Paul Arizin vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Paul Arizin, 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.

Paul Arizin played 10 years in the NBA, 3 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Paul Arizin had the first of his seasons in 1950-51, 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 achievements, 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
Paul Arizin 10 8 1950-51 to 1961-62
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

Rookie Season

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1950-511981-82
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 65 - 17.2 - - 9.8 2.1 - - - 4.4 5.4 13.3 .407 - - - 6.4 8.1 .793
difference:+7+0.2+6.9+5.7-0.9+0.9+1.5+.017+2.2+2.1+.089
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 2 - 20.5 - - 10.0 1.5 - - - 5.0 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 6.5 8.0 .813
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1951-521982-83
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 66 44.5 25.4 - - 11.3 2.6 - - - 3.8 8.3 18.5 .448 - - - 8.8 10.7 .818
difference:+15+6.3+2.5+7.3+5.2-0.1+0.7+0.5+.024+4.3+4.3+.108
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 3 40.0 25.7 - - 12.7 2.7 - - - 5.7 8.0 17.7 .453 - - - 9.7 11.0 .879
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Note: Paul Arizin didn't play in 1952-53 and 1953-54.

Season 3

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1954-551983-84
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 72 41.0 21.0 - - 9.4 2.9 - - - 3.8 7.3 18.4 .399 - - - 6.3 8.1 .776
difference:+10+4.3+0.3+5.4+8.2-0.2+0.9+0.7+.063+1.6+1.6+.043
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1955-561984-85
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 72 37.8 24.2 - - 7.5 2.6 - - - 3.9 8.6 19.1 .448 - - - 7.0 8.7 .810
difference:+9+0.3+3.0+3.0+11.3-0.3+0.6+1.7+.010+2.1+2.6+.001
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 10 40.9 28.9 - - 8.4 2.9 - - - 3.1 10.3 22.9 .450 - - - 8.3 9.9 .838
difference:+1+1.5+4.6+3.2+8.3-1.2+1.1+4.5+.050+3.1+3.0+.080
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1956-571985-86
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 71 39.0 25.6 - - 7.9 2.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 20.4 .422 - - - 8.3 10.0 .829
difference:+6+2.8+4.7+4.3+8.7-0.7+0.7+4.2+.066+3.6+4.0+.039
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 2 11.0 4.5 - - 4.0 0.5 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 1.5 2.5 .600
difference:+2+29.8+22.0+1.5+11.5-2.8+8.8+18.8+.076+4.5+6.5+.067
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1957-581986-87
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 68 35.0 20.7 - - 7.4 2.0 - - - 3.5 7.1 18.1 .393 - - - 6.5 8.0 .809
difference:+13+2.2+0.1+3.5+8.0-0.4+0.6+1.4+.070+1.6+1.6+.041
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 8 38.6 23.5 - - 7.8 2.0 - - - 3.3 8.3 21.1 .391 - - - 7.0 9.0 .778
difference:+7+1.1+0.6+3.3+6.7-0.1+0.6+1.3+.060+1.5+1.7+.023
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1958-591987-88
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 70 40.0 26.4 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.9 .431 - - - 8.4 10.3 .813
difference:+11+3.9+6.9+5.7+6.7-1.1+1.3+4.3+.032+4.6+5.4+.039
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1959-601988-89
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 72 36.4 22.3 - - 8.6 2.3 - - - 3.7 8.2 19.4 .424 - - - 5.8 7.3 .798
difference:+8+0.2+4.1+5.2+6.0-1.1+1.1+4.1+.040+2.2+2.9+.020
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 9 41.2 26.3 - - 9.6 3.7 - - - 3.2 9.3 21.7 .431 - - - 7.7 8.8 .873
difference:+8+4.0+8.1+5.3+4.6-0.9+2.5+5.3+.019+3.5+3.2+.133
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1960-611989-90
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 79 37.2 23.2 - - 8.6 2.4 - - - 4.2 8.2 19.4 .425 - - - 6.7 8.1 .833
difference:+2+0.2+4.8+4.8+7.0-1.7+1.1+3.1+.013+3.1+3.4+.058
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 3 41.7 22.3 - - 8.7 4.0 - - - 5.7 7.3 22.3 .328 - - - 7.7 11.0 .697
difference:+17+3.8+1.8+3.2+4.2-2.4+0.1+6.3+.135+3.6+5.9+.097
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

Paul Arizin Isiah Thomas
Season 1961-621990-91
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 78 35.7 21.9 - - 6.8 2.6 - - - 3.9 7.8 19.1 .410 - - - 6.2 7.7 .805
difference:+30+1.2+5.7+3.5+6.7-1.4+1.8+5.2+.025+2.5+2.9+.023
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 12 38.3 23.2 - - 6.7 2.2 - - - 3.7 7.9 21.1 .375 - - - 7.3 8.5 .863
difference:+1+4.8+9.7+2.5+6.3-0.5+3.3+9.6+.028+3.5+3.2+.138
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

Additional Years

* Isiah Thomas played 3 seasons more than Paul Arizin in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 13, from 1992 to 1994—Isiah Thomas played in one postseason.

In those 3 extra years over Paul Arizin, Isiah Thomas got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-Star Game