Isiah Thomas vs. Dion Waiters Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dion Waiters and Isiah Thomas, 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.

Isiah Thomas played 13 years in the NBA, 5 more than Dion Waiters, who played 8. Isiah Thomas had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Dion Waiters had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94
Dion Waiters 8 2 2012-13 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1981-822012-13
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
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
Dion Waiters 61 28.8 14.7 0.4 2.1 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.3 2.0 1.9 5.5 13.4 .412 1.0 3.3 .310 2.6 3.5 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1982-832013-14
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
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 %
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
Dion Waiters 70 29.6 15.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.0 0.9 0.2 2.2 2.2 6.1 14.2 .433 1.3 3.6 .368 2.3 3.4 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1983-842014-15
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
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
Dion Waiters 80 27.6 11.8 0.5 1.9 2.4 2.0 1.1 0.3 1.4 1.9 4.7 11.8 .396 0.9 3.1 .297 1.5 2.2 .680
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1984-852015-16
Team Detroit PistonsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf SemisThunder 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 %
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
Dion Waiters 78 27.6 9.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 2.0 1.0 0.2 1.5 1.8 3.6 9.1 .399 1.1 3.1 .358 1.4 2.0 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters 18 27.3 8.4 0.3 2.3 2.6 2.3 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.3 3.1 7.3 .417 1.2 3.1 .375 1.1 1.7 .667

Season 5
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1985-862016-17
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
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
Dion Waiters 46 30.1 15.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 4.3 0.9 0.4 2.2 2.1 6.1 14.4 .424 1.8 4.7 .395 1.8 2.8 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1986-872017-18
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters 30 30.6 14.3 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.8 0.8 0.3 2.3 2.0 5.4 13.7 .398 1.7 5.7 .306 1.7 2.3 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1987-882018-19
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
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
Dion Waiters 44 25.9 12.0 0.2 2.5 2.6 2.8 0.7 0.2 1.5 1.6 4.5 10.9 .414 2.5 6.6 .377 0.5 1.0 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters 10 20.7 11.1 0.2 2.2 2.4 2.0 0.4 0.6 1.6 2.1 4.1 9.9 .414 1.5 4.7 .319 1.4 1.7 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters 5 7.6 2.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.8 2.4 .333 0.0 0.8 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 9
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1989-90-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1990-91-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1991-92-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
Season 1992-93-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Isiah Thomas Dion Waiters
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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
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