Complete Stats Comparison of Gary Payton and Isiah Thomas

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Gary Payton and Isiah Thomas during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Gary Payton1
(rebounds)
4
(points, rebounds, steals, blocks)
17
seasons
Isiah Thomas4
(points, assists, steals, blocks)
1
(assists)
13
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Gary Payton0
1
(rebounds)
15
Playoffs
Isiah Thomas5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)
4
(points, assists, steals, blocks)
9
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Gary Payton5
stats
11
stats
2
stats
Isiah Thomas6
stats
3
stats
1
stat
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Gary Payton3
stats
8
stats
0
stats
Isiah Thomas9
stats
6
stats
2
stats
they are tied1
stat

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Isiah Thomas had better averages in points, assists, steals and blocks while Gary Payton had better average in rebounds.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Gary Payton had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.4), defensive rebounds (+0.3) and total rebounds (+0.3)
- Isiah Thomas had better averages in points (+2.9), field goals made (+0.8), free throws made (+1.7), assists (+2.6), steals (+0.1) and blocks (+0.1)
-
- Isiah Thomas had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.5) and personal fouls (+0.6)
- Gary Payton had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.3)
- Isiah Thomas had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.2) and free throws attempted (+2.0)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Gary Payton 16.3
Isiah Thomas 19.2
+2.9
Field Goals Made
Gary Payton 6.5
Isiah Thomas 7.3
+0.8
Field Goals Attempted
Gary Payton 14.0
Isiah Thomas 16.2
+2.2
Gary Payton 0.8
+0.4
Isiah Thomas 0.4
3-Pointers Attempted
Gary Payton 2.7
+1.3
Isiah Thomas 1.4
Free Throws Made
Gary Payton 2.4
Isiah Thomas 4.1
+1.7
Free Throws Attempted
Gary Payton 3.4
Isiah Thomas 5.4
+2.0
Offensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 1.0
Isiah Thomas 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 2.9
+0.3
Isiah Thomas 2.6
Gary Payton 3.9
+0.3
Isiah Thomas 3.6
Gary Payton 6.7
Isiah Thomas 9.3
+2.6
Gary Payton 1.8
Isiah Thomas 1.9
+0.1
Gary Payton 0.2
Isiah Thomas 0.3
+0.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 2.3
Isiah Thomas 3.8
+1.5
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 2.4
Isiah Thomas 3.0
+0.6

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Gary Payton had more total points, rebounds, steals and blocks while Isiah Thomas had more total assists.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Gary Payton played more years (+4) and games (+356), and had more points (+2,991), field goals made (+1,514), 3-pointers made (+734), offensive rebounds (+441), defensive rebounds (+1,350), total rebounds (+1,791), steals (+584) and blocks (+36)
- Isiah Thomas had more free throws made (+771) and assists (+95)
- Gary Payton had more personal fouls (+246)
- Isiah Thomas had more turnovers (+652)
- Gary Payton had more field goals attempted (+2,794) and 3-pointers attempted (+2,197)
- Isiah Thomas had more free throws attempted (+836)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Gary Payton 17
+4
Isiah Thomas 13
Gary Payton 1,335
+356
Isiah Thomas 979
Gary Payton 21,813
+2,991
Isiah Thomas 18,822
Field Goals Made
Gary Payton 8,708
+1,514
Isiah Thomas 7,194
Field Goals Attempted
Gary Payton 18,698
+2,794
Isiah Thomas 15,904
Gary Payton 1,132
+734
Isiah Thomas 398
3-Pointers Attempted
Gary Payton 3,570
+2,197
Isiah Thomas 1,373
Free Throws Made
Gary Payton 3,265
Isiah Thomas 4,036
+771
Free Throws Attempted
Gary Payton 4,480
Isiah Thomas 5,316
+836
Offensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 1,392
+441
Isiah Thomas 951
Defensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 3,877
+1,350
Isiah Thomas 2,527
Gary Payton 5,269
+1,791
Isiah Thomas 3,478
Gary Payton 8,966
Isiah Thomas 9,061
+95
Gary Payton 2,445
+584
Isiah Thomas 1,861
Gary Payton 285
+36
Isiah Thomas 249
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 3,030
Isiah Thomas 3,682
+652
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 3,217
+246
Isiah Thomas 2,971

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Gary Payton had better field goal percentage and 3-point percentage while Isiah Thomas had better free throw percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Gary Payton 46.6%
+1.4
Isiah Thomas 45.2%
3-Point Percentage
Gary Payton 31.7%
+2.7
Isiah Thomas 29.0%
Free Throw Percentage
Gary Payton 72.9%
Isiah Thomas 75.9%
+3.0

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Isiah Thomas had better averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Gary Payton.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Gary Payton had better average in 3-pointers made (+0.2)
- Isiah Thomas had better averages in points (+6.4), field goals made (+1.8), free throws made (+2.8), offensive rebounds (+0.2), defensive rebounds (+0.7), total rebounds (+1.0), assists (+3.6), steals (+0.7) and blocks (+0.1)
-
- Isiah Thomas had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.4) and personal fouls (+0.5)
- Gary Payton had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+0.7)
- Isiah Thomas had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.2) and free throws attempted (+3.4)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Gary Payton 14.0
Isiah Thomas 20.4
+6.4
Field Goals Made
Gary Payton 5.6
Isiah Thomas 7.4
+1.8
Field Goals Attempted
Gary Payton 12.6
Isiah Thomas 16.8
+4.2
Gary Payton 0.9
+0.2
Isiah Thomas 0.7
3-Pointers Attempted
Gary Payton 2.8
+0.7
Isiah Thomas 2.1
Free Throws Made
Gary Payton 2.0
Isiah Thomas 4.8
+2.8
Free Throws Attempted
Gary Payton 2.8
Isiah Thomas 6.2
+3.4
Offensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 1.0
Isiah Thomas 1.2
+0.2
Defensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 2.8
Isiah Thomas 3.5
+0.7
Gary Payton 3.7
Isiah Thomas 4.7
+1.0
Gary Payton 5.3
Isiah Thomas 8.9
+3.6
Gary Payton 1.4
Isiah Thomas 2.1
+0.7
Gary Payton 0.2
Isiah Thomas 0.3
+0.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 1.9
Isiah Thomas 3.3
+1.4
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 2.8
Isiah Thomas 3.3
+0.5

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Isiah Thomas had more total points, assists, steals and blocks while Gary Payton had more total rebounds.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Gary Payton played more years (+6) and games (+43), and had more field goals made (+30), 3-pointers made (+56), offensive rebounds (+14), defensive rebounds (+37) and total rebounds (+51)
- Isiah Thomas had more points (+106), free throws made (+222), assists (+176), steals (+18) and blocks (+6)
- Gary Payton had more personal fouls (+71)
- Isiah Thomas had more turnovers (+72)
- Gary Payton had more field goals attempted (+69) and 3-pointers attempted (+201)
- Isiah Thomas had more free throws attempted (+253)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Gary Payton 15
+6
Isiah Thomas 9
Gary Payton 154
+43
Isiah Thomas 111
Gary Payton 2,155
Isiah Thomas 2,261
+106
Field Goals Made
Gary Payton 855
+30
Isiah Thomas 825
Field Goals Attempted
Gary Payton 1,938
+69
Isiah Thomas 1,869
Gary Payton 137
+56
Isiah Thomas 81
3-Pointers Attempted
Gary Payton 435
+201
Isiah Thomas 234
Free Throws Made
Gary Payton 308
Isiah Thomas 530
+222
Free Throws Attempted
Gary Payton 436
Isiah Thomas 689
+253
Offensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 148
+14
Isiah Thomas 134
Defensive Rebounds
Gary Payton 427
+37
Isiah Thomas 390
Gary Payton 575
+51
Isiah Thomas 524
Gary Payton 811
Isiah Thomas 987
+176
Gary Payton 216
Isiah Thomas 234
+18
Gary Payton 32
Isiah Thomas 38
+6
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 297
Isiah Thomas 369
+72
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Gary Payton 434
+71
Isiah Thomas 363

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Isiah Thomas had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Gary Payton. They are tied in field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Gary Payton 44.1%
Isiah Thomas 44.1%
3-Point Percentage
Gary Payton 31.5%
Isiah Thomas 34.6%
+3.1
Free Throw Percentage
Gary Payton 70.6%
Isiah Thomas 76.9%
+6.3