Otis Birdsong vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Otis Birdsong 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

Otis Birdsong

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Otis Birdsong: 1977-78 to 1988-89
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Otis Birdsong 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Otis Birdsong 12 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Otis Birdsong 7 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Otis Birdsong 4 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Otis Birdsong 1 Nate Thurmond 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Otis Birdsong 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Otis Birdsong 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 18.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.2 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.2 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 0.2 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Otis Birdsong 12,544 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Otis Birdsong 2,072 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Otis Birdsong 2,260 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Otis Birdsong 858 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Otis Birdsong 143 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Otis Birdsong 696 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Otis Birdsong .506 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Otis Birdsong .274 * Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Otis Birdsong .655 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 24.6 (1981) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 4.3 (1979) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 4.1 (1985) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.7 (1980) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 0.3 (1980) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 15.6 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.0 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.0 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.6 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 0.1 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Otis Birdsong 546 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Otis Birdsong 104 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Otis Birdsong 104 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Otis Birdsong 56 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Otis Birdsong 5 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Otis Birdsong 35 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Otis Birdsong .480 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Otis Birdsong .091 * Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Otis Birdsong .583 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 23.0 (1986) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 7.7 (1980) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 4.5 (1983) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 2.0 (1986) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.0 (1986) 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.