Nate Thurmond vs. Zion Williamson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Zion Williamson and Nate Thurmond 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

Nate Thurmond

vs.

Zion Williamson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77
Zion Williamson: 2019-20 to 2023-24

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Nate Thurmond 0 Zion Williamson 0

NBA Seasons Nate Thurmond 14 Zion Williamson 4

Playoffs Played Nate Thurmond 9 Zion Williamson 0

All-Star Games Nate Thurmond 7 Zion Williamson 2

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Nate Thurmond 2 * Zion Williamson 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Nate Thurmond 5 Zion Williamson 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Nate Thurmond 15.0 Zion Williamson 24.7

Rebounds Per Game Nate Thurmond 15.0 Zion Williamson 6.5

Assists Per Game Nate Thurmond 2.7 Zion Williamson 4.1

Steals Per Game Nate Thurmond 0.5 * Zion Williamson 1.0

Blocks Per Game Nate Thurmond 2.1 * Zion Williamson 0.6

Totals Stats

Total Points Nate Thurmond 14,437 Zion Williamson 4,542

Total Rebounds Nate Thurmond 14,464 Zion Williamson 1,199

Total Assists Nate Thurmond 2,575 Zion Williamson 761

Total Steals Nate Thurmond 125 * Zion Williamson 182

Total Blocks Nate Thurmond 553 * Zion Williamson 111

Total Games Nate Thurmond 964 Zion Williamson 184

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Nate Thurmond .421 Zion Williamson .592

3-Point Percentage Nate Thurmond - n/a ** Zion Williamson .341

Free Throw Percentage Nate Thurmond .667 Zion Williamson .695

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970) Zion Williamson 27.0 (2021)

Rebounds Per Game Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968) Zion Williamson 7.2 (2021)

Assists Per Game Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968) Zion Williamson 5.0 (2024)

Steals Per Game Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) * Zion Williamson 1.1 (2023)

Blocks Per Game Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) * Zion Williamson 0.7 (2024)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Nate Thurmond 11.9 Zion Williamson -

Rebounds Per Game Nate Thurmond 13.6 Zion Williamson -

Assists Per Game Nate Thurmond 2.8 Zion Williamson -

Steals Per Game Nate Thurmond 0.4 * Zion Williamson -

Blocks Per Game Nate Thurmond 1.9 * Zion Williamson -

Totals Stats

Total Points Nate Thurmond 966 Zion Williamson -

Total Rebounds Nate Thurmond 1,101 Zion Williamson -

Total Assists Nate Thurmond 225 Zion Williamson -

Total Steals Nate Thurmond 11 * Zion Williamson -

Total Blocks Nate Thurmond 51 * Zion Williamson -

Total Games Nate Thurmond 81 Zion Williamson 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Nate Thurmond .416 Zion Williamson -

3-Point Percentage Nate Thurmond - n/a ** Zion Williamson -

Free Throw Percentage Nate Thurmond .621 Zion Williamson -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972) Zion Williamson -

Rebounds Per Game Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967) Zion Williamson -

Assists Per Game Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972) Zion Williamson -

Steals Per Game Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) * Zion Williamson -

Blocks Per Game Nate Thurmond 2.2 (1976) * Zion Williamson -

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.