James Harden vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and James Harden 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

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
James Harden: 2009-10 to 2025-26
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships James Harden 0 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons James Harden 17 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played James Harden 16 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games James Harden 11 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP James Harden 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-NBA First Team James Harden 6 Mel Thurston 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) James Harden 8 Mel Thurston 0

Scoring Leader James Harden 3 Mel Thurston 0

Assists Leader James Harden 2 Mel Thurston 0

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 24.1 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game James Harden 7.2 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.5 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 28,388 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds James Harden 6,612 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists James Harden 8,535 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals James Harden 1,752 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks James Harden 665 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games James Harden 1,178 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .439 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage James Harden .363 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .862 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 36.1 (2019) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 8.1 (2017) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game James Harden 11.2 (2017) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.0 (2019) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.9 (2020) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 22.5 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.5 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game James Harden 6.5 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 3,895 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds James Harden 948 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists James Harden 1,125 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals James Harden 282 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks James Harden 98 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games James Harden 173 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .425 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage James Harden .340 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .869 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 31.6 (2019) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 6.8 (2019) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game James Harden 9.1 (2025) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.4 (2016) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 1.0 (2025) 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.