Jameer Nelson vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Jameer Nelson, 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.

Jameer Nelson and Nate Thurmond both played 14 years in the NBA. Jameer Nelson had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, 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
Jameer Nelson 14 6 2004-05 to 2017-18
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2004-051963-64
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second 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 %
Jameer Nelson 79 20.4 8.7 0.7 1.8 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.5 2.5 3.6 7.9 .455 0.6 1.8 .312 0.9 1.4 .682
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2005-061964-65
Team Orlando MagicSan 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 %
Jameer Nelson 62 28.8 14.6 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.9 1.1 0.1 2.4 2.8 5.6 11.6 .483 1.1 2.7 .424 2.3 2.9 .779
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2006-071965-66
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Jameer Nelson 77 30.3 13.0 0.6 2.4 3.1 4.3 0.9 0.1 2.4 2.9 4.9 11.4 .430 0.8 2.5 .335 2.4 2.9 .828
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 %
Jameer Nelson 4 32.3 14.3 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.3 0.8 0.0 2.3 4.8 5.3 12.5 .420 1.3 3.5 .357 2.5 2.8 .909
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2007-081966-67
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jameer Nelson 69 28.4 10.9 0.4 3.1 3.5 5.6 0.9 0.1 2.0 2.4 4.1 8.7 .469 0.9 2.2 .416 1.8 2.2 .828
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 %
Jameer Nelson 10 33.3 16.2 0.4 3.7 4.1 4.7 0.3 0.2 2.1 4.3 5.7 11.3 .504 2.0 4.1 .488 2.8 3.7 .757
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2008-091967-68
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jameer Nelson 42 31.2 16.7 0.5 3.0 3.5 5.4 1.2 0.1 2.0 2.9 6.4 12.6 .503 2.0 4.3 .453 2.0 2.3 .887
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 %
Jameer Nelson 5 18.0 3.8 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.8 0.2 0.0 1.4 0.6 1.6 4.6 .348 0.2 1.2 .167 0.4 0.8 .500
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2009-101968-69
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Jameer Nelson 65 28.6 12.6 0.4 2.6 3.0 5.4 0.7 0.0 2.1 2.3 4.9 10.9 .449 1.3 3.5 .381 1.5 1.8 .845
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 %
Jameer Nelson 14 34.2 19.0 0.6 2.9 3.6 4.8 1.0 0.0 2.5 2.7 6.5 13.6 .479 2.4 6.0 .393 3.6 4.4 .823
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2010-111969-70
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Jameer Nelson 76 30.5 13.1 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.0 1.0 0.0 2.6 2.8 4.9 11.0 .446 1.6 3.9 .401 1.7 2.1 .802
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 %
Jameer Nelson 6 36.0 13.2 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.0 2.0 0.0 1.3 2.3 5.2 13.7 .378 1.0 4.3 .231 1.8 2.3 .786
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2011-121970-71
Team Orlando MagicSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Jameer Nelson 57 29.9 11.9 0.5 2.7 3.2 5.7 0.7 0.1 2.4 2.3 4.5 10.6 .427 1.5 4.1 .377 1.2 1.5 .807
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 %
Jameer Nelson 5 36.4 15.6 0.2 3.6 3.8 6.6 0.8 0.2 2.0 2.6 5.8 14.8 .392 1.6 5.0 .320 2.4 3.2 .750
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2012-131971-72
Team Orlando MagicGolden 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 %
Jameer Nelson 56 35.3 14.7 0.4 3.3 3.7 7.4 1.3 0.1 2.8 2.9 5.5 13.9 .392 2.2 6.3 .341 1.6 1.8 .873
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2013-141972-73
Team Orlando MagicGolden 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 %
Jameer Nelson 68 32.0 12.1 0.4 3.0 3.4 7.0 0.8 0.1 2.4 2.1 4.3 11.0 .394 2.0 5.8 .348 1.4 1.6 .857
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2014-151973-74
Team Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Denver NuggetsGolden 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 %
Jameer Nelson 63 22.3 8.3 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.0 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.2 3.3 8.0 .407 1.4 4.1 .345 0.4 0.6 .667
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2015-161974-75
Team Denver NuggetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Jameer Nelson 39 26.6 7.7 0.5 2.5 2.9 4.9 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.6 2.9 7.9 .368 1.1 3.7 .299 0.8 0.9 .857
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2016-171975-76
Team Denver NuggetsChicago 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 %
Jameer Nelson 75 27.3 9.2 0.4 2.2 2.6 5.1 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.6 3.6 8.1 .444 1.4 3.6 .388 0.6 0.8 .714
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
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

Jameer Nelson Nate Thurmond
Season 2017-181976-77
Team New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit PistonsCleveland 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 %
Jameer Nelson 50 20.3 4.9 0.3 1.8 2.1 3.6 0.5 0.1 1.3 1.6 1.9 4.9 .389 0.8 2.5 .331 0.3 0.4 .800
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 %
Jameer Nelson ------- --- ----------
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 -