Charles Oakley vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Charles Oakley, 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.

Charles Oakley played 19 years in the NBA, 5 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Charles Oakley had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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
Charles Oakley 19 15 1985-86 to 2003-04
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861963-64
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Charles Oakley 77 23.0 9.6 3.3 5.3 8.6 1.7 0.9 0.4 2.3 3.2 3.6 7.0 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.5 .662
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 %
Charles Oakley 3 29.3 10.0 3.3 6.7 10.0 1.0 2.0 0.7 1.7 4.3 3.7 7.0 .524 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.3 .615
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871964-65
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Charles Oakley 82 36.3 14.5 3.6 9.5 13.1 3.6 1.0 0.4 3.6 3.8 5.7 12.8 .445 0.1 0.4 .367 3.0 4.4 .686
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 %
Charles Oakley 3 43.0 20.0 5.7 9.7 15.3 2.0 1.3 0.3 2.7 4.3 6.3 16.7 .380 0.7 1.3 .500 6.7 8.0 .833
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881965-66
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Charles Oakley 82 34.3 12.4 4.0 9.0 13.0 3.0 0.8 0.3 2.9 3.3 4.6 9.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .250 3.2 4.4 .727
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 %
Charles Oakley 10 37.3 10.1 3.9 8.9 12.8 3.2 0.6 0.4 1.8 3.3 4.0 9.1 .440 0.0 0.2 .000 2.1 2.4 .875
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891966-67
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 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 %
Charles Oakley 82 31.8 12.9 4.2 6.3 10.5 2.3 1.3 0.2 3.0 3.3 5.2 10.2 .510 0.1 0.6 .250 2.4 3.1 .773
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 %
Charles Oakley 9 33.2 9.7 4.8 6.4 11.2 1.2 1.3 0.1 2.4 3.4 3.9 8.1 .479 0.1 0.2 .500 1.8 2.7 .667
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901967-68
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 %
Charles Oakley 61 36.0 14.6 4.2 7.7 11.9 2.4 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.6 5.5 10.5 .524 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.7 .761
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 %
Charles Oakley 10 33.6 12.1 3.9 7.1 11.0 2.7 1.1 0.2 2.2 3.3 4.3 8.4 .512 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.4 5.2 .654
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911968-69
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Charles Oakley 76 36.0 11.2 4.0 8.1 12.1 2.7 0.8 0.2 2.8 3.8 4.0 7.8 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.0 .784
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 %
Charles Oakley 3 33.3 7.7 5.0 5.3 10.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 2.3 4.3 3.3 7.0 .476 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921969-70
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 %
Charles Oakley 82 28.2 6.2 3.1 5.4 8.5 1.6 0.8 0.2 1.5 3.1 2.6 4.9 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.4 .735
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 %
Charles Oakley 12 29.5 5.3 3.7 5.3 9.0 0.7 0.7 0.4 1.3 3.0 1.8 4.8 .379 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .741
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931970-71
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 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 %
Charles Oakley 82 27.2 6.9 3.5 5.1 8.6 1.5 1.0 0.2 1.5 3.5 2.7 5.3 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .722
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 %
Charles Oakley 15 33.8 11.1 4.7 6.3 11.0 1.1 1.1 0.1 2.4 3.4 4.2 8.7 .481 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.7 .727
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941971-72
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA 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 %
Charles Oakley 82 35.8 11.8 4.3 7.5 11.8 2.7 1.3 0.2 2.4 3.6 4.4 9.3 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 3.8 .776
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 %
Charles Oakley 25 39.7 13.2 4.6 7.0 11.7 2.4 1.4 0.2 2.6 3.5 5.0 10.5 .477 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.1 .775
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951972-73
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Charles Oakley 50 31.3 10.1 3.1 5.8 8.9 2.5 1.2 0.1 2.1 3.6 3.8 7.9 .489 0.1 0.2 .250 2.4 3.0 .793
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 %
Charles Oakley 11 38.3 13.1 2.8 5.6 8.5 3.7 1.7 0.5 2.2 3.8 4.5 9.9 .450 0.4 0.9 .400 3.8 4.6 .824
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961973-74
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-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 %
Charles Oakley 53 33.5 11.4 3.1 5.6 8.7 2.6 1.1 0.3 2.0 3.7 4.0 8.5 .471 0.1 0.5 .269 3.3 4.0 .833
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 %
Charles Oakley 8 38.5 13.1 3.5 5.1 8.6 1.8 1.0 0.0 3.5 4.1 4.9 9.8 .500 0.3 0.8 .333 3.1 4.5 .694
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971974-75
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Charles Oakley 80 35.9 10.8 3.1 6.7 9.8 2.8 1.4 0.3 2.1 3.8 4.2 8.7 .488 0.1 0.2 .263 2.3 2.8 .808
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 %
Charles Oakley 10 35.8 9.8 2.3 6.5 8.8 1.6 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.7 3.8 8.6 .442 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 2.9 .759
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981975-76
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Charles Oakley 79 34.6 9.0 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.5 1.6 0.3 1.6 3.5 3.9 8.8 .440 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.4 .851
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 %
Charles Oakley 10 34.0 8.1 2.1 6.4 8.5 1.4 1.1 0.2 1.3 3.8 2.9 7.1 .408 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.5 .920
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

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991976-77
Team Toronto RaptorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Charles Oakley 50 32.7 7.0 1.9 5.6 7.5 3.4 0.9 0.4 1.9 3.6 2.8 6.5 .428 0.0 0.1 .200 1.3 1.7 .807
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 %
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------
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 -

Season 15

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-00-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Charles Oakley 80 30.4 6.9 1.5 5.3 6.8 3.2 1.3 0.6 1.9 3.7 2.9 7.0 .418 0.2 0.5 .341 0.8 1.1 .776
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Oakley 3 37.0 10.0 0.7 7.0 7.7 3.7 2.0 0.3 1.7 4.7 4.7 9.7 .483 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.3 .000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-01-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Oakley 78 35.5 9.6 1.8 7.7 9.5 3.4 1.0 0.6 1.8 3.3 3.9 10.1 .388 0.1 0.6 .224 1.6 1.9 .836
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Oakley 12 32.6 9.3 1.7 4.7 6.3 1.8 1.0 0.6 1.8 2.4 3.9 9.0 .435 0.3 0.7 .375 1.2 1.4 .824
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 2001-02-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Charles Oakley 57 24.3 3.8 1.3 4.8 6.0 2.0 0.9 0.2 1.5 3.1 1.7 4.6 .369 0.0 0.1 .167 0.4 0.5 .750
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 2002-03-
Team Washington Wizards-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Charles Oakley 42 12.2 1.8 0.9 1.7 2.5 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.5 2.1 0.5 1.3 .418 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.8 .824
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Charles Oakley Nate Thurmond
Season 2003-04-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Charles Oakley 7 3.6 1.3 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.1 0.3 0.9 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .833
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------