Sam Perkins vs. Isaiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isaiah Thomas and Sam Perkins, 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.

Sam Perkins played 17 years in the NBA, 5 more than Isaiah Thomas, who played 12. Sam Perkins had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, 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 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
Sam Perkins 17 15 1984-85 to 2000-01
Isaiah Thomas 12 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1984-852011-12
Team Dallas MavericksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 82 28.3 11.0 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.6 0.8 0.8 1.2 2.9 4.2 9.0 .471 0.1 0.4 .250 2.4 3.0 .820
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 4 42.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.8 3.3 6.0 12.3 .490 0.3 1.0 .250 6.5 8.5 .765
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1985-862012-13
Team Dallas MavericksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Sam Perkins 80 32.8 15.4 2.4 6.1 8.6 1.9 0.9 1.2 1.8 2.7 5.7 11.4 .503 0.1 0.4 .333 3.8 4.7 .814
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 10 34.7 14.9 3.0 5.3 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.4 1.6 3.2 5.7 13.3 .429 0.2 0.8 .250 3.3 4.3 .767
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1986-872013-14
Team Dallas MavericksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 80 33.6 14.8 2.5 5.2 7.7 1.8 1.4 1.0 1.7 3.4 5.8 12.0 .482 0.2 0.7 .352 3.1 3.7 .828
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 4 33.3 17.0 3.0 5.5 8.5 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.3 4.0 6.5 13.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 4.0 5.8 .696
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1987-882014-15
Team Dallas MavericksPhoenix Suns, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Sam Perkins 75 33.3 14.2 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 1.0 0.7 1.6 3.0 5.3 11.7 .450 0.1 0.4 .167 3.6 4.4 .822
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 17 33.6 13.5 2.3 4.3 6.6 1.8 1.5 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.2 11.5 .451 0.1 0.4 .143 3.1 3.9 .803
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

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1988-892015-16
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Sam Perkins 78 36.7 15.0 3.0 5.8 8.8 1.6 1.0 1.2 1.8 2.9 5.7 12.3 .464 0.1 0.5 .184 3.5 4.2 .833
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1989-902016-17
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Sam Perkins 76 35.1 15.9 2.8 4.8 7.5 2.3 1.2 0.8 1.9 3.0 5.7 11.6 .493 0.1 0.4 .214 4.3 5.6 .778
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 3 39.3 15.0 3.3 4.0 7.3 2.7 1.0 0.7 2.3 5.7 5.3 12.0 .444 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 5.7 .765
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

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1990-912017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 73 34.3 13.5 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.5 0.9 1.1 1.4 3.4 5.0 10.2 .495 0.2 0.9 .281 3.1 3.8 .821
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 19 39.6 17.7 2.2 6.1 8.3 1.7 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.6 6.4 11.6 .548 0.6 1.6 .367 4.4 5.7 .761
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1991-922018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
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 %
Sam Perkins 63 37.0 16.5 3.0 5.8 8.8 2.2 1.0 1.0 1.3 3.0 5.7 12.7 .450 0.2 1.1 .217 4.8 5.9 .817
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins ------- --- ----------
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1992-932019-20
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle SupersonicsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 79 29.8 13.1 2.1 4.6 6.6 2.0 0.8 1.0 1.4 2.8 4.8 10.1 .477 0.3 0.9 .338 3.2 3.9 .820
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 19 32.9 14.4 1.7 5.3 7.0 1.9 1.0 1.3 1.1 2.9 5.2 11.8 .436 1.6 4.2 .380 2.5 2.9 .873
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1993-942020-21
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 81 26.8 12.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.4 0.8 0.4 1.3 2.4 4.2 9.6 .438 1.2 3.3 .367 2.7 3.4 .801
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 5 28.2 9.8 1.2 6.0 7.2 0.8 0.8 0.4 1.2 3.0 2.8 8.4 .333 1.2 2.8 .429 3.0 3.4 .882
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1994-952021-22
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 82 28.7 12.7 1.2 3.7 4.9 1.6 0.9 0.5 0.9 2.3 4.2 9.0 .466 1.7 4.2 .397 2.6 3.3 .799
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 4 35.3 13.5 1.5 6.3 7.8 3.3 0.8 1.3 2.3 3.0 5.3 12.0 .438 2.5 5.5 .455 0.5 0.5 1.000
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

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

Season 12

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1995-962023-24
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 82 26.5 11.8 1.2 3.2 4.5 1.5 1.0 0.6 1.0 2.1 4.0 9.7 .408 1.6 4.4 .355 2.3 2.9 .793
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 21 31.1 12.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.7 0.7 0.3 1.4 2.1 4.3 9.3 .459 1.5 4.1 .368 2.2 2.9 .754
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 -

Season 13

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1996-97-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 81 24.4 11.0 0.9 2.8 3.7 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.0 1.7 3.6 8.2 .439 1.5 3.8 .395 2.3 2.8 .817
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 12 28.3 8.4 1.3 3.2 4.4 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.1 2.8 2.6 7.7 .337 1.2 3.8 .311 2.1 2.4 .862
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1997-98-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 81 20.7 7.2 0.7 2.5 3.1 1.4 0.8 0.4 0.8 2.0 2.4 5.8 .416 1.1 2.7 .392 1.2 1.6 .789
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 10 21.0 5.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.4 0.3 0.5 1.1 2.2 1.6 4.2 .381 1.0 2.4 .417 1.2 2.0 .600
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1998-99-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Sam Perkins 48 16.4 5.0 0.8 2.1 2.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.5 1.7 4.2 .400 0.7 1.9 .389 0.9 1.3 .717
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 13 11.2 4.1 0.2 1.8 1.9 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.7 .514 0.8 1.8 .458 0.5 0.7 .667
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 1999-00-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 81 20.0 6.6 0.8 2.8 3.6 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.3 5.4 .417 1.1 2.7 .408 1.0 1.2 .825
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 23 18.2 4.8 0.7 2.4 3.2 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 2.0 1.5 4.6 .324 1.0 2.9 .348 0.8 0.9 .905
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Sam Perkins Isaiah Thomas
Season 2000-01-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Sam Perkins 64 15.6 3.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.5 .381 0.6 1.7 .345 0.5 0.6 .842
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Perkins 3 6.7 1.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.7 2.7 .250 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 -
Isaiah Thomas ------- --- ----------