Isiah Thomas
1981–82 to 1993–94 · 13 seasons
NBA player comparison
Isiah Thomas vs. Stephen Curry: Career comparison
Regular-season verdict
Stephen Curry ranks higher in career impact so far
Stephen Curry
2009–10 to 2025–26 · 17 seasons · active
Impact comparison
#89Career Impact Rank to datePeak-weighted regular-season rank#13Leads
+6.4Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+11.9Leads
+4.2Best 5 average impact+9.4Leads
4.3Best 3 average finishAverage league place; closer to No. 1 is better1.3Leads
0Seasons ranked No. 12Leads
+3,210 ptsPoints above replacementCumulative regular-season value+6,430 ptsLeads
Career Impact Rank places Stephen Curry #13 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 calculatedIsiah Thomas13.107 · No. 89Stephen Curry2.187 · No. 13
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.
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
Stephen Curry
2.187 composite · No. 13 all-time
| Window and finishes used | Average finish | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best 3No. 12014–15Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 12015–16Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 22017–18Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 1.333 | 50% | 0.667 |
| Best 5No. 12014–15Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 12015–16Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 22017–18Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 22020–21No. 52012–13Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimate | 2.200 | 30% | 0.660 |
| Best 10No. 12014–15Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 12015–16Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 22017–18Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 22020–21No. 52012–13Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 52013–14Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 62024–25No. 72018–19Recorded box inputsIncludes bounded historical defense estimateNo. 72022–23No. 72025–26 | 4.300 | 20% | 0.860 |
0.667 + 0.660 + 0.860= 2.187
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 | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Career Impact Rank to datePeak-weighted regular-season rank | #89 | #13Better result for this metric. |
| Best 3 average finish | 4.3 | 1.3Better result for this metric. |
| Best 5 average finish | 14.0 | 2.2Better result for this metric. |
| Best 10 average finish | 33.7 | 4.3Better result for this metric. |
Show more stats: Impact
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Points-above-replacement rankAll-time rank in estimated regular-season points above replacement | #78 | #14Better result for this metric. |
| Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average | +6.4 | +11.9Better result for this metric. |
| Best 3 average impact | +5.5 | +10.2Better result for this metric. |
| Best 5 average impact | +4.2 | +9.4Better result for this metric. |
| Best 10 average impact | +2.9 | +8.2Better result for this metric. |
| Points above replacementRegular season · fixed -2.0 replacement baseline · higher is better | +3,210 pts | +6,430 ptsBetter result for this metric. |
| Seasons ranked No. 1 | 0 | 2Better result for this metric. |
| Top-five impact seasons | 2 | 6Better result for this metric. |
| Top-ten impact seasons | 3 | 13Better result for this metric. |
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 | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 979 | 1,069 |
| Minutes | 35,516 | 36,304 |
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 | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| True shooting percentage | 51.6% | 62.6%Better result for this metric. |
| True shootingAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 52.0% | 64.2%Better result for this metric. |
Show more stats: Shooting
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Field-goal percentage | 45.2% | 47.1%Better result for this metric. |
| Three-point percentage | 29.0% | 42.2%Better result for this metric. |
| Free-throw percentage | 75.9% | 91.2%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 | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Assist rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 38.7%Better result for this metric. | 31.7% |
| Assists per game | 9.3Better result for this metric. | 6.3 |
Show more stats: Passing
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 16.8% | 13.0%Better result for this metric. |
Rebounding
Rebound rate is the share of available rebounds collected while on court.
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Rebound rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 5.5% | 7.9%Better result for this metric. |
| Rebounds per game | 3.6 | 4.7Better result for this metric. |
Defense
Steals and blocks describe only part of defense. They do not capture every stop, rotation, or matchup.
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Steal rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 2.6%Better result for this metric. | 2.2% |
Show more stats: Defense
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Block rateAverage across the best impact seasons selected for the model input profile | 0.4% | 0.7%Better result for this metric. |
Scoring
Points per game describe scoring volume, not overall impact.
| Metric | Isiah Thomas | Stephen Curry |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 19.2 | 24.8Better 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.
Career to date. At least one player is active. Every total below stops after the latest completed season in this data; nothing is projected.
Regular Season Impact
Stephen Curry ranks higher in career impact so far.
Isiah ThomasMetricStephen Curry
#89Career Impact Rank to datePeak-weighted regular-season rank#13Leads
+6.4Peak era-centered impactEstimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average+11.9Leads
+4.2Best 5 average impact+9.4Leads
+3,210 ptsPoints above replacementRegular season · fixed -2.0 replacement baseline · higher is better+6,430 ptsLeads
This is the ranking result. It uses regular-season impact only. Team records, playoffs, and awards do not change it.
Team Success
Stephen Curry leads every available measure below.
Isiah ThomasMetricStephen Curry
603Listed-team regular-season wins787Leads
56.6%Listed-team winning percentage58.3%Leads
550-win team seasons7Leads
160-win team seasons3Leads
9Playoff team seasons10Leads
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
Stephen Curry leads every available measure below.
Isiah ThomasMetricStephen Curry
9Playoff appearances10Leads
111Playoff games155Leads
71Team playoff wins113Leads
3Finals appearances6Leads
2Championships4Leads
Context only. Not included in Career Impact Rank. Team playoff results count only seasons when the player appeared in a playoff game.
Awards
Stephen Curry leads every available measure below.
Isiah ThomasMetricStephen Curry
12All-Star12
0MVP2Leads
5All-NBA11Leads
0All-Defense0
0DPOY0
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. Active-career totals are results to date through the latest completed season in the source.
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.
Isiah ThomasStephen CurryPeak seasonHistorical source qualification
Career to date. Active careers stop at the latest completed season; no future seasons are projected.
Estimated points per 100 possessions above that season's league average
Striped bars mark seasons with fewer than 40 games. A dashed mark means that player had no season at the aligned point.
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.
Isiah ThomasNBA seasonStephen Curry
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
No season
Season 14No season
Season 15No season
Season 16No season
Season 17Observed 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.