Nate Thurmond vs. Kevin Willis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Willis 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, 7 less than Kevin Willis, who played 21. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while Kevin Willis had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Kevin Willis 21 11 1984-85 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1963-641984-85
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Kevin Willis 82 21.8 9.3 2.2 4.2 6.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.3 2.8 3.9 8.4 .467 0.0 0.1 .222 1.5 2.2 .657
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
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1964-651985-86
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Kevin Willis 82 28.0 12.3 3.0 5.6 8.6 0.5 0.8 0.5 2.2 3.6 5.1 9.9 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.2 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 9 31.1 13.9 3.4 3.8 7.2 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.7 4.2 6.1 10.9 .561 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.6 .652

Season 3

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1965-661986-87
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Kevin Willis 81 32.4 16.1 4.0 6.5 10.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 2.1 3.9 6.6 12.4 .536 0.0 0.0 .250 2.8 4.0 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 9 39.6 15.7 3.7 5.6 9.2 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.9 3.7 6.7 12.8 .522 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .677

Season 4

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1966-671987-88
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Kevin Willis 75 27.9 11.6 3.1 4.2 7.3 0.4 0.9 0.5 1.8 3.2 4.7 9.2 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.3 .649
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
Kevin Willis 12 38.5 16.2 3.0 6.0 9.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 2.1 4.3 6.7 11.5 .580 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 4.2 .680

Note: Kevin Willis didn't play in 1988-89.

Season 5

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1967-681989-90
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
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 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Kevin Willis 81 28.1 12.4 3.1 4.8 8.0 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.8 3.2 5.2 9.9 .519 0.0 0.1 .286 2.1 3.0 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1968-691990-91
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisHawks 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 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Kevin Willis 80 29.7 13.1 3.2 5.6 8.8 1.2 0.8 0.5 1.9 2.9 5.6 11.0 .504 0.1 0.1 .400 2.0 3.0 .668
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
Kevin Willis 5 31.8 15.4 3.6 5.4 9.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.4 4.4 5.4 13.4 .403 0.4 0.6 .667 4.2 6.0 .700

Season 7

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1969-701991-92
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Kevin Willis 81 36.6 18.3 5.2 10.4 15.5 2.1 0.9 0.7 2.4 2.8 7.3 15.1 .483 0.1 0.5 .162 3.6 4.5 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1970-711992-93
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Kevin Willis 80 36.0 17.9 4.2 8.7 12.9 2.1 0.9 0.5 2.7 3.3 7.7 15.2 .506 0.1 0.4 .241 2.5 3.8 .653
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
Kevin Willis 3 34.3 16.7 4.3 4.3 8.7 1.0 0.7 0.0 2.3 4.3 7.0 15.0 .467 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.7 .571

Season 9

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1971-721993-94
Team Golden State WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Kevin Willis 80 35.8 19.1 4.2 7.9 12.0 1.9 1.0 0.5 2.4 3.1 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.3 .375 3.4 4.7 .713
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
Kevin Willis 11 32.9 12.2 3.5 7.4 10.8 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.7 3.4 5.4 11.7 .457 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 1.9 .762

Season 10

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1972-731994-95
Team Golden State WarriorsAtlanta Hawks, Miami Heat
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
Kevin Willis 67 35.7 17.2 3.4 7.5 10.9 1.3 0.9 0.5 2.4 3.2 7.1 15.1 .466 0.0 0.2 .200 3.1 4.4 .690
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
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1973-741995-96
Team Golden State WarriorsMiami Heat, Golden 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 %
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
Kevin Willis 75 28.5 10.6 2.8 5.7 8.5 0.7 0.4 0.5 2.1 3.4 4.3 9.5 .456 0.0 0.1 .111 1.9 2.7 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1974-751996-97
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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
Kevin Willis 75 26.2 11.2 1.9 5.5 7.5 0.9 0.6 0.4 1.6 2.9 4.7 9.7 .481 0.0 0.2 .143 1.9 2.7 .693
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
Kevin Willis 16 18.3 6.4 1.4 3.3 4.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.4 2.9 2.4 5.9 .400 0.0 0.1 .000 1.6 2.4 .684

Season 13

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1975-761997-98
Team Chicago Bulls, Cleveland CavaliersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsRockets Lost West 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 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
Kevin Willis 81 31.2 16.1 2.9 5.5 8.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 2.1 2.9 6.6 12.9 .510 0.0 0.1 .143 3.0 3.8 .793
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
Kevin Willis 5 33.6 11.2 3.6 7.0 10.6 1.0 1.6 0.6 2.4 4.2 4.4 11.0 .400 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 3.2 .750

Season 14

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season 1976-771998-99
Team Cleveland CavaliersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
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
Kevin Willis 42 29.0 12.0 2.6 5.7 8.3 1.6 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.2 4.5 10.6 .418 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 3.7 .839
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 -
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -1999-00
Team -Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors 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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 79 21.3 7.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.6 0.5 0.6 1.2 3.2 3.0 7.2 .415 0.0 0.0 .333 1.7 2.1 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 3 25.7 13.0 2.0 6.7 8.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 3.7 4.0 11.0 .364 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 6.7 .750

Season 16

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -2000-01
Team -Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets
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 %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 78 23.5 9.3 2.3 4.6 6.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 8.8 .441 0.0 0.1 .167 1.4 1.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -2001-02
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 52 16.6 6.1 2.0 3.7 5.8 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.9 2.4 5.5 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -2002-03
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 71 11.8 4.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.7 1.7 3.6 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.2 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 18 5.0 2.6 1.1 0.7 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.2 2.2 .525 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 19

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -2003-04
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 48 7.8 3.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.3 1.5 3.1 .467 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 7 3.4 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.1 .000

Season 20

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -2004-05
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 29 11.9 3.0 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.8 1.2 3.1 .389 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Note: Kevin Willis didn't play in 2005-06.

Season 21

Nate Thurmond Kevin Willis
Season -2006-07
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 5 8.6 2.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 2.2 1.0 2.6 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------