Ricky Rubio vs. Isaiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isaiah Thomas and Ricky Rubio, 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 Rankings / 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.

Ricky Rubio and Isaiah Thomas both played 12 years in the NBA. Ricky Rubio had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Isaiah Thomas had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Ricky Rubio 12 3 2011-12 to 2022-23
Isaiah Thomas 12 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2011-122011-12
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
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%
Ricky Rubio 41 34.2 10.6 0.5 3.7 4.2 8.2 2.2 0.2 3.2 2.4 3.4 9.5 .357 0.8 2.3 .340 3.1 3.8 .803
difference:+24+8.7+0.9+0.2+1.9+1.6+4.1+1.4+0.1-1.6-0.5+0.5+0.7+.091+0.5+1.1+.039+0.7+1.0+.029
Isaiah Thomas 65 25.5 11.5 0.7 1.8 2.6 4.1 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.9 3.9 8.8 .448 1.3 3.4 .379 2.4 2.8 .832
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ricky Rubio nor Isaiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2012-132012-13
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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%
Ricky Rubio 57 29.7 10.7 0.8 3.2 4.0 7.3 2.4 0.1 3.0 2.5 3.2 9.0 .360 0.5 1.6 .293 3.7 4.6 .799
difference:+22+2.8+3.2+0.4+1.5+2.0+3.3+1.6+0.1-1.2-0.4+1.4+1.5+.080+1.0+2.5+.065+0.5+1.0+.083
Isaiah Thomas 79 26.9 13.9 0.4 1.7 2.0 4.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 2.1 4.6 10.5 .440 1.5 4.1 .358 3.2 3.6 .882
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ricky Rubio nor Isaiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2013-142013-14
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 82 32.2 9.5 0.7 3.4 4.2 8.6 2.3 0.1 2.7 2.7 3.1 8.2 .381 0.5 1.6 .331 2.8 3.5 .802
difference:+10+2.5+10.8+1.1+1.3+2.3+1.0-0.3-0.1+3.8+7.0+.072+1.3+3.5+.018+2.0+2.2+.048
Isaiah Thomas 72 34.7 20.3 0.7 2.3 2.9 6.3 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.6 6.9 15.2 .453 1.8 5.1 .349 4.8 5.7 .850
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ricky Rubio nor Isaiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2014-152014-15
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPhoenix Suns, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 22 31.5 10.3 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.8 1.7 0.0 2.9 2.7 3.5 10.0 .356 0.6 2.3 .255 2.6 3.2 .803
difference:+45+5.7+6.1+0.4+3.0+3.4+4.6+0.8+0.1-0.8-0.5+1.5+1.9+.064+1.3+2.9+.118+1.9+2.0+.065
Isaiah Thomas 67 25.8 16.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.2 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.2 5.0 11.9 .420 1.9 5.2 .373 4.5 5.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas 4 29.8 17.5 0.3 2.8 3.0 7.0 0.8 0.0 3.5 2.5 4.5 13.5 .333 0.8 4.5 .167 7.8 8.0 .969

Season 5

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2015-162015-16
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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%
Ricky Rubio 76 30.6 10.1 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.7 2.1 0.1 2.5 2.6 2.9 7.7 .374 0.8 2.5 .326 3.5 4.1 .847
difference:+6+1.6+12.1+0.1+1.4+1.3+2.5+1.0-0.2-0.6+4.3+9.2+.054+1.2+3.2+.033+2.3+2.5+.024
Isaiah Thomas 82 32.2 22.2 0.6 2.4 3.0 6.2 1.1 0.1 2.7 2.0 7.2 16.9 .428 2.0 5.7 .359 5.8 6.6 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas 6 36.7 24.2 0.3 2.7 3.0 5.0 0.7 0.8 2.3 3.0 7.8 19.8 .395 2.2 7.7 .283 6.3 7.8 .809

Season 6

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2016-172016-17
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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%
Ricky Rubio 75 32.9 11.1 0.9 3.2 4.1 9.1 1.7 0.1 2.6 2.7 3.5 8.7 .402 0.8 2.6 .306 3.4 3.8 .891
difference:+1+0.9+17.8+0.3+1.1+1.4+3.2+0.8+0.1-0.2-0.5+5.5+10.7+.061+2.4+5.9+.073+4.4+4.7+.018
Isaiah Thomas 76 33.8 28.9 0.6 2.1 2.7 5.9 0.9 0.2 2.8 2.2 9.0 19.4 .463 3.2 8.5 .379 7.8 8.5 .909
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas 15 34.7 23.3 0.3 2.8 3.1 6.7 0.9 0.1 3.3 2.3 7.4 17.4 .425 2.4 7.2 .333 6.1 7.4 .820

Season 7

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2017-182017-18
Team Utah JazzCleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 77 29.3 13.1 0.6 4.0 4.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.7 2.7 4.5 10.7 .418 1.2 3.5 .352 2.9 3.3 .866
difference:+45+2.4+2.1+0.1+2.4+2.5+0.5+1.1-0.3-0.9+0.4+2.5+.045+0.5+2.4+.059+0.8+0.8+.027
Isaiah Thomas 32 26.9 15.2 0.5 1.6 2.1 4.8 0.5 0.1 3.0 1.8 4.9 13.2 .373 1.7 5.9 .293 3.7 4.1 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 6 30.2 14.0 0.8 6.5 7.3 7.0 1.3 0.5 3.0 2.2 4.7 13.2 .354 1.7 5.3 .313 3.0 3.8 .783
Isaiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2018-192018-19
Team Utah JazzDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 68 27.9 12.7 0.5 3.1 3.6 6.1 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.6 4.3 10.7 .404 1.2 3.7 .311 2.9 3.4 .855
difference:+56+12.8+4.6+0.1+2.4+2.5+4.2+0.9-1.1-1.2+1.5+2.4+.061+0.2+0.1+.032+1.5+1.1+.225
Isaiah Thomas 12 15.1 8.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.4 0.1 1.5 1.4 2.8 8.3 .343 1.0 3.6 .279 1.4 2.3 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 5 33.6 15.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 8.6 2.4 0.2 3.0 2.8 5.6 13.2 .424 0.8 4.0 .200 3.4 4.0 .850
Isaiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2019-202019-20
Team Phoenix SunsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 65 31.0 13.0 0.7 4.0 4.7 8.8 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 4.4 10.6 .415 1.2 3.3 .361 3.0 3.5 .863
difference:+25+7.9+0.8+0.4+2.6+3.0+5.1+1.1-0.8-0.7+0.1+.007+0.8+1.4+.052+1.4+1.6+.047
Isaiah Thomas 40 23.1 12.2 0.3 1.4 1.7 3.7 0.3 0.2 1.9 1.9 4.4 10.7 .408 2.0 4.7 .413 1.6 1.9 .816
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ricky Rubio nor Isaiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 9

Season 10

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2020-212020-21
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 68 26.1 8.6 0.4 2.9 3.3 6.4 1.4 0.1 1.6 2.0 2.8 7.3 .388 1.0 3.1 .308 1.9 2.2 .867
difference:+65+10.1+0.9+0.1+1.9+2.0+4.7+1.1+0.1-0.4-1.0+0.2+1.7+.055+0.9+.058+1.2+1.5+.133
Isaiah Thomas 3 16.0 7.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 2.0 1.0 3.0 9.0 .333 1.0 4.0 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ricky Rubio nor Isaiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2021-222021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 34 28.5 13.1 0.4 3.7 4.1 6.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 2.2 4.4 12.1 .363 1.7 5.1 .339 2.6 3.0 .854
difference:+12+13.3+4.7+0.2+2.6+2.8+5.1+1.1-1.9-0.7+1.4+4.5+.038+0.4+1.3+.002+1.6+1.8+.008
Isaiah Thomas 22 15.2 8.4 0.2 1.1 1.3 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.7 1.5 3.0 7.6 .401 1.3 3.8 .337 1.0 1.2 .846
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Ricky Rubio nor Isaiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 11

Note: Isaiah Thomas didn't play in 2022-23.

Season 12

Ricky Rubio Isaiah Thomas
Season 2022-232023-24
Team Cleveland CavaliersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 33 17.2 5.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.2 0.9 1.5 1.8 5.4 .343 0.6 2.5 .256 0.8 1.1 .800
difference:+27+14.0+3.9+0.3+1.8+2.1+3.0+0.8+0.2-0.9-1.5+1.3+3.7+.043+0.3+1.8+.244+0.8+1.1
Isaiah Thomas 6 3.2 1.3 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.7 .300 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ricky Rubio 3 5.7 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+2+1.7+0.7+1.3+2.0+1.0+0.3-0.7-1.7+1.7+1.0
Isaiah Thomas 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -