Joakim Noah vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Joakim Noah, 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.

Joakim Noah played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Joakim Noah had the first of his seasons in 2007-08, 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
Joakim Noah 13 8 2007-08 to 2019-20
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2007-081963-64
Team Chicago BullsSan 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 %
Joakim Noah 74 20.7 6.6 2.4 3.3 5.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.4 5.0 .482 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.6 .691
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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2008-091964-65
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Joakim Noah 80 24.2 6.7 3.1 4.5 7.6 1.3 0.6 1.4 1.0 3.0 2.6 4.7 .556 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.3 .676
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 %
Joakim Noah 7 38.7 10.1 4.0 9.1 13.1 2.3 0.9 2.1 1.1 4.4 3.7 7.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .760
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2009-101965-66
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Joakim Noah 64 30.1 10.7 3.4 7.6 11.0 2.1 0.5 1.6 1.8 3.1 4.1 8.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.4 .744
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 %
Joakim Noah 5 37.6 14.8 4.0 9.0 13.0 2.6 1.8 1.4 3.0 4.0 5.6 10.6 .528 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.8 .947
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2010-111966-67
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Joakim Noah 48 32.8 11.7 3.8 6.6 10.4 2.2 1.0 1.5 1.9 3.3 4.4 8.4 .525 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.9 .739
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 %
Joakim Noah 16 33.1 8.7 4.3 5.9 10.2 2.5 1.0 2.1 1.2 3.9 3.2 7.8 .411 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .725
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2011-121967-68
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Joakim Noah 64 30.4 10.2 3.8 6.0 9.8 2.5 0.6 1.4 1.4 2.5 3.9 7.7 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.2 .748
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 %
Joakim Noah 3 33.0 15.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 3.0 0.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 6.3 8.7 .731 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2012-131968-69
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Joakim Noah 66 36.8 11.9 3.9 7.2 11.1 4.0 1.2 2.1 2.7 2.8 4.6 9.5 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .751
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 %
Joakim Noah 12 34.1 10.8 4.3 5.3 9.6 2.3 0.8 2.2 2.0 3.6 4.3 9.9 .437 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .641
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2013-141969-70
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Joakim Noah 80 35.3 12.6 3.5 7.7 11.3 5.4 1.2 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.8 10.0 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.2 .737
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 %
Joakim Noah 5 42.0 10.4 3.0 9.8 12.8 4.6 1.0 1.4 3.8 3.8 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.4 .588
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2014-151970-71
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Joakim Noah 67 30.6 7.2 3.3 6.4 9.6 4.7 0.7 1.1 1.8 3.0 2.8 6.4 .445 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.6 .603
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 %
Joakim Noah 12 32.9 5.8 3.8 7.3 11.0 3.2 0.8 1.2 1.7 3.1 2.6 6.3 .408 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.7 .350
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2015-161971-72
Team Chicago BullsGolden 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 %
Joakim Noah 29 21.9 4.3 3.0 5.8 8.8 3.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.7 1.8 4.6 .383 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.6 .489
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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2016-171972-73
Team New York KnicksGolden 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 %
Joakim Noah 46 22.1 5.0 3.5 5.2 8.8 2.2 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.8 2.2 4.4 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.7 .436
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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2017-181973-74
Team New York KnicksGolden 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 %
Joakim Noah 7 5.7 1.7 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .500
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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2018-191974-75
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago 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 %
Joakim Noah 42 16.5 7.1 1.4 4.3 5.7 2.1 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.3 2.6 5.1 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.6 .716
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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
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

Joakim Noah Nate Thurmond
Season 2019-201975-76
Team Los Angeles ClippersChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Joakim Noah 5 10.0 2.8 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.8 0.8 1.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .750
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 %
Joakim Noah 2 1.0 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 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

Joakim Noah 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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
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 %
Joakim Noah ------- --- ----------
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 -