Jayson Tatum vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Jayson Tatum 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
Jayson Tatum: 2017-18 to 2024-25
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Jayson Tatum 1 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Jayson Tatum 8 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Jayson Tatum 8 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Jayson Tatum 6 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

All-NBA First Team Jayson Tatum 4 Mel Thurston 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Jayson Tatum 5 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Jayson Tatum 23.6 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Jayson Tatum 7.3 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Jayson Tatum 3.8 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Jayson Tatum 1.1 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jayson Tatum 0.7 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Jayson Tatum 13,784 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Jayson Tatum 4,293 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Jayson Tatum 2,243 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Jayson Tatum 639 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Jayson Tatum 384 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Jayson Tatum 585 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Jayson Tatum .459 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Jayson Tatum .370 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Jayson Tatum .840 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Jayson Tatum 30.1 (2023) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Jayson Tatum 8.8 (2023) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Jayson Tatum 6.0 (2025) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Jayson Tatum 1.4 (2020) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jayson Tatum 0.9 (2020) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Jayson Tatum 24.3 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Jayson Tatum 8.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Jayson Tatum 4.9 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Jayson Tatum 1.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jayson Tatum 0.9 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Jayson Tatum 2,936 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Jayson Tatum 989 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Jayson Tatum 592 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Jayson Tatum 143 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Jayson Tatum 106 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Jayson Tatum 121 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Jayson Tatum .439 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Jayson Tatum .348 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Jayson Tatum .841 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Jayson Tatum 30.6 (2021) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Jayson Tatum 11.5 (2025) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Jayson Tatum 6.3 (2024) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Jayson Tatum 2.1 (2025) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jayson Tatum 1.6 (2021) 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.