George Johnson vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and George Johnson, 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.

George Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. George Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1972-73, 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
George Johnson 13 8 1972-73 to 1985-86
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1972-731963-64
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
George Johnson 56 6.2 1.6 - - 2.5 0.1 - - - 0.7 0.7 1.8 .410 - - - 0.1 0.3 .412
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 %
George Johnson 9 5.0 1.4 - - 1.6 0.3 - - - 0.8 0.7 1.7 .400 - - - 0.1 0.4 .250
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1973-741964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsSan 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 %
George Johnson 66 19.6 6.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.1 0.5 1.9 - 2.7 2.6 5.4 .483 - - - 0.9 1.6 .551
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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1974-751965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
George Johnson 82 17.5 4.4 2.6 4.4 7.0 0.8 0.4 1.7 - 2.5 1.9 3.9 .476 - - - 0.7 1.1 .659
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 %
George Johnson 17 18.9 5.2 3.2 4.2 7.4 0.9 0.5 2.4 - 2.9 2.1 3.7 .571 - - - 0.9 1.6 .593
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1975-761966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
George Johnson 82 21.3 4.9 2.4 5.2 7.6 1.0 0.6 2.1 - 3.4 2.0 4.2 .484 - - - 0.9 1.3 .673
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 %
George Johnson 13 20.1 5.8 2.9 3.8 6.7 1.3 1.1 1.8 - 3.5 2.4 4.2 .574 - - - 1.1 1.5 .737
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771967-68
Team Golden State Warriors, Buffalo BravesSan 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 %
George Johnson 78 21.2 6.0 2.6 5.2 7.8 1.3 0.5 2.3 - 3.2 2.5 5.5 .462 - - - 0.9 1.3 .724
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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781968-69
Team New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
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 %
George Johnson 81 29.8 8.7 3.0 6.6 9.6 1.4 1.0 3.4 2.7 4.2 3.5 8.9 .395 - - - 1.6 2.3 .719
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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791969-70
Team New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets 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 %
George Johnson 78 26.4 6.6 2.6 5.3 7.9 1.1 0.9 3.2 2.3 4.0 2.6 6.2 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .761
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 %
George Johnson 2 35.0 14.5 4.0 8.5 12.5 1.0 1.0 3.5 2.0 4.0 7.0 10.5 .667 - - - 0.5 1.5 .333
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801970-71
Team New Jersey NetsSan 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 %
George Johnson 81 26.2 7.2 2.4 5.1 7.4 2.1 0.7 3.2 2.5 3.9 3.1 6.7 .457 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .706
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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811971-72
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
George Johnson 82 23.6 5.0 2.6 4.7 7.3 1.1 0.6 3.4 1.3 3.3 2.0 4.2 .473 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .734
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 %
George Johnson 7 23.6 4.4 3.4 5.6 9.0 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.0 2.9 1.7 3.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .700
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821972-73
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
George Johnson 75 21.0 3.0 2.0 4.0 6.1 1.1 0.3 3.1 1.2 3.5 1.2 2.6 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .672
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 %
George Johnson 9 19.4 1.2 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.7 1.7 0.4 3.8 0.4 0.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .600
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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831973-74
Team Atlanta HawksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
George Johnson 37 12.5 1.7 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.5 0.3 1.6 0.5 1.9 0.7 1.5 .439 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 .737
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 %
George Johnson 1 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Note: George Johnson didn't play in 1983-84.

Season 12

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851974-75
Team New Jersey NetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
George Johnson 65 12.3 1.6 1.1 1.7 2.8 0.3 0.3 1.2 0.6 2.3 0.6 1.2 .532 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.3 0.4 .815
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 %
George Johnson 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 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

George Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861975-76
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago 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 %
George Johnson 41 6.4 0.9 0.6 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.1 0.3 0.6 .522 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .688
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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

George Johnson 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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
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 %
George Johnson ------- --- ----------
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 -