Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond 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

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
S. Gilgeous-Alexander: 2018-19 to 2025-26
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons S. Gilgeous-Alexander 8 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played S. Gilgeous-Alexander 4 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games S. Gilgeous-Alexander 3 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

Season MVP S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Nate Thurmond 0

Finals MVP S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Nate Thurmond 0 *

All-NBA First Team S. Gilgeous-Alexander 3 Nate Thurmond 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) S. Gilgeous-Alexander 3 Nate Thurmond 0

All-Defensive 1st Team S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Nate Thurmond 5

Scoring Leader S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Nate Thurmond 0

Steals Leader S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Nate Thurmond 0 *

NBA Cup 1st Team S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 * Nate Thurmond 0 *

* Notes: NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament) played since 2023-24. 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 24.7 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 4.8 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 5.2 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.4 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0.8 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points S. Gilgeous-Alexander 11,750 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds S. Gilgeous-Alexander 2,282 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists S. Gilgeous-Alexander 2,455 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals S. Gilgeous-Alexander 685 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks S. Gilgeous-Alexander 383 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games S. Gilgeous-Alexander 476 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .502 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .356 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .863 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 32.7 (2025) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 5.9 (2020) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 6.6 (2026) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 2.0 (2024) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.0 (2025) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 25.8 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 5.4 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 5.7 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.4 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.0 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1,186 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds S. Gilgeous-Alexander 248 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists S. Gilgeous-Alexander 262 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals S. Gilgeous-Alexander 64 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks S. Gilgeous-Alexander 45 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games S. Gilgeous-Alexander 46 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .468 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .350 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .859 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 30.2 (2024) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 7.2 (2024) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 6.5 (2025) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.7 (2025) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.7 (2024) 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, this player has no data for the stat.