Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

vs.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
S. Gilgeous-Alexander: 2018-19 to 2025-26
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1
Mel Thurston	0

NBA Seasons

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	8
Mel Thurston	1

Playoffs Played

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	4
Mel Thurston	0

All-Star Games

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	3
Mel Thurston	0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1
Mel Thurston	0		*

Finals MVP

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1
Mel Thurston	0		*

All-NBA First Team

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	3
Mel Thurston	0

All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	3
Mel Thurston	0

Scoring Leader

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1
Mel Thurston	0

Steals Leader

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1
Mel Thurston	0		*

NBA Cup
1st Team

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	2		*
Mel Thurston	0		*

* Notes: NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament) played since 2023-24.
Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56.
Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.
Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	24.9
Mel Thurston	5.6

Rebounds Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	4.8
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Assists Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	5.2
Mel Thurston	0.3

Steals Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1.4
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Blocks Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	0.8
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	12,236
Mel Thurston	78

Total Rebounds

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	2,351
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Total Assists

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	2,552
Mel Thurston	4

Total Steals

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	709
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Total Blocks

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	393
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Total Games

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	491
Mel Thurston	14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	.505
Mel Thurston	.283

3-Point Percentage

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	.361
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Free Throw Percentage

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	.863
Mel Thurston	.500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	32.7		(2025)
Mel Thurston	5.6		(1948)

Rebounds Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	5.9		(2020)
Mel Thurston	-			n/a **

Assists Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	6.6		(2026)
Mel Thurston	0.3		(1948)

Steals Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	2.0		(2024)
Mel Thurston	-			n/a **

Blocks Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1.0		(2025)
Mel Thurston	-			n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	25.8
Mel Thurston	-

Rebounds Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	5.4
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Assists Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	5.7
Mel Thurston	-

Steals Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1.4
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Blocks Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1.0
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1,186
Mel Thurston	-

Total Rebounds

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	248
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Total Assists

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	262
Mel Thurston	-

Total Steals

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	64
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Total Blocks

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	45
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Total Games

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	46
Mel Thurston	0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	.468
Mel Thurston	-

3-Point Percentage

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	.350
Mel Thurston	-		n/a **

Free Throw Percentage

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	.859
Mel Thurston	-

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	30.2		(2024)
Mel Thurston	-

Rebounds Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	7.2		(2024)
Mel Thurston	-			n/a **

Assists Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	6.5		(2025)
Mel Thurston	-

Steals Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1.7		(2025)
Mel Thurston	-			n/a **

Blocks Per Game

S. Gilgeous-Alexander	1.7		(2024)
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.