Melvin Ely vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Melvin Ely 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

Melvin Ely

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Melvin Ely: 2002-03 to 2013-14
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Melvin Ely 1 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Melvin Ely 9 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Melvin Ely 1 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Melvin Ely 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Melvin Ely 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Melvin Ely 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Melvin Ely 5.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Ely 3.2 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Melvin Ely 0.7 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Melvin Ely 0.3 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Ely 0.6 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Melvin Ely 1,992 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Melvin Ely 1,215 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Melvin Ely 261 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Melvin Ely 99 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Melvin Ely 209 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Melvin Ely 375 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Melvin Ely .460 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Melvin Ely .000 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Melvin Ely .625 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Melvin Ely 9.8 (2006) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Ely 4.9 (2006) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Melvin Ely 1.3 (2006) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Melvin Ely 0.5 (2006) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Ely 0.9 (2005) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Melvin Ely 2.1 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Ely 1.6 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Melvin Ely 0.1 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Melvin Ely 0.0 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Ely 0.0 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Melvin Ely 15 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Melvin Ely 11 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Melvin Ely 1 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Melvin Ely 0 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Melvin Ely 0 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Melvin Ely 7 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Melvin Ely .267 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Melvin Ely - Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Melvin Ely .700 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Melvin Ely 2.1 (2008) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Ely 1.6 (2008) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Melvin Ely 0.1 (2008) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Melvin Ely 0.0 (2008) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Ely 0.0 (2008) 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.