Adrian Dantley vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Adrian Dantley, 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

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.

Adrian Dantley played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Adrian Dantley had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Nate Thurmond had his rookie season in 1963-64. 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
Adrian Dantley 15 7 1976-77 to 1990-91
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771963-64
Team Buffalo BravesSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 77 36.6 20.3 3.3 4.4 7.6 1.9 1.2 0.2 - 2.8 7.1 13.6 .520 - - - 6.2 7.6 .818
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679

Season 2

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781964-65
Team Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Adrian Dantley 79 37.1 21.5 3.4 4.5 7.8 3.2 1.5 0.3 2.9 2.9 7.3 14.3 .512 - - - 6.8 8.6 .796
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 3 34.7 17.0 3.0 5.3 8.3 3.7 1.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 6.7 11.7 .571 - - - 3.7 5.7 .647
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Adrian Dantley 60 29.6 17.3 2.2 3.5 5.7 2.3 1.1 0.2 2.6 2.7 6.2 12.2 .510 - - - 4.9 5.7 .854
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 8 29.5 17.6 1.3 2.9 4.1 1.4 0.8 0.1 2.4 3.0 6.3 11.1 .562 - - - 5.1 6.5 .788
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801966-67
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 68 39.3 28.0 2.7 4.9 7.6 2.8 1.4 0.2 3.4 3.1 10.7 18.6 .576 0.0 0.0 .000 6.5 7.7 .842
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571

Season 5

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811967-68
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 80 42.7 30.7 2.4 4.0 6.4 4.0 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.1 11.4 20.3 .559 0.0 0.1 .286 7.9 9.8 .806
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821968-69
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 81 39.8 30.3 2.9 3.5 6.3 4.0 1.2 0.2 3.7 3.1 11.2 19.6 .570 0.0 0.0 .333 8.0 10.1 .792
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588

Season 7

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831969-70
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 22 40.3 30.7 2.6 3.7 6.4 4.8 0.9 0.0 3.7 2.8 10.6 18.3 .580 0.0 0.0 - 9.5 11.3 .847
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841970-71
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 79 37.8 30.6 2.3 3.4 5.7 3.9 0.8 0.1 3.3 2.5 10.2 18.2 .558 0.0 0.1 .250 10.3 12.0 .859
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 11 41.3 32.2 3.4 4.2 7.5 4.2 0.9 0.1 3.5 2.7 10.6 21.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 10.9 12.6 .863
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800

Season 9

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851971-72
Team Utah JazzGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 55 35.8 26.6 2.7 3.2 5.9 3.4 1.0 0.1 3.1 2.4 9.3 17.5 .531 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 9.9 .804
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 10 39.8 25.3 2.5 5.0 7.5 2.0 1.6 0.0 3.6 3.9 7.9 15.1 .523 0.0 0.1 .000 9.5 12.2 .779
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 10

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861972-73
Team Utah JazzGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 76 36.1 29.8 2.3 2.9 5.2 3.5 0.8 0.1 3.0 2.7 10.8 19.1 .563 0.0 0.1 .091 8.3 10.5 .791
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800

Season 11

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871973-74
Team Detroit PistonsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Adrian Dantley 81 33.8 21.5 1.3 2.8 4.1 2.0 0.8 0.1 2.2 2.4 7.4 13.9 .534 0.0 0.1 .167 6.7 8.2 .812
Nate Thurmond 62 39.7 13.0 4.0 10.1 14.2 2.7 0.7 2.9 - 2.9 5.0 11.2 .444 - - - 3.1 4.6 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 15 33.3 20.5 1.9 2.6 4.5 2.3 0.9 0.0 2.2 2.4 7.4 13.7 .539 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.4 .775
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881974-75
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsBulls Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 69 31.1 20.0 1.2 2.1 3.3 2.5 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.1 6.4 12.5 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 7.1 8.3 .860
Nate Thurmond 80 34.5 7.9 3.2 8.1 11.3 4.1 0.6 2.4 - 3.4 3.1 8.6 .364 - - - 1.7 2.8 .589
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 23 35.0 19.4 1.6 3.0 4.7 2.0 0.8 0.0 2.2 2.2 6.7 12.7 .524 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 7.7 .787
Nate Thurmond 13 19.5 3.5 1.8 4.8 6.7 2.4 0.4 1.6 - 2.8 1.1 2.9 .368 - - - 1.4 2.8 .486

Season 13

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891975-76
Team Detroit Pistons, Dallas MavericksChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Adrian Dantley 73 33.2 19.2 1.6 2.7 4.3 2.3 0.6 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.4 13.1 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.8 .810
Nate Thurmond 78 17.9 4.4 1.5 3.8 5.3 1.2 0.3 1.3 - 2.1 1.8 4.3 .421 - - - 0.8 1.6 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 13 28.8 6.7 2.9 6.1 9.0 2.2 0.5 2.2 - 4.0 2.8 6.1 .468 - - - 1.0 2.5 .406

Season 14

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901976-77
Team Dallas MavericksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Adrian Dantley 45 28.9 14.7 1.7 2.1 3.8 1.8 0.4 0.2 1.7 2.2 5.1 10.8 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.6 .787
Nate Thurmond 49 20.3 5.5 2.5 5.2 7.6 1.7 0.3 1.7 - 2.6 2.0 5.0 .407 - - - 1.4 2.2 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 15

Adrian Dantley Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-91-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Adrian Dantley 10 12.6 5.7 0.8 0.5 1.3 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.8 1.9 5.0 .380 0.1 0.3 .333 1.8 2.6 .692
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Adrian Dantley 3 6.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.3 .143 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------