Phil Smith vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Phil Smith, 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.

Phil Smith played 9 years in the NBA, 4 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Phil Smith had the first of his seasons in 1974-75, 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
Phil Smith 9 5 1974-75 to 1982-83
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1974-751981-82
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Smith 74 14.3 7.7 0.7 1.2 1.9 1.8 0.8 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 6.3 .476 - - - 1.7 2.1 .804
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 %
Phil Smith 16 14.7 6.4 0.4 1.3 1.8 1.9 0.6 0.4 - 1.9 2.4 6.5 .375 - - - 1.6 2.5 .625
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1975-761982-83
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West 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 %
Phil Smith 82 34.1 20.0 1.6 3.0 4.6 4.4 1.3 0.2 - 2.7 8.0 16.9 .477 - - - 3.9 5.0 .788
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 %
Phil Smith 13 37.9 24.0 1.8 2.9 4.7 4.6 1.6 0.5 - 2.5 9.8 18.8 .518 - - - 4.5 6.1 .734
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1976-771983-84
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Phil Smith 82 35.1 19.0 1.2 2.8 4.0 4.0 1.2 0.4 - 2.8 7.7 16.1 .479 - - - 3.6 4.6 .785
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 %
Phil Smith 10 37.1 14.2 1.0 4.0 5.0 4.5 1.4 0.4 - 2.4 5.3 13.2 .402 - - - 3.6 4.5 .800
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1977-781984-85
Team Golden State WarriorsDetroit 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 %
Phil Smith 82 35.9 19.7 1.2 2.4 3.7 4.8 1.3 0.3 3.2 2.7 7.9 16.7 .472 - - - 3.9 4.7 .812
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1978-791985-86
Team Golden State 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 %
Phil Smith 59 38.8 19.9 0.8 2.8 3.6 4.4 1.7 0.4 2.9 2.7 8.3 16.6 .501 - - - 3.3 4.3 .761
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Golden State 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 %
Phil Smith 51 30.4 15.5 0.5 2.3 2.9 3.7 1.2 0.3 2.4 3.0 6.4 13.4 .474 0.1 0.4 .318 2.6 3.4 .789
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1980-811987-88
Team San Diego ClippersDetroit 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 %
Phil Smith 76 31.3 16.8 0.6 1.4 2.1 4.9 1.1 0.2 2.3 3.0 6.8 13.9 .491 0.1 0.2 .222 3.1 4.1 .757
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1981-821988-89
Team San Diego Clippers, Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 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 %
Phil Smith 74 27.6 11.5 0.7 1.8 2.5 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.1 2.9 4.6 10.3 .447 0.1 0.4 .185 2.2 3.0 .731
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 %
Phil Smith 8 11.5 3.1 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.4 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.4 .333
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Smith 79 15.7 5.7 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.7 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.4 2.2 5.1 .438 0.0 0.1 .375 1.3 1.7 .759
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 %
Phil Smith 2 9.5 3.0 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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

Phil Smith Isiah Thomas
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Phil Smith 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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
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 %
Phil Smith ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------