Gary Payton vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Gary Payton 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

Gary Payton

vs.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Gary Payton: 1990-91 to 2006-07
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Gary Payton 1 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Gary Payton 17 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Gary Payton 15 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Gary Payton 9 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

All-NBA First Team Gary Payton 2 Mel Thurston 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Gary Payton 9 Mel Thurston 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Gary Payton 9 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Gary Payton 9 Mel Thurston 0

Defensive Player of The Year Gary Payton 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

Steals Leader Gary Payton 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Gary Payton 16.3 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Gary Payton 3.9 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Gary Payton 6.7 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Gary Payton 1.8 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gary Payton 0.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Gary Payton 21,813 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Gary Payton 5,269 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Gary Payton 8,966 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Gary Payton 2,445 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Gary Payton 285 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Gary Payton 1,335 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Gary Payton .466 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Gary Payton .317 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Gary Payton .729 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Gary Payton 24.2 (2000) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Gary Payton 6.5 (2000) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Gary Payton 9.0 (2002) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Gary Payton 2.9 (1996) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gary Payton 0.3 (2001) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Gary Payton 14.0 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Gary Payton 3.7 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Gary Payton 5.3 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Gary Payton 1.4 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gary Payton 0.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Gary Payton 2,155 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Gary Payton 575 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Gary Payton 811 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Gary Payton 216 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Gary Payton 32 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Gary Payton 154 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Gary Payton .441 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Gary Payton .315 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Gary Payton .706 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Gary Payton 25.8 (2000) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Gary Payton 8.6 (2002) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Gary Payton 8.7 (2003) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Gary Payton 2.2 (1997) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gary Payton 0.4 (2002) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Notes: ** 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.