Shaquille O'Neal vs Isiah Thomas
Shaquille O'Neal and Isiah Thomas were contemporaries, their careers overlapping for 2 seasons. On the floor, Shaquille O'Neal was the higher-volume scorer (23.7 points per game to 19.2); Shaquille O'Neal was the more efficient scorer (58.6% true shooting to 51.6%); Isiah Thomas created more for others (9.3 assists per game to 2.5). Shaquille O'Neal holds the edge on accolades — 1 MVP, 4 championships, 3 Finals MVPs and the #9 all-time ranking to Isiah Thomas's #36.
Career averages
| Shaquille O'Neal | Stat | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| 23.7 | Points / game | 19.2 |
| 10.8 | Rebounds / game | 3.6 |
| 2.5 | Assists / game | 9.3 |
| 0.6 | Steals / game | 1.9 |
| 2.3 | Blocks / game | 0.3 |
| 58.5% | Field goal % | 45.2% |
| 2.2% | 3-point % | 29.0% |
| 52.6% | Free throw % | 75.9% |
| 58.6% | True shooting % | 51.6% |
| 1,207 | Games played | 979 |
Advanced metrics
Advanced stats aren't available for Shaquille O'Neal.
Advanced stats weren't tracked in Isiah Thomas's era.
Playoff averages
| Shaquille O'Neal | Stat | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| 24.3 | Points / game | 20.4 |
| 11.6 | Rebounds / game | 4.7 |
| 2.7 | Assists / game | 8.9 |
| 0.6 | Steals / game | 2.1 |
| 2.1 | Blocks / game | 0.3 |
| 56.3% | Field goal % | 43.8% |
| 0.0% | 3-point % | 32.3% |
| 49.8% | Free throw % | 77.0% |
| 216 | Playoff games | 111 |
Accolades
| Shaquille O'Neal | Stat | Isiah Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MVP awards | 0 |
| 3 | Finals MVP | 1 |
| 4 | Championships | 2 |
| 12 | All-Star selections | 11 |
| 8 | All-NBA 1st Team | 3 |
| #9 | All-time GOAT rank | #36 |
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