Sean Elliott vs. Isiah Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Isiah Thomas and Sean Elliott, 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.

Sean Elliott played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Isiah Thomas, who played 13. Sean Elliott had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Sean Elliott 12 9 1989-90 to 2000-01
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1989-901981-82
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie 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 %
Sean Elliott 81 25.1 10.0 1.6 2.1 3.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.1 3.8 8.0 .481 0.0 0.1 .111 2.3 2.7 .866
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 29.1 12.7 1.1 3.0 4.1 1.8 0.9 0.6 1.5 3.7 5.3 9.6 .552 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.9 .724
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1990-911982-83
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 82 37.1 15.9 1.7 3.8 5.6 2.9 0.8 0.4 1.8 2.3 5.8 11.9 .490 0.2 0.8 .313 4.0 4.9 .808
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 %
Sean Elliott 4 33.0 14.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 4.0 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.3 4.3 10.0 .425 0.0 0.8 .000 6.3 8.0 .781
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1991-921983-84
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 %
Sean Elliott 82 38.0 16.3 1.7 3.6 5.4 2.6 1.0 0.4 1.9 1.8 6.3 12.7 .494 0.3 1.0 .305 3.5 4.0 .861
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 %
Sean Elliott 3 45.7 19.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 2.7 1.0 1.3 2.0 2.0 6.3 13.3 .475 1.7 2.7 .625 5.3 6.0 .889
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1992-931984-85
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Sean Elliott 70 37.2 17.2 1.2 3.4 4.6 3.8 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 6.4 13.1 .491 0.5 1.5 .356 3.8 4.8 .795
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 38.1 15.8 0.8 4.0 4.8 3.6 0.8 0.3 2.2 2.2 5.9 12.5 .472 0.3 1.4 .214 3.7 4.0 .925
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit 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 %
Sean Elliott 73 33.0 12.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 2.7 0.7 0.4 1.8 2.4 4.9 10.8 .455 0.4 1.2 .299 1.9 2.4 .803
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1994-951986-87
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Sean Elliott 81 35.3 18.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 2.5 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.7 6.2 13.2 .468 1.7 4.1 .408 4.0 5.0 .807
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 %
Sean Elliott 15 38.3 17.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.7 0.7 0.5 1.8 2.5 5.8 13.3 .435 1.3 3.7 .364 4.4 5.7 .776
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1995-961987-88
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sean Elliott 77 37.7 20.0 0.9 4.2 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.4 2.6 2.3 6.8 14.6 .466 2.1 5.1 .411 4.2 5.5 .771
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 38.9 15.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 1.1 0.4 3.0 2.4 4.7 11.7 .402 1.0 3.4 .294 5.1 6.4 .797
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1996-971988-89
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit 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 %
Sean Elliott 39 35.7 14.9 1.2 3.6 4.9 3.2 0.6 0.6 2.3 2.7 5.0 11.9 .422 1.1 3.2 .333 3.8 5.0 .755
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1997-981989-90
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit 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 %
Sean Elliott 36 28.1 9.3 0.4 3.0 3.4 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.4 .403 0.9 2.5 .378 1.6 2.2 .718
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1998-991990-91
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Sean Elliott 50 30.2 11.2 0.7 3.6 4.3 2.3 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.1 4.2 10.1 .410 0.8 2.4 .328 2.1 2.8 .757
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 %
Sean Elliott 17 33.8 11.9 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.6 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.9 4.0 9.0 .444 1.3 3.2 .400 2.6 3.5 .763
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 1999-001991-92
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Sean Elliott 19 20.6 6.0 0.3 2.2 2.5 1.5 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 2.0 5.6 .358 0.7 1.9 .351 1.3 1.7 .781
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 %
Sean Elliott 4 29.8 10.0 0.3 5.3 5.5 1.3 0.0 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 1.3 3.3 .385 1.3 2.0 .625
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

Sean Elliott Isiah Thomas
Season 2000-011992-93
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 52 23.6 7.9 0.3 2.9 3.3 1.6 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.8 6.5 .434 1.1 2.5 .426 1.2 1.6 .714
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 %
Sean Elliott 12 19.9 4.8 0.3 1.9 2.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 1.1 1.8 1.6 4.3 .373 0.7 1.8 .364 0.9 0.9 1.000
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Sean Elliott 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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
Isiah Thomas ------- --- ----------