Danny Ainge vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Danny Ainge 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

Danny Ainge

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Danny Ainge: 1981-82 to 1994-95
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Danny Ainge 2 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Danny Ainge 14 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Danny Ainge 12 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Danny Ainge 1 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Danny Ainge 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Danny Ainge 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Danny Ainge 11.5 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Danny Ainge 2.7 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Danny Ainge 4.0 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Danny Ainge 1.1 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Danny Ainge 0.1 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Danny Ainge 11,964 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Danny Ainge 2,768 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Danny Ainge 4,199 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Danny Ainge 1,133 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Danny Ainge 132 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Danny Ainge 1,042 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Danny Ainge .469 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Danny Ainge .378 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Danny Ainge .846 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Danny Ainge 17.9 (1990) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Danny Ainge 4.3 (1990) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Danny Ainge 6.2 (1988) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Danny Ainge 1.6 (1985) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Danny Ainge 0.2 (1990) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Danny Ainge 9.9 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Danny Ainge 2.3 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Danny Ainge 3.4 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Danny Ainge 0.9 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Danny Ainge 0.1 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Danny Ainge 1,902 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Danny Ainge 443 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Danny Ainge 656 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Danny Ainge 172 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Danny Ainge 19 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Danny Ainge 193 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Danny Ainge .456 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Danny Ainge .397 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Danny Ainge .829 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Danny Ainge 15.6 (1986) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Danny Ainge 4.2 (1986) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Danny Ainge 6.4 (1988) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Danny Ainge 2.3 (1986) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Danny Ainge 0.3 (1991) 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.