Al Bianchi vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Al Bianchi, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Al Bianchi played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Al Bianchi had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Nate Thurmond had his rookie season in 1963-64. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Al Bianchi 10 10 1956-57 to 1965-66
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1956-571963-64
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 68 23.2 8.3 - - 3.3 1.6 - - - 2.9 2.9 8.3 .351 - - - 2.4 3.5 .690
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 5 19.4 6.4 - - 3.0 1.6 - - - 3.2 2.4 7.6 .316 - - - 1.6 2.4 .667
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679

Season 2

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1957-581964-65
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 69 20.6 8.3 - - 3.2 1.7 - - - 2.7 3.1 9.1 .344 - - - 2.0 3.0 .683
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 2 18.5 5.5 - - 3.5 1.0 - - - 2.0 2.0 6.0 .333 - - - 1.5 4.0 .375
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1958-591965-66
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 72 24.7 10.0 - - 2.8 2.2 - - - 3.6 4.0 10.5 .377 - - - 2.1 2.9 .723
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 9 21.3 9.1 - - 3.2 2.8 - - - 4.6 3.8 8.2 .459 - - - 1.6 2.4 .636
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1959-601966-67
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 69 18.2 7.7 - - 2.6 2.4 - - - 3.3 3.1 8.3 .366 - - - 1.6 2.2 .703
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 2 9.0 0.0 - - 1.5 1.5 - - - 1.0 0.0 4.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571

Season 5

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1960-611967-68
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 52 12.8 5.7 - - 2.0 1.8 - - - 2.6 2.3 6.6 .345 - - - 1.2 1.7 .690
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 7 12.9 6.0 - - 1.0 0.7 - - - 2.9 2.4 6.6 .370 - - - 1.1 1.3 .889
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1961-621968-69
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 80 24.1 10.3 - - 3.5 3.3 - - - 2.9 4.2 10.6 .397 - - - 1.9 2.8 .697
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 5 36.8 14.2 - - 5.2 3.6 - - - 3.4 5.4 13.8 .391 - - - 3.4 4.0 .850
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588

Season 7

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1962-631969-70
Team Syracuse NationalsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 61 19.0 8.6 - - 2.2 2.8 - - - 2.7 3.3 7.8 .424 - - - 2.0 2.7 .732
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 5 15.4 6.8 - - 1.6 0.4 - - - 3.4 3.0 6.8 .441 - - - 0.8 1.4 .571
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1963-641970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 78 18.4 8.0 - - 1.9 1.9 - - - 3.2 3.3 8.8 .376 - - - 1.4 1.8 .773
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 5 13.6 5.4 - - 0.8 0.8 - - - 2.4 2.4 5.8 .414 - - - 0.6 0.8 .750
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800

Season 9

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1964-651971-72
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 60 18.6 6.7 - - 1.6 2.3 - - - 3.0 2.9 8.1 .360 - - - 0.9 1.3 .711
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 11 28.0 9.5 - - 1.5 2.7 - - - 4.1 4.1 10.7 .381 - - - 1.3 1.9 .667
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 10

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season 1965-661972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 78 16.8 6.3 - - 1.7 1.7 - - - 3.0 2.7 7.2 .382 - - - 0.8 1.3 .673
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi 5 12.8 9.0 - - 2.0 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.6 8.6 .419 - - - 1.8 2.4 .750
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800

Season 11

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season -1973-74
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 62 39.7 13.0 4.0 10.1 14.2 2.7 0.7 2.9 - 2.9 5.0 11.2 .444 - - - 3.1 4.6 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season -1974-75
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 80 34.5 7.9 3.2 8.1 11.3 4.1 0.6 2.4 - 3.4 3.1 8.6 .364 - - - 1.7 2.8 .589
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 13 19.5 3.5 1.8 4.8 6.7 2.4 0.4 1.6 - 2.8 1.1 2.9 .368 - - - 1.4 2.8 .486

Season 13

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season -1975-76
Team -Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 78 17.9 4.4 1.5 3.8 5.3 1.2 0.3 1.3 - 2.1 1.8 4.3 .421 - - - 0.8 1.6 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 13 28.8 6.7 2.9 6.1 9.0 2.2 0.5 2.2 - 4.0 2.8 6.1 .468 - - - 1.0 2.5 .406

Season 14

Al Bianchi Nate Thurmond
Season -1976-77
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 49 20.3 5.5 2.5 5.2 7.6 1.7 0.3 1.7 - 2.6 2.0 5.0 .407 - - - 1.4 2.2 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Bianchi ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -