Alvin Robertson vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Alvin Robertson, 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.

Alvin Robertson played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Alvin Robertson had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, 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
Alvin Robertson 10 4 1984-85 to 1995-96
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

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851963-64
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvin Robertson 79 21.3 9.2 1.5 1.9 3.4 3.5 1.6 0.3 2.1 2.7 3.8 7.6 .498 0.1 0.1 .364 1.6 2.1 .734
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861964-65
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvin Robertson 82 35.1 17.0 2.2 4.0 6.3 5.5 3.7 0.5 3.1 3.6 6.9 13.3 .514 0.1 0.4 .276 3.2 4.0 .795
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 %
Alvin Robertson 3 32.7 9.0 1.7 3.0 4.7 6.3 2.3 0.3 1.7 3.3 2.7 9.7 .276 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.3 .846
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871965-66
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvin Robertson 81 33.3 17.7 2.3 2.9 5.2 5.2 3.2 0.4 3.0 3.3 7.3 15.6 .466 0.2 0.6 .271 3.0 4.0 .753
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881966-67
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvin Robertson 82 36.3 19.6 2.0 4.1 6.1 6.8 3.0 0.8 3.1 3.7 8.0 17.2 .465 0.3 1.2 .284 3.3 4.5 .748
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 %
Alvin Robertson 3 39.7 23.3 1.7 3.0 4.7 9.3 4.0 0.3 3.0 5.0 10.0 17.7 .566 1.0 2.3 .429 2.3 3.0 .778
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

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891967-68
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvin Robertson 65 35.2 17.3 2.4 3.5 5.9 6.0 3.0 0.6 3.6 4.0 7.2 14.8 .483 0.1 0.7 .200 2.8 3.9 .723
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Alvin Robertson 81 32.1 14.2 2.8 4.1 6.9 5.5 2.6 0.2 2.7 3.5 5.9 11.7 .503 0.0 0.3 .154 2.4 3.3 .741
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 %
Alvin Robertson 4 38.8 23.5 2.5 3.3 5.8 4.8 2.3 0.0 3.8 4.0 8.8 16.8 .522 0.0 0.3 .000 6.0 8.5 .706
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

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911969-70
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvin Robertson 81 32.1 13.6 2.4 3.3 5.7 5.5 3.0 0.2 2.6 3.4 5.4 11.2 .485 0.3 0.8 .365 2.5 3.2 .757
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 %
Alvin Robertson 3 39.3 23.7 2.3 3.7 6.0 5.0 2.7 0.0 3.3 4.0 9.7 16.3 .592 1.0 3.0 .333 3.3 4.3 .769
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921970-71
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Alvin Robertson 82 30.0 12.3 2.1 2.1 4.3 4.4 2.6 0.4 2.7 3.2 4.8 11.2 .430 0.8 2.6 .319 1.8 2.4 .763
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931971-72
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit PistonsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Alvin Robertson 69 29.1 9.0 1.6 2.3 3.9 3.8 2.2 0.3 1.9 3.2 3.6 7.8 .458 0.6 1.8 .328 1.2 1.9 .656
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Note: Alvin Robertson didn't play in 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Season 10

Alvin Robertson Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961972-73
Team Toronto RaptorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Alvin Robertson 77 32.2 9.3 1.4 3.0 4.4 4.2 2.2 0.5 2.4 3.5 3.7 7.9 .470 0.5 2.0 .272 1.4 2.1 .677
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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

Alvin Robertson 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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Alvin Robertson 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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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

Alvin Robertson 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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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

Alvin Robertson 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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Alvin Robertson ------- --- ----------
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 -