Mel Nowell vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Mel Nowell 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

Mel Nowell

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Mel Nowell: 1962-63 to 1962-63
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Mel Nowell 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Mel Nowell 1 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Mel Nowell 0 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Mel Nowell 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

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

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Mel Nowell 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 Nowell 5.9 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Mel Nowell 1.7 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Mel Nowell 2.2 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Mel Nowell 232 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Mel Nowell 67 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Mel Nowell 84 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Mel Nowell 39 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Mel Nowell .388 Nate Thurmond .421

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

Free Throw Percentage Mel Nowell .727 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Mel Nowell 5.9 (1963) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Mel Nowell 1.7 (1963) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Mel Nowell 2.2 (1963) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Mel Nowell 0 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond .416

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

Free Throw Percentage Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Mel Nowell - Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Mel Nowell - n/a ** Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Mel Nowell - 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. ** 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.