Olden Polynice vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Olden Polynice, 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.

Olden Polynice played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Olden Polynice had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Olden Polynice 15 6 1987-88 to 2003-04
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881963-64
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Olden Polynice 82 13.2 4.1 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.4 0.4 0.3 1.0 2.6 1.4 3.1 .465 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .639
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 %
Olden Polynice 5 8.8 2.0 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.0 2.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.4 .000
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891964-65
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Olden Polynice 80 10.4 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.6 2.1 1.1 2.3 .506 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .593
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 %
Olden Polynice 8 20.3 7.1 3.4 4.4 7.8 0.1 0.8 0.5 0.6 4.0 3.1 5.1 .610 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.6 .538
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901965-66
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan 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 %
Olden Polynice 79 13.7 4.6 1.6 2.2 3.8 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 2.4 2.0 3.7 .540 0.0 0.0 .500 0.6 1.3 .475
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911966-67
Team Seattle Supersonics, Los Angeles ClippersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
Olden Polynice 79 26.5 9.8 2.8 4.2 7.0 0.5 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.4 4.0 7.1 .560 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 3.2 .579
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921967-68
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Olden Polynice 76 24.1 8.1 2.6 4.5 7.1 0.6 0.6 0.3 1.1 2.2 3.2 6.2 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.6 .622
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 %
Olden Polynice 5 12.6 3.2 0.4 3.2 3.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 2.2 1.4 2.4 .583 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .333
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931968-69
Team Detroit PistonsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 %
Olden Polynice 67 19.4 7.3 2.7 3.5 6.2 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.1 6.4 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 2.1 .465
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941969-70
Team Detroit Pistons, 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 %
Olden Polynice 68 35.3 11.6 4.4 7.5 11.9 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.1 2.8 5.1 9.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.8 .508
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951970-71
Team Sacramento KingsSan 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 %
Olden Polynice 81 31.3 10.8 3.4 5.5 9.0 0.8 0.6 0.6 1.4 2.9 4.6 8.5 .544 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.5 2.4 .639
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961971-72
Team Sacramento KingsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Olden Polynice 81 30.1 12.2 3.2 6.3 9.4 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.6 3.1 5.3 10.1 .527 0.0 0.0 .333 1.5 2.5 .601
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 %
Olden Polynice 4 35.3 13.8 4.0 8.0 12.0 0.8 0.3 1.8 0.8 3.8 6.0 11.5 .522 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.5 2.3 .667
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971972-73
Team Sacramento KingsGolden 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 %
Olden Polynice 82 35.3 12.5 3.3 6.1 9.4 2.2 0.6 1.0 2.0 3.6 5.4 11.8 .457 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.1 .562
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981973-74
Team Sacramento KingsGolden 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 %
Olden Polynice 70 20.8 7.9 2.5 3.8 6.3 1.5 0.5 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.6 7.7 .459 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.6 .452
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991974-75
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago 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 %
Olden Polynice 48 30.9 7.7 3.8 5.0 8.9 0.9 0.4 0.6 1.0 3.1 3.5 7.5 .472 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.6 2.0 .309
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 %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001975-76
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Olden Polynice 82 22.2 5.3 2.0 3.5 5.5 0.5 0.4 1.0 0.9 3.2 2.5 4.9 .510 0.0 0.0 .500 0.3 1.1 .311
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 %
Olden Polynice 10 25.8 5.9 2.4 4.2 6.6 0.5 0.3 0.8 1.3 3.6 2.8 5.2 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .500
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

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-011976-77
Team Utah JazzCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Olden Polynice 81 20.0 5.3 1.9 2.7 4.7 0.4 0.3 1.0 1.0 3.0 2.5 5.1 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 0.2 0.8 .262
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 %
Olden Polynice 5 20.0 7.8 3.2 0.6 3.8 0.2 0.2 0.4 1.2 2.4 3.2 6.0 .533 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.0 .700
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 -

Note: Olden Polynice didn't play in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Season 15

Olden Polynice Nate Thurmond
Season 2003-04-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Olden Polynice 2 6.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Olden Polynice ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------