Billy Cunningham vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Billy Cunningham that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Billy Cunningham:
1965-66 to 1975-76
Nate Thurmond:
1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

Billy Cunningham1
Nate Thurmond0
Billy Cunningham9
Nate Thurmond14
Billy Cunningham6
Nate Thurmond9
Billy Cunningham4
Nate Thurmond7

Honors and Awards

Billy Cunningham3
Nate Thurmond0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Billy Cunningham4
Nate Thurmond0
Billy Cunningham0 *
Nate Thurmond2
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Billy Cunningham0
Nate Thurmond5
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Billy Cunningham 20.8
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Billy Cunningham 10.1
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Billy Cunningham 4.0
Nate Thurmond 2.7

Billy Cunningham 1.2
*
Nate Thurmond 0.5

*
Billy Cunningham 0.5
*
Nate Thurmond 2.1

*

Totals Stats

Billy Cunningham 13,626
Nate Thurmond 14,437

Billy Cunningham 6,638
Nate Thurmond 14,464

Billy Cunningham 2,625
Nate Thurmond 2,575

Billy Cunningham 115
*
Nate Thurmond 125

*
Billy Cunningham 45
*
Nate Thurmond 553

*
Billy Cunningham 654
Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Billy Cunningham .446
Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage
Billy Cunningham -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Billy Cunningham .720
Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Billy Cunningham 26.1
(1970)
Nate Thurmond 21.9
(1970)

Billy Cunningham 13.6
(1970)
Nate Thurmond 22.0
(1968)

Billy Cunningham 5.9
(1972)
Nate Thurmond 4.2
(1968)

Billy Cunningham 1.2
(1976)
*
Nate Thurmond 0.7
(1974)

*
Billy Cunningham 0.5
(1976)
*
Nate Thurmond 2.9
(1974)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Billy Cunningham 19.4
Nate Thurmond 11.9

Billy Cunningham 9.1
Nate Thurmond 13.6

Billy Cunningham 3.2
Nate Thurmond 2.8

Billy Cunningham -
*
Nate Thurmond 0.4

*
Billy Cunningham -
*
Nate Thurmond 1.9

*

Totals Stats

Billy Cunningham 757
Nate Thurmond 966

Billy Cunningham 356
Nate Thurmond 1,101

Billy Cunningham 125
Nate Thurmond 225

Billy Cunningham 0
*
Nate Thurmond 11

*
Billy Cunningham 0
*
Nate Thurmond 51

*
Billy Cunningham 39
Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Billy Cunningham .427
Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage
Billy Cunningham -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Billy Cunningham .686
Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Billy Cunningham 29.2
(1970)
Nate Thurmond 25.4
(1972)

Billy Cunningham 15.4
(1971)
Nate Thurmond 23.1
(1967)

Billy Cunningham 5.7
(1971)
Nate Thurmond 5.2
(1972)

Billy Cunningham -
*
Nate Thurmond 0.5
(1976)

*
Billy Cunningham -
*
Nate Thurmond 2.2
(1976)

*
Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
** Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.