Willis Reed vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Willis Reed 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

Willis Reed

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Willis Reed: 1964-65 to 1973-74
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Willis Reed 2 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Willis Reed 10 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Willis Reed 7 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Willis Reed 7 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Willis Reed 1 Nate Thurmond 0

Finals MVP Willis Reed 2 * Nate Thurmond 0 *

All-NBA First Team Willis Reed 1 Nate Thurmond 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Willis Reed 5 Nate Thurmond 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Willis Reed 1 * Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Willis Reed 1 Nate Thurmond 5

Rookie of The Year Willis Reed 1 Nate Thurmond 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Willis Reed 18.7 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 12.9 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 1.8 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.6 * Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 1.1 * Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Willis Reed 12,183 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Willis Reed 8,414 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Willis Reed 1,186 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Willis Reed 12 * Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Willis Reed 21 * Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Willis Reed 650 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Willis Reed .476 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Willis Reed - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Willis Reed .747 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Willis Reed 21.7 (1970) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 14.7 (1965) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 2.3 (1969) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.6 (1974) * Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 1.1 (1974) * Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Willis Reed 17.4 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 10.3 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 1.9 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.2 * Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 0.0 * Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Willis Reed 1,358 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Willis Reed 801 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Willis Reed 149 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Willis Reed 2 * Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Willis Reed 0 * Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Willis Reed 78 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Willis Reed .474 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Willis Reed - n/a ** Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Willis Reed .765 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Willis Reed 27.5 (1967) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 14.1 (1969) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 2.8 (1970) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.2 (1974) * Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 0.0 (1974) * 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.