Don Nelson vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Don Nelson 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

Don Nelson

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Don Nelson 5 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Don Nelson 14 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Don Nelson 11 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Don Nelson 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Don Nelson 0 * Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Don Nelson 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Nelson 10.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 4.9 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 1.4 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.3 * Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.1 * Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Nelson 10,898 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Don Nelson 5,192 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Don Nelson 1,526 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Don Nelson 65 * Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Don Nelson 35 * Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Don Nelson 1,053 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Nelson .480 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Don Nelson - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Don Nelson .765 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Nelson 15.4 (1970) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 7.3 (1970) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 2.3 (1972) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) * Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) * Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Nelson 10.5 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 4.8 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 1.4 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.3 * Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.1 * Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Nelson 1,577 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Don Nelson 719 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Don Nelson 210 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Don Nelson 13 * Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Don Nelson 7 * Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Don Nelson 150 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Nelson .498 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Don Nelson - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Don Nelson .817 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Nelson 15.4 (1975) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 7.5 (1968) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 2.4 (1975) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) * Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) * 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.