Ed Pinckney vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Ed Pinckney, 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.

Ed Pinckney played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Ed Pinckney had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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
Ed Pinckney 12 5 1985-86 to 1996-97
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

Rookie Season

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861963-64
Team Phoenix SunsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
Ed Pinckney 80 20.0 8.5 1.2 2.7 3.9 1.1 0.9 0.5 1.9 2.4 3.2 5.7 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.2 .673
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871964-65
Team Phoenix SunsSan 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 %
Ed Pinckney 80 28.1 10.5 2.2 5.0 7.3 1.5 1.1 0.7 1.7 2.5 3.6 6.2 .584 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.4 .739
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881965-66
Team Sacramento KingsSan 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 %
Ed Pinckney 79 14.9 6.2 1.2 1.7 2.9 0.8 0.5 0.4 1.0 1.5 2.3 4.3 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.3 .747
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891966-67
Team Sacramento Kings, Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ed Pinckney 80 25.2 11.5 2.1 3.5 5.6 1.5 1.0 0.8 1.5 2.5 4.0 7.8 .513 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.4 .800
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 %
Ed Pinckney 3 15.0 2.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.3 2.3 1.0 4.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901967-68
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Ed Pinckney 77 14.1 4.7 1.2 1.7 2.9 0.9 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.6 1.8 3.2 .542 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.5 .773
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 %
Ed Pinckney 4 6.3 4.8 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.8 1.5 1.8 .857 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .778
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911968-69
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Ed Pinckney 70 16.6 5.2 2.2 2.7 4.9 0.6 0.9 0.6 0.6 2.1 1.9 3.5 .539 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.7 .897
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 %
Ed Pinckney 11 15.5 4.5 2.1 1.5 3.6 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 1.5 1.5 1.9 .762 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .810
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921969-70
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Ed Pinckney 81 23.7 7.6 3.1 3.9 7.0 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.9 2.0 2.5 4.7 .537 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.1 .812
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 %
Ed Pinckney 10 31.4 9.6 3.6 4.8 8.4 0.7 1.2 0.9 1.3 3.0 3.5 5.8 .603 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.1 .839
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931970-71
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Ed Pinckney 7 21.6 4.6 2.0 4.1 6.1 0.1 0.6 1.0 1.1 1.9 1.4 3.4 .417 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 1.9 .923
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941971-72
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Ed Pinckney 76 20.1 5.2 2.1 4.2 6.3 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.7 2.0 3.8 .522 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .736
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951972-73
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement 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 %
Ed Pinckney 62 13.5 2.3 1.0 2.4 3.4 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.8 1.6 .495 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .710
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961973-74
Team Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-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 %
Ed Pinckney 74 23.1 6.5 2.6 3.6 6.2 1.0 0.9 0.4 1.0 2.1 2.3 4.5 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.4 .760
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971974-75
Team Miami HeatChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 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 %
Ed Pinckney 27 10.1 2.4 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.1 0.9 1.6 .535 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .800
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 %
Ed Pinckney 2 3.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season -1975-76
Team -Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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

Ed Pinckney Nate Thurmond
Season -1976-77
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ed Pinckney ------- --- ----------
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 -