Tristan Thompson vs. Buck Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Buck Williams and Tristan Thompson, 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.

Tristan Thompson played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Buck Williams, who played 17. Tristan Thompson had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Buck Williams 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
Tristan Thompson 13 8 2011-12 to 2023-24
Buck Williams 17 14 1981-82 to 1997-98

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

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2011-121981-82
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 3.2 .552
Buck Williams 82 34.5 15.5 4.2 8.0 12.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 2.9 3.5 6.3 10.7 .582 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 2 39.5 17.5 5.5 5.0 10.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 2.0 3.5 7.0 13.0 .538 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 7.5 .467

Season 2

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2012-131982-83
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.5 .608
Buck Williams 82 36.1 17.0 4.5 8.1 12.5 1.5 1.1 1.3 3.0 3.3 6.5 11.1 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 6.4 .620
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 2 42.5 19.0 4.5 7.0 11.5 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 6.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 10.0 .800

Season 3

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2013-141983-84
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.1 .693
Buck Williams 81 37.1 15.7 4.4 8.0 12.3 1.6 1.0 1.5 2.9 3.7 6.1 11.4 .535 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 6.1 .570
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 11 43.0 15.5 5.2 8.9 14.1 1.5 1.4 1.5 2.6 4.0 5.7 11.8 .485 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 7.4 .556

Season 4

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2014-151984-85
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsNets 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 %
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
Buck Williams 82 38.8 18.2 3.9 8.3 12.3 2.0 0.8 1.3 2.9 3.6 7.0 13.3 .530 0.0 0.0 .250 4.1 6.6 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585
Buck Williams 3 41.0 24.7 4.7 6.0 10.7 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.0 4.0 8.7 13.3 .650 0.0 0.0 - 7.3 10.0 .733

Season 5

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2015-161985-86
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets 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 %
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
Buck Williams 82 37.4 15.9 4.0 8.0 12.0 1.6 0.9 1.2 3.0 3.6 6.1 11.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.4 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575
Buck Williams 3 42.0 20.7 4.0 6.3 10.3 0.7 2.0 0.3 2.0 5.0 7.0 9.7 .724 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 8.7 .769

Season 6

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2016-171986-87
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.7 .498
Buck Williams 82 36.3 18.0 3.9 8.5 12.5 1.6 1.0 1.1 3.4 3.8 6.4 11.4 .557 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 7.2 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2017-181987-88
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Buck Williams 70 37.7 18.3 4.3 7.7 11.9 1.6 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.8 6.7 11.9 .560 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 7.4 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2018-191988-89
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
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 %
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
Buck Williams 74 33.1 13.0 3.4 6.0 9.4 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 9.5 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.3 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2019-201989-90
Team Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
Buck Williams 82 34.2 13.6 3.0 6.7 9.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 2.0 3.5 5.0 9.2 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 5.0 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 21 37.0 13.0 3.2 6.0 9.2 1.9 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.5 4.8 9.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .676

Season 10

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2020-211990-91
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
Buck Williams 80 32.3 11.7 2.8 6.6 9.4 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.7 3.1 4.5 7.4 .602 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.9 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706
Buck Williams 16 35.8 10.3 3.3 5.6 8.9 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.4 4.1 8.1 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 .603

Season 11

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2021-221991-92
Team Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago BullsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
Buck Williams 80 31.5 11.3 3.3 5.6 8.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 1.6 3.1 4.3 7.0 .604 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.7 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Buck Williams 21 36.1 9.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 1.0 1.3 0.8 2.1 3.5 3.1 6.2 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.3 .758

Season 12

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2022-231992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 82 30.5 8.3 2.8 5.6 8.4 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.2 3.3 3.3 6.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.6 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 6 5.3 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.8 .200
Buck Williams 4 29.8 8.8 3.0 4.3 7.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.0 2.8 5.8 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.8 .684

Season 13

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season 2023-241993-94
Team Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Tristan Thompson 49 11.2 3.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.4 .608 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 1.1 .288
Buck Williams 81 32.5 9.7 3.9 6.5 10.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 1.4 3.0 3.6 6.5 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.7 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson 10 8.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.6 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .500
Buck Williams 4 31.3 12.8 3.5 5.3 8.8 0.5 1.0 0.5 2.0 2.8 4.8 7.0 .679 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 3.8 .867

Season 14

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season -1994-95
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 82 29.5 9.2 3.1 5.1 8.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.5 3.1 3.8 7.4 .512 0.0 0.0 .500 1.7 2.5 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 34.3 8.3 2.7 3.7 6.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 4.7 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636

Season 15

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 70 23.9 7.3 2.3 3.5 5.8 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.3 2.7 2.7 5.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .667 1.8 2.7 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 5 26.6 4.8 2.6 2.4 5.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.6 1.8 4.6 .391 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 16

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 74 20.2 6.3 2.2 3.1 5.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.8 2.4 4.4 .537 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 10 19.2 4.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.4 3.4 1.7 3.5 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.7 .529

Season 17

Tristan Thompson Buck Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 41 18.0 4.9 1.9 2.6 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 2.3 1.8 3.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 15.0 4.7 2.3 3.0 5.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750