Vernon Maxwell vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Vernon Maxwell, 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.

Vernon Maxwell and Isiah Thomas both played 13 years in the NBA. Vernon Maxwell 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 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
Vernon Maxwell 13 7 1988-89 to 2000-01
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891981-82
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 79 26.1 11.7 0.6 1.9 2.6 3.8 1.1 0.1 2.3 1.7 4.5 10.5 .432 0.4 1.6 .248 2.3 3.1 .745
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 %
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901982-83
Team San Antonio Spurs, Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 79 25.2 9.0 0.6 2.3 2.9 3.7 1.1 0.1 1.8 1.9 3.5 7.9 .439 0.4 1.3 .267 1.7 2.7 .645
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 4 39.8 19.8 1.3 1.8 3.0 4.3 1.3 0.0 1.5 3.0 7.5 20.3 .370 2.0 6.5 .308 2.8 5.3 .524
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911983-84
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 82 35.0 17.0 0.5 2.4 2.9 3.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.2 6.1 15.2 .404 2.1 6.2 .337 2.6 3.6 .733
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 3 37.7 18.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 3.0 0.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 7.7 18.7 .411 3.0 9.0 .333 0.3 0.7 .500
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921984-85
Team Houston RocketsDetroit 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 80 33.8 17.2 0.5 2.6 3.0 4.1 1.3 0.4 2.2 2.5 6.3 15.2 .413 2.0 5.9 .342 2.6 3.3 .772
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 %
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931985-86
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 71 31.7 13.8 0.4 2.7 3.1 4.2 1.2 0.1 2.0 1.7 4.9 12.1 .407 1.7 5.1 .332 2.3 3.2 .719
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 9 34.2 14.0 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.6 1.2 0.2 1.9 1.9 5.2 13.0 .402 1.2 5.1 .239 2.3 2.7 .875
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941986-87
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 75 34.3 13.6 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.1 1.7 0.3 2.5 1.9 5.1 13.0 .389 1.6 5.4 .298 1.9 2.5 .749
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 23 38.3 13.8 0.5 3.0 3.5 4.2 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.4 5.1 13.7 .376 2.0 6.0 .326 1.6 2.3 .685
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951987-88
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vernon Maxwell 64 31.8 13.3 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.3 1.2 0.2 2.1 2.5 4.8 12.1 .394 2.2 6.9 .324 1.5 2.3 .688
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 1 16.0 3.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 7.0 .143 0.0 2.0 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersDetroit 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 75 32.9 16.2 0.5 2.5 3.1 4.4 1.3 0.2 2.9 2.4 5.5 14.0 .390 1.9 6.1 .317 3.3 4.4 .756
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 %
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971989-90
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-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 %
Vernon Maxwell 72 28.7 12.9 0.4 1.8 2.2 2.1 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.3 4.7 12.6 .375 1.6 5.2 .309 1.9 2.5 .744
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 %
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981990-91
Team Orlando Magic, Charlotte HornetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 42 15.1 6.9 0.3 1.0 1.4 1.2 0.4 0.1 1.0 1.7 2.5 6.1 .399 0.9 2.7 .330 1.1 1.4 .800
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 %
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991991-92
Team Sacramento KingsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Vernon Maxwell 46 21.9 10.7 0.3 1.6 1.8 1.7 0.7 0.1 1.5 2.4 3.6 9.2 .390 1.7 5.0 .346 1.8 2.5 .737
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 5 25.8 11.2 0.8 1.4 2.2 1.0 1.2 0.0 1.2 2.4 3.8 12.0 .317 2.2 7.0 .314 1.4 2.0 .700
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

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001992-93
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -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 %
Vernon Maxwell 47 21.0 10.9 0.3 1.4 1.7 1.6 0.8 0.2 1.1 1.8 3.6 10.4 .345 1.4 4.7 .300 2.3 3.1 .730
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 %
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Vernon Maxwell Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011993-94
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 43 15.3 4.7 0.1 1.4 1.5 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.7 5.2 .327 0.8 2.6 .306 0.5 0.7 .656
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 %
Vernon Maxwell 4 10.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 1.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------