Billy Ray Bates vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Billy Ray Bates 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

Billy Ray Bates

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Billy Ray Bates: 1979-80 to 1982-83
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Billy Ray Bates 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Billy Ray Bates 4 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Billy Ray Bates 2 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Billy Ray Bates 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Billy Ray Bates 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Billy Ray Bates 0 Nate Thurmond 5

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 11.7 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.9 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.8 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.1 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Billy Ray Bates 2,197 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Billy Ray Bates 313 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Billy Ray Bates 352 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Billy Ray Bates 151 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Billy Ray Bates 16 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Billy Ray Bates 187 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Billy Ray Bates .474 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Billy Ray Bates .303 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Billy Ray Bates .796 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 13.8 (1981) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.0 (1981) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.5 (1981) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.1 (1981) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.2 (1983) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 26.7 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.8 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 4.2 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.3 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Billy Ray Bates 160 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Billy Ray Bates 17 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Billy Ray Bates 25 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Billy Ray Bates 10 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Billy Ray Bates 2 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Billy Ray Bates 6 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Billy Ray Bates .545 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Billy Ray Bates .375 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Billy Ray Bates .806 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 28.3 (1981) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 3.3 (1980) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 4.3 (1981) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 (1981) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.3 (1981) 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.