LaMelo Ball vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and LaMelo Ball 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

LaMelo Ball

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
LaMelo Ball: 2020-21 to 2023-24
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships LaMelo Ball 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons LaMelo Ball 4 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played LaMelo Ball 0 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games LaMelo Ball 1 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team LaMelo Ball 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) LaMelo Ball 0 Nate Thurmond 5

Rookie of The Year LaMelo Ball 1 Nate Thurmond 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball 20.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball 6.2 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball 7.4 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball 1.6 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball 0.3 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points LaMelo Ball 3,675 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds LaMelo Ball 1,147 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists LaMelo Ball 1,364 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals LaMelo Ball 286 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks LaMelo Ball 63 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games LaMelo Ball 184 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage LaMelo Ball .427 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage LaMelo Ball .374 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage LaMelo Ball .834 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball 23.9 (2024) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball 6.7 (2022) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball 8.4 (2023) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball 1.8 (2024) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball 0.4 (2022) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games LaMelo Ball 0 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball - Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball - 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.