Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
1969-70 to 1988-89
Nate Thurmond:
1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar6
Nate Thurmond0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar20
Nate Thurmond14
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar18
Nate Thurmond9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar19
Nate Thurmond7

Honors and Awards

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar6
Nate Thurmond0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar2
Nate Thurmond0
*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar10
Nate Thurmond0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar15
Nate Thurmond0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar5
Nate Thurmond2
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar11
Nate Thurmond5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar2
Nate Thurmond0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1
Nate Thurmond0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar4 *
Nate Thurmond0
*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1
Nate Thurmond0
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.
Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11.2
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.6
Nate Thurmond 2.7

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.9
*
Nate Thurmond 0.5

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.6
*
Nate Thurmond 2.1

*

Totals Stats

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Nate Thurmond 14,437

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17,440
Nate Thurmond 14,464

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,660
Nate Thurmond 2,575

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,160
*
Nate Thurmond 125

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3,189
*
Nate Thurmond 553

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,560
Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .559
Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .056
*
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .721
Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 34.8
(1972)
Nate Thurmond 21.9
(1970)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 16.9
(1976)
Nate Thurmond 22.0
(1968)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5.4
(1979)
Nate Thurmond 4.2
(1968)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.7
(1978)
*
Nate Thurmond 0.7
(1974)

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4.1
(1976)
*
Nate Thurmond 2.9
(1974)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
Nate Thurmond 11.9

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.5
Nate Thurmond 13.6

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.2
Nate Thurmond 2.8

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.0
*
Nate Thurmond 0.4

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.4
*
Nate Thurmond 1.9

*

Totals Stats

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
Nate Thurmond 966

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2,481
Nate Thurmond 1,101

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 767
Nate Thurmond 225

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 189
*
Nate Thurmond 11

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 476
*
Nate Thurmond 51

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .533
Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .000
*
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .740
Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 35.2
(1970)
Nate Thurmond 25.4
(1972)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18.2
(1972)
Nate Thurmond 23.1
(1967)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5.1
(1972)
Nate Thurmond 5.2
(1972)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.7
(1977)
*
Nate Thurmond 0.5
(1976)

*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4.1
(1979)
*
Nate Thurmond 2.2
(1976)

*
Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
** Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.