Mel Counts vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Mel Counts 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
Mel Counts: 1964-65 to 1975-76
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Mel Counts 2 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Mel Counts 12 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Mel Counts 8 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Mel Counts 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Mel Counts 0 * Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Mel Counts 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Mel Counts 8.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Mel Counts 6.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Mel Counts 1.4 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Mel Counts 0.6 * Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Mel Counts 0.5 * Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Mel Counts 6,516 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Mel Counts 4,756 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Mel Counts 1,100 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Mel Counts 85 * Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Mel Counts 74 * Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Mel Counts 789 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Mel Counts .435 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Mel Counts - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Mel Counts .764 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Mel Counts 12.6 (1970) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Mel Counts 8.9 (1968) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Mel Counts 2.4 (1975) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Mel Counts 0.7 (1975) * Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Mel Counts 0.6 (1975) * Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Mel Counts 7.6 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Mel Counts 6.1 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Mel Counts 1.2 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Mel Counts 0.5 * Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Mel Counts 0.5 * Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Mel Counts 648 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Mel Counts 519 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Mel Counts 100 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Mel Counts 2 * Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Mel Counts 2 * Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Mel Counts 85 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Mel Counts .426 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Mel Counts - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Mel Counts .775 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Mel Counts 11.2 (1969) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Mel Counts 8.9 (1968) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Mel Counts 1.6 (1973) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Mel Counts 0.5 (1974) * Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Mel Counts 0.5 (1974) * 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.