Paul Pierce vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Paul Pierce, 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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 Pierce played 19 years in the NBA, 6 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Paul Pierce had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, 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 Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17
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

Paul Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991981-82
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 Pierce 48 34.0 16.5 2.4 4.0 6.4 2.4 1.7 1.0 2.4 2.9 5.9 13.5 .439 1.8 4.3 .412 2.9 4.1 .713
difference:+24+0.2+0.5+1.6+1.9+3.5+5.4+0.4+0.8-1.8-0.6+0.4+1.3+.015+1.6+3.5+.124+1.3+1.9+.009
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
* Neiher Paul Pierce nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Paul Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001982-83
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 Pierce 73 35.4 19.5 1.1 4.3 5.4 3.0 2.1 0.8 2.4 3.2 6.7 15.1 .442 1.3 3.8 .343 4.9 6.2 .798
difference:+8+2.8+3.4+0.2+1.5+1.4+4.8+0.4+0.4-1.6-0.7+2.3+3.9+.030+0.9+2.3+.055+0.4+0.2+.088
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
* Neiher Paul Pierce nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Paul Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011983-84
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement 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 Pierce 82 38.0 25.3 1.1 5.2 6.4 3.1 1.7 0.8 3.2 3.1 8.4 18.5 .454 1.8 4.7 .383 6.7 9.0 .745
difference:+1.3+4.0+0.2+2.5+2.4+8.0+0.8+0.4-0.5-0.9+0.2+0.8+.008+1.5+3.9+.045+2.0+2.5+.012
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 Pierce 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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-021984-85
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 Pierce 82 40.3 26.1 1.0 5.9 6.9 3.2 1.9 1.0 2.9 2.9 8.6 19.5 .442 2.6 6.3 .404 6.3 7.8 .809
difference:+1+2.2+4.9+0.4+2.9+2.4+10.7+0.4+0.7-0.8-0.7+0.6+2.1+.016+2.2+4.9+.147+1.4+1.7
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 Pierce 16 42.0 24.6 1.7 6.9 8.6 4.1 1.7 1.3 3.8 3.3 7.6 18.9 .403 1.9 6.5 .288 7.5 9.8 .764
difference:+7+2.6+0.3+0.5+2.9+3.4+7.1+0.4+0.9-0.5-1.0+1.6+0.5+.097+1.2+4.8+.112+2.3+2.9+.006
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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-031985-86
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 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 Pierce 79 39.2 25.9 1.3 6.0 7.3 4.4 1.8 0.8 3.6 2.9 8.4 20.2 .416 1.5 4.9 .302 7.6 9.5 .802
difference:+2+3.0+5.0+0.2+3.5+3.7+6.4+0.4+0.5-0.2-0.3+0.5+4.0+.072+1.2+3.8+.008+2.9+3.5+.012
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 Pierce 10 44.5 27.1 1.1 7.9 9.0 6.7 2.1 0.8 4.4 3.8 7.7 19.3 .399 1.6 4.5 .356 10.1 11.7 .863
difference:+6+3.7+0.6+0.9+4.4+3.5+5.3+0.2-0.1-0.5+2.6+3.5+.052+1.6+3.2+.356+4.1+2.7+.196
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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-041986-87
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 Pierce 80 38.7 23.0 0.9 5.7 6.5 5.1 1.6 0.7 3.8 2.9 7.5 18.7 .402 1.4 4.8 .299 6.5 7.9 .819
difference:+1+1.5+2.4+0.1+2.8+2.6+4.9+0.3+0.5-0.4-0.2+0.2+2.0+.061+1.2+3.6+.105+1.6+1.5+.051
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 Pierce 4 40.8 20.8 1.5 7.3 8.8 2.5 1.3 1.0 6.3 3.0 6.5 19.0 .342 1.3 4.3 .294 6.5 7.8 .839
difference:+11+3.3+3.3+0.1+4.2+4.3+6.2+1.3+0.7-3.5-0.4+2.4+0.8+.109+0.6+2.1+.009+1.0+0.5+.084
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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2004-051987-88
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 Pierce 82 36.1 21.6 1.0 5.6 6.6 4.2 1.6 0.5 2.8 3.1 6.8 14.9 .455 1.3 3.6 .370 6.7 8.1 .822
difference:+1+2.1+0.2+3.0+3.2+4.2+0.1+0.3-0.6-0.4+0.9+1.7+.008+0.9+2.4+.061+2.9+3.2+.048
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 Pierce 7 39.7 22.9 1.0 6.7 7.7 4.6 1.9 1.4 2.7 2.6 6.7 13.3 .505 1.0 3.9 .259 8.4 9.7 .868
difference:+16+0.1+1.0+0.1+3.2+3.0+4.1+1.0+1.1-1.0-0.5+1.3+4.9+.068+0.4+2.0+.036+3.0+3.1+.040
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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2005-061988-89
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 Pierce 79 39.0 26.8 1.0 5.7 6.7 4.7 1.4 0.4 3.5 2.8 8.7 18.5 .471 1.4 4.0 .354 7.9 10.3 .772
difference:+1+2.4+8.6+0.4+2.9+3.3+3.6+0.3+0.1-0.2-0.2+1.6+3.2+.007+1.0+2.5+.081+4.3+5.9+.046
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 Pierce DNP------ --- ----------
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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2006-071989-90
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 Pierce 47 37.0 25.0 0.8 5.1 5.9 4.1 1.0 0.3 3.2 2.6 7.9 18.1 .439 2.3 5.9 .389 6.8 8.6 .796
difference:+34+6.6+0.1+2.2+2.1+5.3+0.7+0.1-0.8-0.1+0.8+1.8+.001+1.8+4.2+.080+3.2+3.9+.021
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 Pierce DNP------ --- ----------
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 Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2007-081990-91
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 Pierce 80 35.9 19.6 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.5 6.4 13.7 .464 1.8 4.6 .392 5.1 6.1 .843
difference:+32+1.4+3.4+1.9+1.8+4.8+0.3+0.3-1.1+0.4+0.2+.029+1.4+3.2+.100+1.4+1.3+.061
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 Pierce 26 38.1 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.2 .441 1.7 4.6 .361 5.5 6.8 .802
difference:+13+4.6+6.2+0.2+1.0+0.8+3.9+0.1+0.1-0.3+1.7+2.7+.038+1.2+2.9+.088+1.7+1.5+.077
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

Paul Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2008-091991-92
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Pierce 81 37.5 20.5 0.7 5.0 5.6 3.6 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.7 6.7 14.6 .457 1.5 3.8 .391 5.7 6.8 .830
difference:+3+0.1+2.0+0.2+2.7+2.4+3.6+0.5+0.1-0.4-0.2+0.5+1.6+.011+1.2+2.7+.100+2.0+2.0+.058
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Pierce 14 39.7 21.0 0.3 5.5 5.8 3.1 1.1 0.4 2.4 3.1 6.8 15.8 .430 1.4 4.1 .333 6.1 7.2 .842
difference:+9+0.3+7.0+0.3+0.9+0.6+4.3+0.1+0.4-0.8-0.5+2.4+2.8+.092+0.6+1.9+.031+1.7+1.6+.056
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

Paul Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2009-101992-93
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Pierce 71 34.0 18.3 0.5 3.8 4.4 3.1 1.2 0.4 2.3 2.8 5.8 12.2 .472 1.5 3.7 .414 5.2 6.1 .852
difference:+8+3.0+0.7+0.4+1.8+1.5+5.4+0.4+0.2-1.3+0.9+3.7+.054+0.7+1.2+.106+1.7+1.3+.115
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Pierce 24 38.8 18.8 0.8 5.1 6.0 3.4 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.3 6.1 14.0 .438 1.7 4.3 .392 4.9 5.9 .824
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Paul Pierce Isiah Thomas
Season 2010-111993-94
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Pierce 80 34.7 18.9 0.4 5.0 5.4 3.3 1.0 0.6 2.1 2.9 6.3 12.8 .497 1.4 3.7 .374 4.8 5.6 .860
difference:+22+4.5+4.1+0.4+3.1+2.7+3.6+0.2+0.5-1.4-0.7+0.8+0.4+.080+0.7+1.5+.064+1.7+1.2+.158
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Pierce 9 38.1 20.8 0.6 4.4 5.0 2.8 1.3 0.4 2.7 3.3 7.6 16.4 .459 2.3 5.2 .447 3.3 3.8 .882
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Paul Pierce played 6 seasons more than Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 19, from 2012 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 6 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Isiah Thomas, Paul Pierce got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game