Al Horford vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Al Horford, 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 Horford played 19 years in the NBA, 5 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Al Horford had the first of his seasons in 2007-08, 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 achievements, 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 Horford 19 16 2007-08 to 2025-26
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2007-081963-64
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 81 31.4 10.1 3.1 6.6 9.7 1.5 0.7 0.9 1.7 3.3 4.1 8.2 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .731
difference:+5+5.5+3.1+0.7+0.4-0.9+1.2+0.9+.104+0.6+0.3+.182
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 7 39.6 12.6 3.1 7.3 10.4 3.6 0.4 1.0 2.1 3.7 4.9 10.3 .472 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.9 .741
difference:+5+5.4+2.6+1.9+2.8-0.1+1.4+2.3+.034+0.1+0.5+.062
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2008-091964-65
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 67 33.5 11.5 2.2 7.1 9.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.5 2.8 4.7 8.9 .525 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.1 .727
difference:+10+7.7+5.0+8.8+0.4-0.2+2.0+7.2+.106+0.9+1.5+.069
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 9 28.0 6.9 1.3 4.4 5.8 2.0 0.7 0.7 0.4 2.9 2.8 6.6 .424 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.0 .667
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Al Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2009-101965-66
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 81 35.1 14.2 2.9 7.0 9.9 2.3 0.7 1.1 1.5 2.8 5.8 10.5 .551 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .789
difference:+8+4.5+2.1+8.1+0.8-0.3+0.4+4.8+.145+1.2+2.6+.135
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 11 35.3 14.6 2.5 6.5 9.0 1.8 0.7 1.7 1.4 3.2 6.1 11.6 .523 0.1 0.1 1.000 2.4 2.8 .839
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Al Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2010-111966-67
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 77 35.1 15.3 2.4 7.0 9.3 3.5 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 6.7 12.0 .557 0.0 0.1 .500 1.9 2.4 .798
difference:+12+7.4+3.4+12.0+0.9-0.3+0.5+4.4+.120+2.4+4.4+.169
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 12 39.0 11.3 2.1 7.5 9.6 3.5 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.8 4.8 11.4 .423 0.0 0.2 .000 1.7 2.2 .769
difference:+3+7.0+4.6+13.5+0.4-0.7+1.4+2.9+.010+1.8+3.9+.198
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2011-121967-68
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 11 31.6 12.4 2.4 4.6 7.0 2.2 0.9 1.3 1.5 1.9 5.2 9.4 .553 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.7 .733
difference:+40+12.0+8.1+15.0+2.0-0.8+2.3+8.8+.142+3.5+5.9+.089
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 3 36.0 15.3 1.7 6.7 8.3 2.7 1.3 1.3 4.0 3.7 6.7 11.3 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Al Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2012-131968-69
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 74 37.2 17.4 2.6 7.6 10.2 3.2 1.1 1.1 2.0 2.2 7.8 14.3 .543 0.0 0.1 .500 1.8 2.8 .644
difference:+3+8.0+4.1+9.5+0.4-0.2+0.2+5.3+.133+3.6+5.9+.029
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 6 36.3 16.7 2.0 6.8 8.8 3.0 1.0 0.8 1.5 2.8 6.8 13.8 .494 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .667
difference:+7.5+10.7+1.7-0.2+0.1+3.2+.102+0.3+1.2+.079
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2013-141969-70
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 29 33.0 18.6 2.3 6.1 8.4 2.6 0.9 1.5 2.2 1.9 8.2 14.5 .567 0.1 0.4 .364 2.0 2.9 .682
difference:+14+11.6+3.3+9.3+0.9-0.7+0.3+4.7+.153+4.1+5.1+.072
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
* Neiher Al Horford nor Nate Thurmond played in the postseason in their season 7

Season 8

Al Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2014-151970-71
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 76 30.5 15.2 1.7 5.4 7.2 3.2 0.9 1.3 1.3 1.6 6.8 12.7 .538 0.1 0.5 .306 1.4 1.9 .759
difference:+6+10.4+4.8+6.6+0.1-0.7+0.8+4.4+.093+3.4+4.7+.029
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 16 32.6 14.4 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.7 0.8 1.4 1.6 2.1 6.7 13.2 .507 0.1 0.6 .222 0.9 1.3 .750
difference:+11+5.8+3.2+1.6+0.7-1.9+0.5+6.2+.136+2.3+2.7+.050
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2015-161971-72
Team Atlanta HawksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 82 32.1 15.2 1.8 5.5 7.3 3.2 0.8 1.5 1.3 2.0 6.5 12.8 .505 1.1 3.1 .344 1.3 1.6 .798
difference:+4+11.0+6.2+8.8+0.3-0.7+1.6+5.8+.073+4.0+5.6+.055
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 10 32.7 13.4 1.3 5.2 6.5 3.1 1.2 2.4 1.7 2.5 5.4 11.6 .466 1.1 2.8 .393 1.5 1.6 .938
difference:+5+13.3+12.0+11.3+2.1-0.1+5.2+12.8+.032+2.7+4.0+.188
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2016-171972-73
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 68 32.3 14.0 1.4 5.4 6.8 5.0 0.8 1.3 1.7 2.0 5.6 11.8 .473 1.3 3.6 .355 1.6 2.0 .800
difference:+11+11.0+3.1+10.3+1.5-1.0+0.9+2.9+.027+2.4+3.6+.082
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 18 33.9 15.1 1.7 4.8 6.6 5.4 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.8 6.2 10.6 .584 1.5 2.9 .519 1.2 1.6 .759
difference:+7+7.9+0.6+6.6+1.8-0.9+0.4+4.0+.186+1.7+2.0+.041
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2017-181973-74
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 72 31.6 12.9 1.4 5.9 7.4 4.7 0.6 1.1 1.8 1.9 5.1 10.5 .489 1.3 3.1 .429 1.3 1.7 .783
difference:+10+8.1+0.1+2.6+4.2+6.8+2.0+0.1+1.8-1.0+0.1+0.7+.045+1.8+2.9+.117
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 19 35.7 15.7 1.7 6.6 8.3 3.3 1.0 1.2 1.7 2.1 5.8 10.7 .544 0.8 2.3 .349 3.3 3.9 .827
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Al Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2018-191974-75
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBulls Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 68 29.0 13.6 1.8 5.0 6.7 4.2 0.9 1.3 1.5 1.9 5.7 10.6 .535 1.1 3.0 .360 1.1 1.4 .821
difference:+12+5.5+5.7+1.4+3.1+4.6+0.1+0.3+1.1-1.5+2.6+2.0+.171+0.6+1.4+.232
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 9 34.4 13.9 1.4 7.6 9.0 4.4 0.4 0.8 2.1 2.3 5.1 12.2 .418 2.0 4.9 .409 1.7 2.0 .833
difference:+4+14.9+10.4+0.4+2.8+2.3+2.0+0.8-0.5+4.0+9.3+.050+0.3+0.8+.347
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2019-201975-76
Team Philadelphia 76ersChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 67 30.2 11.9 1.5 5.3 6.8 4.0 0.8 0.9 1.2 2.1 4.8 10.6 .450 1.5 4.2 .350 0.9 1.2 .763
difference:+11+12.3+7.5+1.5+1.5+2.8+0.5+0.4+3.0+6.3+.029+0.1+0.4+.259
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 4 32.3 7.0 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.3 0.3 1.3 0.8 3.5 3.0 6.3 .480 0.0 1.0 .000 1.0 1.8 .571
difference:+9+3.5+0.3+0.6+1.1+1.7+0.1+0.2+0.9-0.5+0.2+0.2+.012+0.7+.165
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 Horford Nate Thurmond
Season 2020-211976-77
Team Oklahoma City ThunderCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford 28 27.9 14.2 1.0 5.7 6.7 3.4 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.7 5.8 12.9 .450 2.0 5.4 .368 0.6 0.8 .818
difference:+21+7.6+8.7+1.5+0.5+0.9+1.7+0.6+0.8-0.9+3.8+7.9+.043+0.8+1.4+.176
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Al Horford DNP------ --- ----------
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 -

Additional Years

* Al Horford played 5 seasons more than Nate Thurmond in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 19, from 2022 to 2026—Al Horford played in 4 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.