Bob Lanier vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Bob Lanier 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

Bob Lanier

vs.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bob Lanier: 1970-71 to 1983-84
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bob Lanier 0 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Bob Lanier 14 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Bob Lanier 9 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Bob Lanier 8 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 20.1 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 10.1 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 3.1 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 1.1 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 1.5 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Lanier 19,248 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Bob Lanier 9,698 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Bob Lanier 3,007 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Bob Lanier 777 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Lanier 1,100 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Bob Lanier 959 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Lanier .514 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Bob Lanier .154 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Lanier .767 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 25.7 (1972) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 14.9 (1973) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 4.6 (1975) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 1.4 (1974) * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 3.0 (1974) * Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 18.6 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 9.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 3.5 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 0.9 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 1.5 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Lanier 1,244 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Bob Lanier 645 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Bob Lanier 235 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Bob Lanier 62 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Lanier 99 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Bob Lanier 67 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Lanier .532 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Bob Lanier .000 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Lanier .768 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 28.0 (1977) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 16.7 (1977) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 6.3 (1975) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 1.7 (1981) * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 4.0 (1975) * Mel Thurston - n/a **

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. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.