Joe Graboski vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Joe Graboski, 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.

Joe Graboski and Isiah Thomas both played 13 years in the NBA. Joe Graboski had the first of his seasons in 1948-49, 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
Joe Graboski 13 10 1948-49 to 1961-62
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1948-491981-82
Team Chicago StagsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Stags Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Graboski 45 - 2.8 - - - 0.4 - - - 1.9 1.2 3.5 .344 - - - 0.4 1.1 .347
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 %
Joe Graboski 1 - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.0 6.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1949-501982-83
Team Chicago StagsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Stags Lost Cent Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Graboski 57 - 3.6 - - - 0.6 - - - 1.7 1.3 4.3 .304 - - - 0.9 1.6 .596
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 %
Joe Graboski 1 - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Note: Joe Graboski didn't play in 1950-51.

Season 3

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1951-521983-84
Team Indianapolis OlympiansDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Olympians Lost West Div 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 %
Joe Graboski 66 37.0 13.7 - - 9.9 2.0 - - - 3.8 4.8 12.5 .387 - - - 4.0 6.0 .667
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 %
Joe Graboski 2 48.0 23.0 - - 11.5 1.5 - - - 3.5 9.5 24.0 .396 - - - 4.0 7.5 .533
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1952-531984-85
Team Indianapolis OlympiansDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Olympians Lost West Div SemisPistons 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 %
Joe Graboski 69 40.1 13.0 - - 10.0 2.3 - - - 4.4 3.9 11.6 .340 - - - 5.1 7.4 .682
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 %
Joe Graboski 2 38.0 17.0 - - 8.0 0.0 - - - 2.5 7.0 14.0 .500 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1953-541985-86
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Joe Graboski 71 38.9 13.3 - - 9.4 2.3 - - - 3.1 5.0 14.1 .354 - - - 3.3 4.9 .674
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 %
Joe Graboski ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1954-551986-87
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-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 %
Joe Graboski 70 35.9 13.6 - - 9.1 2.6 - - - 3.7 5.3 15.7 .340 - - - 3.0 4.3 .686
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 %
Joe Graboski ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1955-561987-88
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Joe Graboski 72 33.0 14.4 - - 8.9 2.6 - - - 3.8 5.5 14.9 .369 - - - 3.3 4.7 .706
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 %
Joe Graboski 10 31.3 13.2 - - 9.4 2.7 - - - 3.7 5.3 15.4 .344 - - - 2.6 3.5 .743
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1956-571988-89
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Graboski 72 34.7 14.3 - - 8.5 1.9 - - - 3.4 5.4 15.5 .349 - - - 3.5 4.5 .783
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 %
Joe Graboski 2 45.5 17.5 - - 11.0 2.0 - - - 3.5 6.5 20.0 .325 - - - 4.5 5.5 .818
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1957-581989-90
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Graboski 72 28.8 12.6 - - 7.9 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.7 14.1 .335 - - - 3.2 4.2 .749
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 %
Joe Graboski 8 31.5 12.3 - - 10.3 3.8 - - - 2.6 5.0 17.3 .290 - - - 2.3 2.9 .783
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1958-591990-91
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Joe Graboski 72 34.5 14.7 - - 10.4 2.1 - - - 3.5 5.5 15.5 .353 - - - 3.8 5.0 .750
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 %
Joe Graboski ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1959-601991-92
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div 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 %
Joe Graboski 73 17.4 7.7 - - 4.9 1.5 - - - 2.0 3.0 8.0 .372 - - - 1.8 2.4 .753
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 %
Joe Graboski 9 14.3 4.6 - - 3.3 1.0 - - - 2.6 1.9 6.4 .293 - - - 0.8 1.0 .778
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

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1960-611992-93
Team Philadelphia WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Graboski 68 14.9 6.8 - - 3.9 1.1 - - - 2.2 2.5 7.5 .333 - - - 1.9 2.7 .694
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 %
Joe Graboski 1 1.0 0.0 - - 0 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Joe Graboski Isiah Thomas
Season 1961-621993-94
Team St. Louis Hawks, Chicago Packers, Syracuse NationalsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Graboski 38 12.3 5.1 - - 4.1 0.7 - - - 1.6 2.0 5.8 .348 - - - 1.0 1.7 .600
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 %
Joe Graboski 4 6.0 0.8 - - 1.0 0.0 - - - 0.8 0.3 1.8 .143 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------