Nate Thurmond vs. Ray Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ray Williams and Nate Thurmond, 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.

Nate Thurmond played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Ray Williams, who played 10. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while Ray Williams had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77
Ray Williams 10 5 1977-78 to 1986-87

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1963-641977-78
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Ray Williams 81 19.1 9.3 1.0 1.5 2.6 4.5 1.3 0.2 3.0 2.6 3.8 8.5 .443 - - - 1.8 2.6 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679
Ray Williams 6 23.3 17.5 1.0 1.5 2.5 5.2 1.0 0.0 2.8 4.2 6.8 13.0 .526 - - - 3.8 4.3 .885

Season 2
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1964-651978-79
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew York Knicks
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 %
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Ray Williams 81 29.3 17.3 1.3 2.3 3.6 6.2 1.6 0.2 3.5 3.4 7.1 15.5 .457 - - - 3.1 3.9 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1965-661979-80
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew York Knicks
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 %
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Ray Williams 82 31.5 20.9 1.8 3.2 5.0 6.2 2.0 0.3 3.1 3.6 8.4 16.9 .496 0.1 0.5 .189 4.1 5.2 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1966-671980-81
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 %
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Ray Williams 79 34.7 19.7 1.5 2.5 4.1 5.5 2.3 0.5 3.0 3.4 7.8 16.9 .461 0.2 0.9 .235 3.9 4.8 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571
Ray Williams 2 42.0 21.5 1.5 2.5 4.0 4.5 2.0 0.0 4.5 5.0 9.0 20.5 .439 0.5 1.5 .333 3.0 5.5 .545

Season 5
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1967-681981-82
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Ray Williams 82 33.3 20.4 1.4 2.5 4.0 6.0 2.4 0.5 3.5 3.7 7.8 16.9 .462 0.1 0.7 .167 4.7 5.7 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ray Williams 2 38.5 17.0 4.0 2.0 6.0 7.0 2.0 0.0 3.0 5.0 7.0 23.5 .298 1.0 2.5 .400 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 6
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1968-691982-83
Team San Francisco WarriorsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Ray Williams 72 30.1 15.4 1.3 3.3 4.5 7.9 1.7 0.4 4.7 3.4 5.8 14.8 .392 0.2 1.0 .203 3.6 4.6 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1969-701983-84
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Ray Williams 76 29.3 14.8 0.9 2.6 3.5 5.9 2.1 0.3 2.9 3.6 5.5 12.4 .445 0.3 1.1 .309 3.5 4.2 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ray Williams 11 28.2 11.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 8.0 1.5 0.1 3.7 3.5 4.2 11.8 .354 0.2 1.1 .167 2.6 3.5 .744

Season 8
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1970-711984-85
Team San Francisco WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Ray Williams 23 20.0 6.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 3.9 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.4 2.4 6.2 .385 0.3 1.0 .261 1.3 2.0 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800
Ray Williams 19 14.6 6.3 0.7 1.2 1.9 3.2 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.3 2.5 6.1 .405 0.1 0.8 .133 1.3 1.3 .960

Season 9
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1971-721985-86
Team Golden State WarriorsAtlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Ray Williams 47 17.6 7.6 0.7 1.1 1.8 4.0 1.3 0.1 2.1 2.6 2.5 6.5 .382 0.1 0.4 .316 2.4 2.7 .913
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1972-731986-87
Team Golden State WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West 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 %
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Ray Williams 32 25.0 9.9 0.8 1.5 2.3 5.8 1.2 0.3 2.9 3.5 4.1 9.1 .452 0.2 0.9 .250 1.5 1.9 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1973-74-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
Season 1974-75-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
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
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
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 %
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
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Nate Thurmond Ray Williams
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 %
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
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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 -
Ray Williams ------- --- ----------
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