Tiny Archibald vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Tiny Archibald, 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 / 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.

Tiny Archibald and Isiah Thomas both played 13 years in the NBA. Tiny Archibald had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, 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 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
Tiny Archibald 13 5 1970-71 to 1983-84
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1970-711981-82
Team Cincinnati RoyalsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Tiny Archibald 82 35.0 16.0 - - 3.0 5.5 - - - 2.7 5.9 13.4 .444 - - - 4.1 5.4 .757
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1971-721982-83
Team Cincinnati RoyalsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Tiny Archibald 76 43.1 28.2 - - 2.9 9.2 - - - 2.6 9.7 19.9 .486 - - - 8.9 10.8 .822
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1972-731983-84
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Tiny Archibald 80 46.0 34.0 - - 2.8 11.4 - - - 2.6 12.9 26.3 .488 - - - 8.3 9.8 .847
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1973-741984-85
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 35 36.3 17.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 7.6 1.6 0.2 - 2.2 6.3 14.1 .451 - - - 4.9 6.0 .820
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1974-751985-86
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Tiny Archibald 82 39.6 26.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 6.8 1.5 0.1 - 2.3 9.3 20.3 .456 - - - 8.0 9.1 .872
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 6 40.3 20.2 0.3 1.5 1.8 5.3 0.7 0.0 - 3.0 7.2 19.7 .364 - - - 5.8 7.2 .814
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1975-761986-87
Team Kansas City KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Tiny Archibald 78 40.8 24.8 0.9 1.9 2.7 7.9 1.6 0.2 - 2.2 9.2 20.3 .453 - - - 6.4 8.0 .802
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1976-771987-88
Team New York NetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 34 37.6 20.5 0.6 1.7 2.4 7.5 1.7 0.3 - 2.3 7.4 16.5 .446 - - - 5.8 7.4 .785
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Tiny Archibald didn't play in 1977-78.

Season 8

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1978-791988-89
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 69 24.1 11.0 0.4 1.1 1.5 4.7 0.8 0.1 2.9 1.9 3.8 8.3 .452 - - - 3.5 4.4 .788
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 80 35.8 14.1 0.7 1.7 2.5 8.4 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.7 4.8 9.9 .482 0.1 0.2 .222 4.5 5.4 .830
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 9 36.9 14.2 0.3 0.9 1.2 7.9 1.1 0.0 4.2 3.1 5.0 9.9 .506 0.1 0.2 .500 4.1 4.7 .881
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Tiny Archibald 80 35.3 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.2 7.7 0.9 0.2 3.3 2.5 4.8 9.6 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 5.2 .816
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 17 37.1 15.6 0.4 1.3 1.6 6.3 0.8 0.0 2.9 2.3 5.6 12.4 .450 0.0 0.3 .000 4.5 5.5 .809
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Tiny Archibald 68 31.9 12.6 0.4 1.3 1.7 8.0 0.8 0.0 2.6 1.9 4.5 9.6 .472 0.1 0.2 .375 3.5 4.6 .747
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 8 34.6 10.6 0.1 2.0 2.1 6.5 0.6 0.3 2.9 2.6 3.8 8.8 .429 0.0 0.5 .000 3.1 3.5 .893
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

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Tiny Archibald 66 27.4 10.5 0.4 1.0 1.4 6.2 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.7 3.6 8.4 .425 0.1 0.4 .208 3.3 4.5 .743
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald 7 23.0 9.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 6.3 0.3 0.0 1.6 1.7 3.1 9.7 .324 0.1 0.9 .167 3.1 4.1 .759
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Tiny Archibald Isiah Thomas
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Milwaukee BucksDetroit Pistons
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 %
Tiny Archibald 46 22.6 7.4 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.5 0.7 0.0 1.7 1.7 3.0 6.1 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 1.4 2.2 .634
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tiny Archibald ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------