 .474 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .739
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 %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1986-871982-83
Team New York KnicksDetroit 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 %
Patrick Ewing 63 35.0 21.5 2.5 6.3 8.8 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.6 3.9 8.4 16.7 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.6 .713
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 %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1987-881983-84
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 31.0 20.2 3.0 5.3 8.2 1.5 1.3 3.0 3.5 4.0 8.0 14.4 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.8 .716
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 %
Patrick Ewing 4 38.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.5 1.5 3.3 2.8 4.3 7.0 14.3 .491 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 5.5 .864
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891984-85
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Patrick Ewing 80 36.2 22.7 2.7 6.6 9.3 2.4 1.5 3.5 3.3 3.9 9.1 16.0 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .746
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 %
Patrick Ewing 9 37.8 19.9 2.6 7.4 10.0 2.2 1.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 7.8 16.0 .486 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.8 .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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901985-86
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 38.6 28.6 2.9 8.0 10.9 2.2 1.0 4.0 3.4 4.0 11.2 20.4 .551 0.0 0.0 .250 6.1 7.9 .775
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 %
Patrick Ewing 10 39.5 29.4 2.1 8.4 10.5 3.1 1.3 2.0 2.7 4.1 11.4 21.9 .521 0.1 0.2 .500 6.5 7.9 .823
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911986-87
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 81 38.3 26.6 2.4 8.8 11.2 3.0 1.0 3.2 3.6 3.5 10.4 20.3 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.7 .745
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 %
Patrick Ewing 3 36.7 16.7 0.7 9.3 10.0 2.0 0.3 1.7 3.7 4.0 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 6.0 .778
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921987-88
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 38.4 24.0 2.8 8.5 11.2 1.9 1.1 3.0 2.5 3.4 9.7 18.6 .522 0.0 0.1 .167 4.6 6.2 .738
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 %
Patrick Ewing 12 40.2 22.7 2.8 8.3 11.1 2.3 0.6 2.6 1.9 4.1 9.1 19.9 .456 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .740
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931988-89
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Patrick Ewing 81 37.1 24.2 2.4 9.7 12.1 1.9 0.9 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.6 19.1 .503 0.0 0.1 .143 4.9 6.9 .719
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 %
Patrick Ewing 15 40.3 25.5 2.9 8.1 10.9 2.4 1.1 2.1 2.6 4.0 11.0 21.5 .512 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.4 5.3 .638
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941989-90
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA 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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 37.6 24.5 2.8 8.4 11.2 2.3 1.1 2.7 3.3 3.5 9.4 19.0 .496 0.1 0.2 .286 5.6 7.4 .765
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 %
Patrick Ewing 25 41.3 21.9 3.5 8.2 11.7 2.6 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.8 8.4 19.2 .437 0.2 0.4 .364 4.9 6.5 .755
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951990-91
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 37.0 23.9 2.0 9.0 11.0 2.7 0.9 2.0 3.2 3.4 9.2 18.4 .503 0.1 0.3 .286 5.3 7.1 .750
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 %
Patrick Ewing 11 36.3 19.0 1.5 8.1 9.6 2.5 0.5 2.3 2.7 4.6 7.3 14.2 .513 0.1 0.3 .333 4.4 6.4 .686
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961991-92
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Patrick Ewing 76 36.6 22.5 2.1 8.5 10.6 2.1 0.9 2.4 2.9 3.3 8.9 19.2 .466 0.1 0.4 .143 4.6 6.1 .761
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 %
Patrick Ewing 8 41.0 21.5 1.4 9.3 10.6 1.9 0.1 3.1 3.8 2.8 8.1 17.1 .474 0.1 0.3 .500 5.1 7.9 .651
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

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971992-93
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 78 37.0 22.4 2.2 8.4 10.7 2.0 0.9 2.4 3.4 3.2 8.4 17.2 .488 0.0 0.1 .222 5.6 7.5 .754
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 %
Patrick Ewing 9 39.7 22.6 2.9 7.7 10.6 1.9 0.3 2.4 3.0 3.3 9.8 18.6 .527 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.7 .643
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981993-94
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 26 32.6 20.8 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.1 0.6 2.2 3.0 2.8 7.8 15.5 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 7.2 .720
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 %
Patrick Ewing 4 33.3 14.0 2.3 5.8 8.0 1.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 4.0 5.0 14.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.8 .593
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-99-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 38 34.2 17.3 1.9 8.0 9.9 1.1 0.8 2.6 2.6 2.8 6.5 14.9 .435 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 6.1 .706
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 11 31.5 13.1 1.3 7.5 8.7 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9 3.2 5.3 12.3 .430 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .778
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-00-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 62 32.8 15.0 2.3 7.5 9.7 0.9 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.2 5.8 12.5 .466 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.6 .731
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 14 32.9 14.6 2.1 7.4 9.5 0.4 1.1 1.4 1.9 3.4 5.1 12.1 .418 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.4 .697
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-01-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 26.7 9.6 1.6 5.8 7.4 1.2 0.7 1.2 1.9 2.9 3.7 8.7 .430 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.2 .685
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Patrick Ewing Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-02-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Patrick Ewing 65 13.9 6.0 0.9 3.1 4.0 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .444 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.1 .701
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 17.0 6.5 1.3 4.3 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.0 0.5 3.0 2.0 6.3 .320 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 4.3 .588
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------