Gary Payton
1990–91 to 2006–07 · 17 seasons
NBA player comparison
Gary Payton vs. Isiah Thomas: Career comparison
Regular-season verdict
Gary Payton ranks higher in career impact
Isiah Thomas
1981–82 to 1993–94 · 13 seasons
Impact comparison
#62LeadsCareer Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank#89
+7.1LeadsPeak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+6.4
+5.6LeadsBest 5 average impact+4.2
5.7Best 3 average finishAverage league place; closer to No. 1 is better4.3Leads
+4,652 ptsLeadsPoints above replacementCumulative regular-season value+3,210 pts
15.2LeadsBest 10 average finishAverage league place; closer to No. 1 is better33.7
Career Impact Rank places Gary Payton #62 and Isiah Thomas #89. It combines league finishes across each player's best three, five, and ten regular seasons, giving the most weight to the best three.
Regular season only. Impact figures are estimates; small gaps are not exact. Playoffs, awards and titles do not determine the verdict.
Career Impact RankSee exactly how both rankings are calculatedGary Payton8.513 · No. 62Isiah Thomas13.107 · No. 89
Only the three league-finish windows below determine Career Impact Rank. Career Value and peak impact are separate measures; neither adds points to this calculation. Lower composite scores rank higher.
Gary Payton
8.513 composite · No. 62 all-time
| Window and finishes used | Average finish | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best 3No. 31999–00Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 61997–98Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 81998–99Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 5.667 | 50% | 2.833 |
| Best 5No. 31999–00Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 61997–98Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 81998–99Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 131996–97Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 142001–02Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 8.800 | 30% | 2.640 |
| Best 10No. 31999–00Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 61997–98Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 81998–99Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 131996–97Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 142001–02Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 161994–95Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 212000–01Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 221995–96Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 222002–03Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 271993–94Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 15.200 | 20% | 3.040 |
2.833 + 2.640 + 3.040= 8.513
Isiah Thomas
13.107 composite · No. 89 all-time
| Window and finishes used | Average finish | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best 3No. 31984–85Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 41983–84Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 61985–86Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 4.333 | 50% | 2.167 |
| Best 5No. 31984–85Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 41983–84Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 61985–86Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 281982–83Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 291986–87Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 14.000 | 30% | 4.200 |
| Best 10No. 31984–85Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 41983–84Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 61985–86Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 281982–83Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 291986–87Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 381987–88Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 411990–91Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 451989–90Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 681988–89Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 751992–93Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 33.700 | 20% | 6.740 |
2.167 + 4.200 + 6.740= 13.107
Averages, contributions, and totals are displayed to three decimal places. The ranking calculation keeps full source precision. Read the full method →
Full comparison · Career comparison
Understand the numbers
Start with impact, then compare playing time and skills. Team results add context. These are not categories to tally into a winner.
1 · Ranking evidence
Impact: who ranks higher, and why?
Career Impact Rank compares entire regular-season careers across NBA history. It combines average league places across the best three, five, and ten seasons, weighted 50%, 30%, and 20%. A lower rank or average place is better.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Career Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank | #62Better result for this metric. | #89 |
| Best 3 average finish | 5.7 | 4.3Better result for this metric. |
| Best 5 average finish | 8.8Better result for this metric. | 14.0 |
| Best 10 average finish | 15.2Better result for this metric. | 33.7 |
Show more stats: Impact
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Points-above-replacement rankAll-time rank in estimated regular-season points above replacement | #33Better result for this metric. | #78 |
| Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average | +7.1Better result for this metric. | +6.4 |
| Best 3 average impact | +6.0Better result for this metric. | +5.5 |
| Best 5 average impact | +5.6Better result for this metric. | +4.2 |
| Best 10 average impact | +4.7Better result for this metric. | +2.9 |
| Points above replacementRegular season · fixed -2.0 replacement baseline · higher is better | +4,652 ptsBetter result for this metric. | +3,210 pts |
| Seasons ranked No. 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Top-five impact seasons | 1 | 2Better result for this metric. |
| Top-ten impact seasons | 3 | 3 |
2 · Playing time and responsibility
How much did each player take on?
Read games and minutes alongside impact. Offensive usage is the share of team plays a player ends with a shot, free throws, or a turnover while on court. More usage is not automatically better.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,335 | 979 |
| Minutes | 47,117 | 35,516 |
3 · Individual skills
Where does each player have an advantage?
These are each player's averages across up to ten best seasons. Career Impact Rank gives the Best 3, Best 5, and Best 10 average league finishes 50%, 30%, and 20% window weights, giving the most weight to the highest peak. The model accounts for position, role, pace, playing time, and team results. Green marks the better result for a metric, including lower turnover rates. Workload and shot-selection measures stay neutral. These rows are not votes toward the ranking.
Shooting
True shooting includes two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| True shooting percentage | 52.8%Better result for this metric. | 51.6% |
| True shootingAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 53.4%Better result for this metric. | 52.0% |
Show more stats: Shooting
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Field-goal percentage | 46.6%Better result for this metric. | 45.2% |
| Three-point percentage | 31.7%Better result for this metric. | 29.0% |
| Free-throw percentage | 72.9% | 75.9%Better result for this metric. |
Passing
Assist rate is the share of teammates’ made shots assisted while the player is on court. Read turnovers alongside offensive workload; lower turnover rate is generally better.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Assist rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 35.6% | 38.7%Better result for this metric. |
| Assists per game | 6.7 | 9.3Better result for this metric. |
Show more stats: Passing
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 12.0%Better result for this metric. | 16.8% |
Rebounding
Rebound rate is the share of available rebounds collected while on court.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Rebound rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 6.7%Better result for this metric. | 5.5% |
| Rebounds per game | 3.9Better result for this metric. | 3.6 |
Defense
Steals and blocks describe only part of defense. They do not capture every stop, rotation, or matchup.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Steal rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 2.8%Better result for this metric. | 2.6% |
Show more stats: Defense
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Block rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 0.5%Better result for this metric. | 0.4% |
Scoring
Points per game describe scoring volume, not overall impact.
| Metric | Gary Payton | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 16.3 | 19.2Better result for this metric. |
4 · Team context, not ranking inputs
What happened with and without them?
A verified with/without comparison is unavailable for this scope. We do not substitute another season’s observations.
Four separate questions
Impact, winning, playoffs, and awards
These are different ways to understand a career. Only Regular Season Impact determines the hussEyquation verdict. The other three sections add basketball context without adding points or changing the rank.
Regular Season Impact
Gary Payton ranks higher in career impact.
Gary PaytonMetricIsiah Thomas
#62LeadsCareer Impact RankPeak-weighted regular-season rank#89
+7.1LeadsPeak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+6.4
+5.6LeadsBest 5 average impact+4.2
+4,652 ptsLeadsPoints above replacementRegular season · fixed -2.0 replacement baseline · higher is better+3,210 pts
This is the ranking result. It uses regular-season impact only. Team records, playoffs, and awards do not change it.
Team Success
Gary Payton leads every available measure below.
Gary PaytonMetricIsiah Thomas
883LeadsListed-team regular-season wins603
61.1%LeadsListed-team winning percentage56.6%
8Leads50-win team seasons5
3Leads60-win team seasons1
15LeadsPlayoff team seasons9
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Final records for every listed team-season. A traded season can include more than one team.
Playoff Résumé
The advantages are split across the available measures.
Gary PaytonMetricIsiah Thomas
15LeadsPlayoff appearances9
154LeadsPlayoff games111
80LeadsTeam playoff wins71
3Finals appearances3
1Championships2Leads
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Team playoff results count only seasons when the player appeared in a playoff game.
Awards
The advantages are split across the available measures.
Gary PaytonMetricIsiah Thomas
9All-Star12Leads
0MVP0
9LeadsAll-NBA5
9LeadsAll-Defense0
1LeadsDPOY0
0Rookie of the Year0
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Major regular-season honors are recognition, not inputs to the impact ranking.
How each context field is counted
- Listed-team regular-season wins
- The sum of each listed team's final wins in every season the player represented that team.
- Listed-team winning percentage
- Those team wins divided by those teams' total regular-season games.
- 50- and 60-win team seasons
- Listed team-seasons that finished with at least 50 or 60 wins. Shortened seasons are not projected to 82 games.
- Team seasons reaching playoffs
- Listed team-seasons in which that team qualified for the playoffs.
- Playoff appearances and games
- Postseasons and games in which the player appeared.
- Team playoff wins
- Team wins from those postseasons. They describe team results, not individual credit.
- Finals appearances and championships
- Seasons when the player appeared in the playoffs for the finalist or champion.
- Awards
- Recorded NBA selections and major regular-season honors. A zero means the source records none; Not available means the source field is missing.
Source and scope Basketball Reference, NBA seasons 1950–51 through 2025–26, accessed 2026-10-09.
Career Shape Explorer
How the careers developed
Follow every regular season by NBA experience or age. This view describes the path; it does not create another verdict.
Gary PaytonIsiah ThomasPeak seasonHistorical source qualification
Estimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average
Season-by-season evidenceRead both careers at the same stage
Every observed season keeps its age, era-centered impact estimate, league rank when qualified, career-stage label, and exact evidence link. A missing career point stays missing.
Gary PaytonNBA seasonIsiah Thomas
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 8
Season 9
Season 10
Season 11
Season 12
Season 13
Season 14
No season
Season 15
No season
Season 16
No season
Observed values come from the accepted season comparison record. Historical source qualifications stay attached to affected seasons. Missing means no NBA season exists at that aligned point; it is never interpolated. Missing is not the same as estimated.