Michael Cooper vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Michael Cooper 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

Michael Cooper

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Michael Cooper: 1978-79 to 1989-90
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Michael Cooper 5 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Michael Cooper 12 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Michael Cooper 11 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Michael Cooper 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Michael Cooper 5 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Michael Cooper 8 Nate Thurmond 5

Defensive Player of The Year Michael Cooper 1 * Nate Thurmond 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 8.9 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.2 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 7,729 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 2,769 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Michael Cooper 3,666 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Michael Cooper 1,033 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 523 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Michael Cooper 873 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .469 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .340 * Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .833 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 11.9 (1982) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.1 (1981) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.9 (1984) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.6 (1981) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1981) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 9.4 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.4 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 1,581 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 574 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Michael Cooper 703 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Michael Cooper 203 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 96 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Michael Cooper 168 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .468 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .392 * Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .825 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 13.0 (1987) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.4 (1982) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.7 (1984) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 2.0 (1981) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1984) 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. 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.