Nikola Jokic vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Nikola Jokic 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
Nikola Jokic: 2015-16 to 2025-26
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Nikola Jokic 1 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Nikola Jokic 11 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Nikola Jokic 7 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Nikola Jokic 7 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Nikola Jokic 3 Mel Thurston 0 *

Finals MVP Nikola Jokic 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-NBA First Team Nikola Jokic 5 Mel Thurston 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Nikola Jokic 7 Mel Thurston 0

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 22.0 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 11.0 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 7.4 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.3 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 0.7 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Nikola Jokic 17,047 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Nikola Jokic 8,488 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Nikola Jokic 5,699 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Nikola Jokic 992 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Nikola Jokic 558 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Nikola Jokic 774 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Nikola Jokic .562 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Nikola Jokic .364 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Nikola Jokic .824 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 29.6 (2025) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 13.8 (2022) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 10.9 (2026) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.8 (2025) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 0.9 (2024) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 27.4 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 12.3 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 7.6 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 0.9 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Nikola Jokic 2,580 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Nikola Jokic 1,159 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Nikola Jokic 712 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Nikola Jokic 116 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Nikola Jokic 82 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Nikola Jokic 94 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Nikola Jokic .525 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Nikola Jokic .388 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Nikola Jokic .826 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Nikola Jokic 31.0 (2022) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Nikola Jokic 13.5 (2023) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Nikola Jokic 9.5 (2023) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Nikola Jokic 2.0 (2025) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Nikola Jokic 1.0 (2023) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Notes: ** 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. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.