Rod Strickland vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Rod Strickland, 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.

Rod Strickland played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Rod Strickland had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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
Rod Strickland 17 11 1988-89 to 2004-05
Isiah Thomas 13 9 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1988-891981-82
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland 81 16.8 8.9 0.6 1.3 2.0 3.9 1.2 0.0 1.8 1.8 3.3 7.0 .467 0.2 0.7 .322 2.1 2.9 .745
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 %
Rod Strickland 9 12.3 6.0 0.7 0.8 1.4 2.8 0.4 0.1 1.4 2.3 2.4 5.4 .449 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.0 1.9 .529
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901982-83
Team New York Knicks, San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland 82 26.1 10.6 1.1 2.1 3.2 5.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.0 4.2 9.2 .454 0.1 0.4 .267 2.1 3.4 .626
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 %
Rod Strickland 10 38.4 12.3 2.2 3.1 5.3 11.2 1.4 0.0 3.4 3.0 5.4 12.7 .425 0.0 0.7 .000 1.5 2.7 .556
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911983-84
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Rod Strickland 58 35.8 13.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 8.0 2.0 0.2 2.7 2.2 5.4 11.2 .482 0.2 0.6 .333 2.8 3.6 .763
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 %
Rod Strickland 4 42.0 18.8 1.3 4.0 5.3 8.8 2.3 0.0 3.3 3.5 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 1.5 .000 4.3 5.3 .810
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921984-85
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Rod Strickland 57 36.0 13.8 1.6 3.0 4.6 8.6 2.1 0.3 2.8 2.1 5.3 11.6 .455 0.1 0.3 .333 3.2 4.6 .687
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 %
Rod Strickland 2 40.0 15.5 0.0 3.5 3.5 9.5 1.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 6.5 11.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931985-86
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Rod Strickland 78 31.7 13.7 1.5 2.8 4.3 7.2 1.7 0.3 2.6 2.0 5.1 10.5 .485 0.1 0.4 .133 3.5 4.9 .717
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 %
Rod Strickland 4 39.0 13.5 2.3 4.3 6.5 9.3 1.3 0.5 1.8 2.5 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 3.0 .833
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941986-87
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Rod Strickland 82 35.2 17.2 1.5 3.0 4.5 9.0 1.8 0.3 3.1 2.1 6.4 13.3 .483 0.0 0.1 .200 4.3 5.7 .749
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 %
Rod Strickland 4 38.5 23.5 0.8 3.3 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.5 2.5 3.3 9.0 18.0 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.8 .815
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951987-88
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland 64 35.4 18.9 1.1 3.8 5.0 8.8 1.9 0.1 3.3 1.8 6.9 14.8 .466 0.7 1.9 .374 4.4 5.9 .745
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 %
Rod Strickland 3 42.0 23.3 0.3 3.7 4.0 12.3 1.0 0.7 3.3 3.7 9.0 21.7 .415 0.7 1.7 .400 4.7 6.0 .778
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961988-89
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Rod Strickland 67 37.7 18.7 1.3 3.1 4.4 9.6 1.4 0.2 3.8 2.0 7.0 15.3 .460 0.6 1.7 .342 4.1 6.3 .652
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 %
Rod Strickland 5 40.4 20.6 2.4 3.8 6.2 8.4 1.0 0.0 2.4 2.8 7.4 16.8 .440 1.2 2.4 .500 4.6 7.2 .639
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971989-90
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East 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 %
Rod Strickland 82 36.5 17.2 1.2 2.9 4.1 8.9 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.0 6.3 13.5 .466 0.2 0.9 .169 4.5 6.1 .738
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 %
Rod Strickland 3 41.3 19.7 1.7 4.3 6.0 8.3 1.0 0.0 3.7 2.7 7.3 17.3 .423 0.3 0.7 .500 4.7 6.3 .737
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981990-91
Team Washington WizardsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
-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 %
Rod Strickland 76 39.7 17.8 1.5 3.9 5.3 10.5 1.7 0.3 3.5 2.4 6.4 14.9 .434 0.2 0.6 .250 4.7 6.5 .726
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 %
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991991-92
Team Washington WizardsDetroit 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 %
Rod Strickland 44 37.1 15.7 1.3 3.5 4.8 9.9 1.7 0.1 3.2 2.1 5.7 13.7 .416 0.3 1.0 .286 4.0 5.4 .746
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 %
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------
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

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001992-93
Team Washington WizardsDetroit 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 %
Rod Strickland 69 31.7 12.6 1.1 2.7 3.8 7.5 1.4 0.3 2.7 2.1 4.7 11.0 .429 0.0 0.3 .048 3.1 4.4 .702
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 %
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011993-94
Team Washington Wizards, Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Rod Strickland 54 25.4 9.2 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.0 1.4 3.4 7.9 .424 0.1 0.3 .235 2.4 3.2 .751
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 %
Rod Strickland 2 10.0 4.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 2001-02-
Team Miami Heat-
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 %
Rod Strickland 76 30.2 10.4 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.1 2.1 1.5 4.2 9.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .308 2.0 2.6 .766
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 2002-03-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland 47 20.3 6.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 4.6 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.2 2.6 5.9 .432 0.0 0.2 .091 1.7 2.3 .738
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland 6 12.3 4.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.8 1.8 3.5 .524 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 2003-04-
Team Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors-
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 %
Rod Strickland 61 19.6 6.3 0.6 2.0 2.5 4.0 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.2 2.5 5.8 .425 0.2 0.6 .278 1.2 1.6 .735
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Rod Strickland Isiah Thomas
Season 2004-05-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Rod Strickland 16 12.3 1.8 0.2 1.5 1.7 2.4 0.2 0.1 1.0 0.9 0.6 2.7 .209 0.1 0.1 .500 0.6 0.6 .900
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------