Johnny Payak vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Johnny Payak 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
Johnny Payak: 1949-50 to 1952-53
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Johnny Payak 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Johnny Payak 2 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Johnny Payak 0 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Johnny Payak 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Johnny Payak 0 * Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Johnny Payak 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Johnny Payak 6.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Johnny Payak 1.7 * Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Johnny Payak 1.9 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Johnny Payak 753 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Johnny Payak 114 * Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Johnny Payak 226 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Johnny Payak 120 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Johnny Payak .321 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Johnny Payak .715 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Johnny Payak 6.4 (1953) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Johnny Payak 1.7 (1953) * Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Johnny Payak 2.1 (1953) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Johnny Payak - * Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Johnny Payak - * Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Johnny Payak 0 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Johnny Payak - * Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Johnny Payak - Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Johnny Payak - n/a ** 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. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** 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.