Larry Bird vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Larry Bird 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

Larry Bird

vs.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Larry Bird: 1979-80 to 1991-92
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Larry Bird 3 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Larry Bird 13 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Larry Bird 12 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Larry Bird 12 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Larry Bird 3 Mel Thurston 0 *

Finals MVP Larry Bird 2 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-NBA First Team Larry Bird 9 Mel Thurston 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Larry Bird 10 Mel Thurston 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Larry Bird 3 Mel Thurston 0

Rookie of The Year Larry Bird 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Rookie of The Year is awarded since 1952-53.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Larry Bird 24.3 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 10.0 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 6.3 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 1.7 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 0.8 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Larry Bird 21,791 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Larry Bird 8,974 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Larry Bird 5,695 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Larry Bird 1,556 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Larry Bird 755 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Larry Bird 897 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Larry Bird .496 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Larry Bird .376 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Larry Bird .886 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Larry Bird 29.9 (1988) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 11.0 (1983) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 7.6 (1987) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 2.0 (1986) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 1.2 (1985) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Larry Bird 23.8 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 10.3 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 6.5 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 1.8 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 0.9 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Larry Bird 3,897 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Larry Bird 1,683 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Larry Bird 1,062 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Larry Bird 296 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Larry Bird 145 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Larry Bird 164 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Larry Bird .472 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Larry Bird .321 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Larry Bird .890 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Larry Bird 27.5 (1984) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 14.0 (1981) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 8.8 (1990) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 2.3 (1984) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 1.4 (1982) 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.