DeSagana Diop vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and DeSagana Diop, 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.

DeSagana Diop played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. DeSagana Diop had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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
DeSagana Diop 12 2 2001-02 to 2012-13
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-021981-82
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit 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 %
DeSagana Diop 18 6.1 1.4 0.3 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 0.7 1.6 .414 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .200
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-031982-83
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
DeSagana Diop 80 11.8 1.5 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.5 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.9 0.7 1.9 .351 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.4 .367
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-041983-84
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement 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 %
DeSagana Diop 56 13.0 2.3 1.3 2.3 3.6 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.5 2.1 1.0 2.6 .388 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .600
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2004-051984-85
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit 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 %
DeSagana Diop 39 7.8 1.0 0.8 1.0 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.3 1.4 0.5 1.8 .290 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.1 .000
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2005-061985-86
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA 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 %
DeSagana Diop 81 18.6 2.3 1.8 2.8 4.6 0.3 0.5 1.8 0.4 3.1 0.9 1.9 .487 0.0 0.0 .500 0.5 0.9 .542
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 %
DeSagana Diop 22 18.5 2.7 1.8 3.1 5.0 0.1 0.6 1.3 0.5 3.7 1.1 1.8 .615 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .611
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2006-071986-87
Team Dallas MavericksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
DeSagana Diop 81 18.3 2.3 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.4 0.5 1.4 0.8 3.0 0.9 1.9 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .558
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 %
DeSagana Diop 6 23.3 3.5 2.7 4.2 6.8 0.3 0.5 1.7 0.7 3.5 1.5 2.5 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.2 .429
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2007-081987-88
Team Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey 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 %
DeSagana Diop 79 16.4 2.9 2.0 2.9 5.0 0.5 0.3 1.1 0.7 1.8 1.2 2.3 .522 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .543
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2008-091988-89
Team Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte BobcatsDetroit 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 %
DeSagana Diop 75 13.8 2.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.5 1.7 1.0 2.3 .433 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.9 .333
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2009-101989-90
Team Charlotte BobcatsDetroit 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 %
DeSagana Diop 27 9.7 1.2 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.4 1.1 0.6 1.1 .517 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .222
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2010-111990-91
Team Charlotte BobcatsDetroit 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 %
DeSagana Diop 16 11.3 1.3 0.8 1.8 2.5 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.7 1.6 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .364
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2011-121991-92
Team Charlotte BobcatsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
DeSagana Diop 27 12.0 1.1 1.2 1.9 3.1 0.9 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.3 0.6 1.6 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .167
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season 2012-131992-93
Team Charlotte BobcatsDetroit 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 %
DeSagana Diop 22 10.3 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.4 1.2 .296 0.0 0.0 .000 0.0 0.0 .000
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

DeSagana Diop Isiah Thomas
Season -1993-94
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
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 %
DeSagana Diop ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------