Steve Kerr vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Steve Kerr, 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.

Steve Kerr played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Steve Kerr had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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
Steve Kerr 15 11 1988-89 to 2002-03
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891981-82
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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%
Steve Kerr 26 6.0 2.1 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.8 .435 0.3 0.7 .471 0.2 0.3 .667
difference:+46+27.8+14.9+0.7+1.6+2.2+6.9+1.8+0.2-4.0-3.0+5.5+13.0+.011+0.1+0.1+.183+4.0+5.7+.037
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 Steve Kerr nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901982-83
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Steve Kerr 78 21.3 6.7 0.2 1.1 1.3 3.2 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.5 5.5 .444 0.9 1.8 .507 0.8 0.9 .863
difference:+3+16.9+16.2+1.1+1.7+2.7+4.6+1.9+0.3-3.1-3.1+6.5+13.5+.028+0.5+0.3+.219+3.7+5.5+.153
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%
Steve Kerr 5 14.6 1.6 0.2 1.0 1.2 2.0 0.8 0.0 0.4 1.2 0.8 2.8 .286 0.0 0.6 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911983-84
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit 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%
Steve Kerr 57 15.9 4.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.9 1.7 3.9 .444 0.5 1.1 .452 0.8 0.9 .849
difference:+25+20.8+16.5+1.2+2.1+3.4+8.8+2.0+0.3-3.0-3.1+6.5+13.8+.018+0.2+0.3+.114+3.9+5.6+.116
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%
Steve Kerr 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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921984-85
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers 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%
Steve Kerr 48 17.6 6.6 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.6 2.5 4.9 .511 0.7 1.5 .432 0.9 1.1 .833
difference:+33+20.5+14.6+1.1+1.7+2.9+11.6+1.7+0.1-3.1-3.0+5.5+12.5+.053+0.3+0.1+.175+4.0+5.0+.024
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%
Steve Kerr 12 12.4 3.7 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.5 3.4 .439 0.3 0.9 .273 0.4 0.4 1.000
difference:+3+27.0+20.6+1.1+3.6+4.7+10.4+1.7+0.4-3.0-3.3+7.7+15.0+.061+0.4+0.8+.127+4.8+6.5+.242
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931985-86
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando MagicDetroit 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 >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Steve Kerr 52 9.3 2.6 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.0 2.3 .434 0.1 0.5 .231 0.4 0.5 .917
difference:+25+26.9+18.3+1.0+1.7+2.7+9.5+2.0+0.3-3.3-2.5+6.9+13.9+.054+0.2+0.6+.079+4.3+5.5+.127
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%
Steve Kerr DNP------ --- ----------
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941986-87
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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%
Steve Kerr 82 24.8 8.6 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 0.9 0.0 0.7 1.2 3.5 7.0 .497 0.6 1.5 .419 1.0 1.2 .856
difference:+1+12.4+12.0+0.7+1.6+2.3+7.4+1.0+0.2-3.5-1.9+4.2+9.7+.034+0.4+0.3+.225+3.9+5.2+.088
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%
Steve Kerr 10 18.6 3.5 0.2 1.2 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.0 0.1 1.3 1.3 3.6 .361 0.6 1.6 .375 0.3 0.3 1.000
difference:+5+18.9+20.6+1.2+1.9+3.1+7.7+1.9+0.3-2.7-2.1+7.6+16.2+.090+0.1+0.6+.072+5.2+7.0+.245
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951987-88
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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%
Steve Kerr 82 22.4 8.2 0.2 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.4 3.2 6.0 .527 1.1 2.1 .524 0.8 1.0 .778
difference:+1+13.7+11.3+0.6+1.4+1.9+6.6+1.2+0.2-2.8-1.3+4.5+10.6+.064+0.7+0.9+.215+3.0+3.9+.004
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%
Steve Kerr 10 19.3 5.1 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.4 1.9 4.0 .475 0.8 1.9 .421 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+13+20.3+16.8+1.0+3.0+4.1+7.2+2.8+0.3-3.7-1.7+6.1+14.2+.038+0.2+.126+4.9+6.1+.172
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961988-89
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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%
Steve Kerr 82 23.4 8.4 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.3 3.0 5.9 .506 1.5 2.9 .515 1.0 1.0 .929
difference:+2+13.2+9.8+0.3+1.8+2.1+6.0+0.9+0.3-3.2-1.3+4.1+9.4+.042+1.1+1.4+.242+2.6+3.4+.111
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%
Steve Kerr 18 19.8 6.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.7 0.8 0.0 0.7 1.2 2.2 4.8 .448 0.9 2.9 .321 1.5 1.7 .871
difference:+1+17.4+11.4+1.2+2.1+3.3+6.6+0.8+0.2-1.8-1.1+4.6+11.6+.036+0.4+1.1+.054+2.7+3.9+.131
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971989-90
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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%
Steve Kerr 82 22.7 8.1 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.1 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.2 3.0 5.7 .533 1.3 2.9 .464 0.7 0.8 .806
difference:+1+14.3+10.3+0.5+1.7+2.2+7.3+0.9+0.2-3.5-1.3+4.1+10.6+.095+0.8+1.2+.155+2.9+3.9+.031
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%
Steve Kerr 19 17.9 5.0 0.2 0.7 0.9 1.1 0.9 0.1 0.4 1.3 1.7 4.1 .429 0.8 2.2 .381 0.7 0.7 .929
difference:+1+20.0+15.5+0.9+3.7+4.6+7.1+1.3+0.3-3.2-2.0+5.7+11.9+.034+0.8+1.2+.090+3.4+4.4+.135
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981990-91
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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%
Steve Kerr 50 22.4 7.5 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.4 2.7 6.0 .454 1.1 2.6 .438 0.9 1.0 .918
difference:+2+12.1+8.7+0.4+1.3+1.8+7.4+1.1+0.1-3.4-1.1+3.3+7.9+.019+0.7+1.2+.146+2.8+3.8+.136
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%
Steve Kerr 21 19.8 4.9 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.6 .434 0.9 2.0 .463 0.9 1.0 .818
difference:+8+13.7+8.6+0.6+2.8+3.4+6.8+0.7+0.2-3.0-2.0+3.0+7.9+.031+0.4+0.3+.190+2.9+4.3+.093
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991991-92
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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%
Steve Kerr 44 16.7 4.4 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 4.0 .391 0.6 1.8 .313 0.7 0.8 .886
difference:+34+20.7+14.1+0.8+1.4+2.2+6.1+1.0+0.1-2.7-1.9+5.7+12.2+.055+0.3+0.7+.022+3.0+4.0+.114
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%
Steve Kerr 11 8.7 2.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.7 2.7 .267 0.3 1.2 .231 0.5 0.5 .833
difference:+6+31.3+11.8+0.3+4.1+4.4+6.7+0.8-2.8-3.1+3.7+10.3+.071+0.5+1.0+.133+3.9+5.1+.047
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

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001992-93
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Steve Kerr 32 8.4 2.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.4 1.0 2.3 .432 0.5 1.0 .516 0.3 0.3 .818
difference:+47+28.6+14.8+0.8+1.5+2.3+8.1+1.5+0.2-3.4-2.4+5.7+13.6+.014+0.3+1.5+.208+3.2+4.5+.081
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
* Neiher Steve Kerr nor Isiah Thomas played in the postseason in their season 12

Season 13

Steve Kerr Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011993-94
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
Steve Kerr 55 11.8 3.3 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.5 1.2 2.9 .421 0.6 1.4 .429 0.3 0.3 .933
difference:+3+18.4+11.5+0.7+1.4+2.1+5.9+0.9+0.1-3.1-1.7+4.3+10.3+.004+0.1+0.8+.119+2.8+4.1+.231
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%
Steve Kerr 9 11.1 3.3 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.9 1.3 2.8 .480 0.6 1.7 .333 0.1 0.2 .500
Isiah Thomas DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Steve Kerr played 2 seasons more than Isiah Thomas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 15, from 2002 to 2003—Steve Kerr played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.