Nate Thurmond vs. Russell Westbrook Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Russell Westbrook 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, 2 less than Russell Westbrook, who played 16. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while Russell Westbrook had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Russell Westbrook 16 13 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1963-642008-09
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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
Russell Westbrook 82 32.5 15.3 2.2 2.7 4.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 3.3 2.3 5.3 13.4 .398 0.4 1.6 .271 4.3 5.2 .815
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
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1964-652009-10
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Russell Westbrook 82 34.3 16.1 1.7 3.1 4.9 8.0 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.5 5.9 14.1 .418 0.3 1.3 .221 4.0 5.1 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 6 35.3 20.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 6.0 1.7 0.2 2.3 2.2 7.2 15.2 .473 0.8 2.0 .417 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 3

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1965-662010-11
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Russell Westbrook 82 34.7 21.9 1.5 3.1 4.6 8.2 1.9 0.4 3.9 2.5 7.5 17.0 .442 0.4 1.3 .330 6.5 7.7 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 17 37.5 23.8 2.1 3.2 5.4 6.4 1.4 0.4 4.6 3.3 7.9 20.2 .394 0.8 2.8 .292 7.1 8.4 .852

Season 4

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1966-672011-12
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Russell Westbrook 66 35.3 23.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.5 1.7 0.3 3.6 2.2 8.8 19.2 .457 0.9 3.0 .316 5.2 6.3 .823
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
Russell Westbrook 20 38.4 23.1 1.1 4.4 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.5 8.9 20.4 .435 0.9 3.3 .277 4.5 5.6 .802

Season 5

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1967-682012-13
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Russell Westbrook 82 34.9 23.2 1.4 3.9 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.3 3.3 2.3 8.2 18.7 .438 1.2 3.7 .323 5.6 7.0 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 2 34.0 24.0 0.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 3.0 0.0 4.0 2.5 8.5 20.5 .415 1.0 4.5 .222 6.0 7.0 .857

Season 6

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1968-692013-14
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisThunder 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 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Russell Westbrook 46 30.7 21.8 1.2 4.5 5.7 6.9 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.2 .437 1.5 4.7 .318 5.3 6.4 .826
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
Russell Westbrook 19 38.7 26.7 2.4 4.9 7.3 8.1 2.2 0.3 4.4 3.3 8.8 20.9 .420 1.5 5.3 .280 7.6 8.6 .884

Season 7

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1969-702014-15
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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
Russell Westbrook 67 34.4 28.1 1.9 5.4 7.3 8.6 2.1 0.2 4.4 2.7 9.4 22.0 .426 1.3 4.3 .299 8.1 9.8 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1970-712015-16
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Russell Westbrook 80 34.4 23.5 1.8 6.0 7.8 10.4 2.0 0.3 4.3 2.5 8.2 18.1 .454 1.3 4.3 .296 5.8 7.2 .812
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
Russell Westbrook 18 37.4 26.0 2.3 4.6 6.9 11.0 2.6 0.1 4.3 2.4 8.8 21.8 .405 1.9 5.8 .324 6.4 7.8 .829

Season 9

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1971-722016-17
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Russell Westbrook 81 34.6 31.6 1.7 9.0 10.7 10.4 1.6 0.4 5.4 2.3 10.2 24.0 .425 2.5 7.2 .343 8.8 10.4 .845
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
Russell Westbrook 5 38.8 37.4 1.8 9.8 11.6 10.8 2.4 0.4 6.0 3.2 11.8 30.4 .388 2.6 9.8 .265 11.2 14.0 .800

Season 10

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1972-732017-18
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsThunder 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 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Russell Westbrook 80 36.4 25.4 1.9 8.2 10.1 10.3 1.8 0.3 4.8 2.5 9.5 21.1 .449 1.2 4.1 .298 5.2 7.1 .737
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
Russell Westbrook 6 39.2 29.3 1.8 10.2 12.0 7.5 1.5 0.0 5.2 3.5 10.7 26.8 .398 2.5 7.0 .357 5.5 6.7 .825

Season 11

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1973-742018-19
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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
Russell Westbrook 73 36.0 22.9 1.5 9.6 11.1 10.7 1.9 0.5 4.5 3.4 8.6 20.2 .428 1.6 5.6 .290 4.1 6.2 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 39.4 22.8 1.4 7.6 9.0 10.6 1.0 0.6 4.6 3.8 8.0 22.2 .360 2.2 6.8 .324 4.6 5.2 .885

Season 12

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1974-752019-20
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 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
Russell Westbrook 57 35.9 27.2 1.8 6.2 7.9 7.0 1.6 0.4 4.5 3.5 10.6 22.5 .472 1.0 3.7 .258 5.1 6.7 .763
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
Russell Westbrook 8 32.8 17.9 1.4 5.6 7.0 4.6 1.5 0.3 3.8 2.9 7.4 17.5 .421 1.0 4.1 .242 2.1 4.0 .531

Season 13

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1975-762020-21
Team Chicago Bulls, Cleveland CavaliersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsWizards 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 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
Russell Westbrook 65 36.4 22.2 1.7 9.9 11.5 11.7 1.4 0.4 4.8 2.9 8.4 19.0 .439 1.3 4.2 .315 4.2 6.4 .656
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
Russell Westbrook 5 37.2 19.0 2.8 7.6 10.4 11.8 0.4 0.2 4.2 3.4 5.6 16.8 .333 1.0 4.0 .250 6.8 8.6 .791

Season 14

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season 1976-772021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers
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
Russell Westbrook 78 34.3 18.5 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.1 1.0 0.3 3.8 3.0 7.0 15.8 .444 1.0 3.4 .298 3.4 5.1 .667
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 -
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season -2022-23
Team -Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 73 29.1 15.9 1.2 4.6 5.8 7.5 1.0 0.5 3.5 2.2 5.9 13.6 .436 1.2 3.9 .311 2.8 4.3 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 38.4 23.6 1.8 5.8 7.6 7.4 1.2 1.4 4.0 3.0 8.6 21.0 .410 2.0 5.6 .357 4.4 5.0 .880

Season 16

Nate Thurmond Russell Westbrook
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 68 22.5 11.1 1.4 3.7 5.0 4.5 1.1 0.3 2.1 1.8 4.4 9.8 .454 0.6 2.3 .273 1.6 2.4 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 6 19.0 6.3 1.0 3.2 4.2 1.7 1.2 0.5 1.7 1.8 2.2 8.3 .260 0.7 2.8 .235 1.3 2.2 .615