Derrick McKey vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Derrick McKey, 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.

Derrick McKey played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Derrick McKey had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Derrick McKey 15 13 1987-88 to 2001-02
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

Rookie Season

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881963-64
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Derrick McKey 82 20.8 8.5 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.3 0.9 0.8 1.3 2.9 3.1 6.3 .491 0.1 0.4 .367 2.1 2.7 .772
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 %
Derrick McKey 5 21.8 12.0 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.6 0.6 1.0 1.0 2.4 4.8 7.6 .632 0.4 1.2 .333 2.0 3.4 .588
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891964-65
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Derrick McKey 82 34.2 15.9 2.0 3.6 5.7 2.7 1.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 5.9 11.8 .502 0.4 1.1 .337 3.7 4.6 .803
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 %
Derrick McKey 8 35.8 13.3 2.6 3.9 6.5 2.3 0.8 1.9 2.9 4.1 5.5 11.1 .494 0.1 1.1 .111 2.1 2.6 .810
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901965-66
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan 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 %
Derrick McKey 80 34.4 15.7 2.1 4.0 6.1 2.3 1.1 1.0 2.4 3.1 5.9 11.9 .493 0.0 0.3 .130 3.9 5.0 .782
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 %
Derrick McKey ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911966-67
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Derrick McKey 73 34.3 15.3 2.4 3.4 5.8 2.3 1.2 0.8 2.2 3.0 6.0 11.6 .517 0.1 0.3 .211 3.2 3.8 .845
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 %
Derrick McKey 4 28.5 9.5 1.8 4.0 5.8 2.0 0.8 0.0 1.5 3.3 4.0 7.0 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 1.5 2.8 .545
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921967-68
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Derrick McKey 52 33.8 14.9 1.8 3.3 5.2 2.3 1.2 0.9 2.2 2.7 5.5 11.6 .472 0.4 1.0 .380 3.6 4.3 .847
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 %
Derrick McKey 9 35.0 16.3 1.9 3.0 4.9 2.7 0.8 1.3 2.4 4.1 5.8 11.0 .525 0.6 1.8 .313 4.2 5.0 .844
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931968-69
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Derrick McKey 77 31.7 13.4 1.6 2.7 4.2 2.6 1.4 0.8 2.0 2.7 5.0 10.1 .496 0.5 1.5 .357 2.9 3.9 .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 %
Derrick McKey 19 34.1 11.3 2.7 2.5 5.2 3.7 0.6 0.9 1.9 2.7 4.4 8.3 .525 0.1 0.3 .400 2.4 3.6 .667
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941969-70
Team Indiana PacersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derrick McKey 76 34.4 12.0 1.7 3.6 5.3 4.3 1.5 0.6 3.0 3.3 4.7 9.3 .500 0.1 0.4 .290 2.5 3.3 .756
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 %
Derrick McKey 16 36.7 9.7 2.0 4.1 6.1 4.2 1.6 0.6 2.5 3.7 3.6 8.9 .408 0.5 1.5 .333 1.9 2.9 .660
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951970-71
Team Indiana PacersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Derrick McKey 81 34.6 13.3 1.5 3.3 4.9 3.4 1.5 0.6 2.1 3.2 5.1 10.3 .493 0.4 1.1 .360 2.7 3.7 .744
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 %
Derrick McKey 17 34.8 12.8 1.7 3.1 4.8 3.8 1.0 0.6 2.1 3.8 4.5 10.2 .437 0.6 2.1 .314 3.2 3.6 .871
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961971-72
Team Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Derrick McKey 75 32.5 11.7 1.6 3.2 4.8 3.5 1.1 0.6 1.9 3.3 4.6 9.5 .486 0.2 0.9 .250 2.3 2.9 .769
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 %
Derrick McKey 5 36.0 12.8 1.6 5.0 6.6 2.0 1.4 0.2 2.8 4.0 4.8 11.4 .421 1.0 2.4 .417 2.2 2.6 .846
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971972-73
Team Indiana PacersGolden 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 %
Derrick McKey 50 29.0 8.0 1.6 3.2 4.8 2.7 0.9 0.6 1.7 2.8 3.0 7.6 .391 0.3 1.2 .259 1.8 2.5 .724
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 %
Derrick McKey ------- --- ----------
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981973-74
Team Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derrick McKey 57 23.1 6.3 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.5 1.0 0.5 1.4 2.7 2.6 5.7 .459 0.1 0.3 .235 1.0 1.4 .714
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 %
Derrick McKey 15 18.9 4.5 0.5 2.1 2.7 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.7 3.3 1.5 4.6 .333 0.2 0.7 .300 1.2 1.5 .783
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991974-75
Team Indiana PacersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
Derrick McKey 13 18.8 4.6 1.4 1.8 3.2 1.0 0.9 0.3 0.9 1.8 1.8 4.0 .442 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .824
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 %
Derrick McKey 13 18.8 3.6 1.3 2.0 3.3 1.5 0.9 0.3 0.8 3.1 1.2 3.1 .375 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.0 .654
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001975-76
Team Indiana PacersChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers 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 %
Derrick McKey 32 19.8 4.3 0.9 3.3 4.2 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.6 2.5 1.3 3.4 .398 0.3 0.7 .435 1.3 1.8 .768
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 %
Derrick McKey 23 15.3 2.0 1.1 2.3 3.4 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.8 2.0 0.7 1.4 .469 0.0 0.3 .167 0.7 0.9 .800
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-011976-77
Team Indiana PacersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Derrick McKey 66 15.0 2.2 0.7 1.9 2.7 1.1 0.7 0.2 0.7 2.1 0.9 2.1 .441 0.1 0.3 .200 0.3 0.4 .778
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 %
Derrick McKey 4 8.8 1.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.8 0.5 1.3 .400 0.3 0.3 1.000 0.3 0.5 .500
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

Derrick McKey Nate Thurmond
Season 2001-02-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Derrick McKey 41 19.1 2.9 1.2 1.9 3.1 1.1 1.0 0.1 0.5 2.2 1.3 3.0 .426 0.1 0.3 .417 0.2 0.3 .714
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derrick McKey 4 10.0 2.0 0.8 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.3 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------