Anthony Mason vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Anthony Mason, 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.

Anthony Mason played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Anthony Mason had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Anthony Mason 13 10 1989-90 to 2002-03
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901963-64
Team New Jersey NetsSan 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 %
Anthony Mason 21 5.1 1.8 0.5 1.1 1.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.5 1.0 0.7 1.9 .350 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .600
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 %
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911964-65
Team Denver NuggetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -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 %
Anthony Mason 3 7.0 3.3 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
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 %
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921965-66
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Mason 82 26.8 7.0 2.6 4.4 7.0 1.3 0.6 0.2 1.2 2.8 2.5 4.9 .509 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .642
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 %
Anthony Mason 12 24.0 5.0 2.3 4.0 6.3 0.8 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.8 1.6 3.6 .442 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .786
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931966-67
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 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 %
Anthony Mason 81 30.6 10.3 2.9 5.0 7.9 2.1 0.5 0.2 1.7 3.0 3.9 7.8 .502 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.6 .682
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 %
Anthony Mason 15 34.0 12.5 3.7 3.6 7.3 2.7 0.7 0.4 1.5 3.3 4.8 8.1 .590 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.5 .632
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941967-68
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Mason 73 26.1 7.2 2.2 3.7 5.8 2.1 0.4 0.1 1.5 2.6 2.8 5.9 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.2 .720
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 %
Anthony Mason 25 26.4 7.6 2.1 3.7 5.8 1.8 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.6 2.7 5.5 .489 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.1 .714
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951968-69
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 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 %
Anthony Mason 77 32.4 9.9 2.4 6.1 8.4 3.1 0.9 0.3 1.6 3.3 3.7 6.6 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.9 .641
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 %
Anthony Mason 11 32.0 9.5 2.1 4.1 6.2 2.2 0.5 0.5 2.4 2.5 2.8 4.6 .608 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 6.3 .623
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961969-70
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Anthony Mason 82 42.2 14.6 2.7 6.6 9.3 4.4 0.8 0.4 2.6 3.0 5.5 9.7 .563 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.0 .720
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 %
Anthony Mason 8 43.8 12.6 2.1 5.6 7.8 3.3 0.5 0.1 2.5 2.5 5.1 9.8 .526 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.5 .679
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971970-71
Team Charlotte HornetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Anthony Mason 73 43.1 16.2 2.5 8.8 11.4 5.7 1.0 0.5 2.3 2.8 5.9 11.3 .525 0.0 0.0 .333 4.4 5.9 .745
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 %
Anthony Mason 3 44.0 13.0 2.7 9.3 12.0 3.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 2.0 5.3 12.7 .421 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 4.3 .538
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981971-72
Team Charlotte HornetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 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 %
Anthony Mason 81 38.9 12.8 2.2 8.0 10.2 4.2 0.8 0.2 1.8 2.2 4.8 9.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 5.0 .649
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 %
Anthony Mason 9 40.8 15.4 1.9 6.0 7.9 3.4 0.9 0.0 2.4 1.9 6.3 11.0 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 4.7 .595
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Note: Anthony Mason didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 10

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001972-73
Team Charlotte HornetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Anthony Mason 82 38.2 11.6 1.8 6.8 8.5 4.5 0.9 0.4 2.0 2.7 3.9 8.1 .480 0.0 0.0 .000 3.8 5.1 .746
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 %
Anthony Mason 4 44.8 12.5 4.0 5.8 9.8 5.5 1.0 0.0 3.3 3.3 4.5 9.5 .474 0.0 0.3 .000 3.5 5.0 .700
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-011973-74
Team Miami HeatGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Anthony Mason 80 40.7 16.1 2.1 7.5 9.6 3.1 1.0 0.3 2.2 2.9 5.8 11.9 .482 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.9 .781
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 %
Anthony Mason 3 33.0 5.3 0.3 2.7 3.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.0 1.7 4.3 .385 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 2001-021974-75
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Anthony Mason 82 38.3 9.6 1.5 6.4 7.9 4.2 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 3.9 7.6 .505 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.9 2.7 .697
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 %
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------
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

Anthony Mason Nate Thurmond
Season 2002-031975-76
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Anthony Mason 65 32.6 7.2 1.4 5.0 6.4 3.2 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.3 2.9 6.0 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.8 .718
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 %
Anthony Mason 6 26.2 3.8 0.7 2.7 3.3 0.2 0.5 0.2 1.3 2.8 1.2 2.8 .412 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.2 .692
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

Anthony Mason 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 %
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------
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 %
Anthony Mason ------- --- ----------
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 -